Page 66 of The Penalty

“I can definitely relate to that,” she muttered.

“Your mum?”

She nodded. “My dad brought it up when we had dinner together. I wouldn’t even know what to say to her. You saw what happened when she called that day. All of our conversations turn into shouting matches.”

“At least there’s some type of emotion,” I said flatly.

“I bet your dad shows more emotion than you realize.”

Aside from the fleeting wistful glances, I couldn’t think of any.

Except for…

“He seemed really proud of me when I signed with the Royal City development league.” The words fell out of me too easily. “I thought that would be the thing to make me stand out in his eyes. Not my interest in architecture. It would be football. The thing we bonded over when I was six and he’d take me to the pitch. I thought maybe he’d look at me the way he did before Rebecca and Adam showed up. Maybe he’d stop looking at me with that fucking anguish when he thinks I can’t see it.”

I spoke so low I wasn’t sure I’d actually said all of this out loud.

“I’m sorry, Xavier.” Victoria’s soothing voice filled some of the cracks I’d allowed to open. “I’m sure you do stand out in his eyes, even if he doesn’t know how to show it.”

My head fell back into the cushion. “No more talk about families tonight, okay love?”

“Okay.” Her soft body pressed into mine. “Thank you for sharing this with me. It means a lot.”

Neither one of us said anything further for a while. I liked being able to open up to her. I also liked that she didn’t push when I’d reached my limit.

“Have you ever fallen asleep under the stars with someone?” she asked.

“No.”

“Really? Not even to impress your legions of girlfriends?”

“Legions? I wouldn’t go that far.” I glanced down at Victoria. She looked peaceful. Eyes closed, long lashes fanning over her cheeks. “Have you?”

“No.” She yawned, draping an arm across my stomach. “Never liked anyone enough to try all the romantic stuff.”

Whatever the fuck my heart just did nearly killed me. Victoria’s fingers brushed over my skin, settling me from…I don’t even know what that was.

Another long stretch of relaxed silence fell around us.

Victoria’s chest rose and fell with steady breaths. I watched her sleep for a bit, unable to tear my eyes away. She looked so content. Like she’d finally found the place she belonged.

My eyelids became heavy as I stroked her hair. I never really pegged myself as a romantic type of guy but falling asleep under the stars with Victoria might convince me otherwise.

Victoria

I’ve never seen so much cheese in my life.

Soft cheese, hard cheese, spreadable cheese, cheese with whisky, cheese with truffle.

Cheese with tea?

I have to admit, this shop was adorable. Rustic and cozy with some old-fashioned nostalgia thrown in for good measure.

“Try this one.” Xavier sauntered over carrying cubes of cheese pierced by toothpicks. I grabbed one and popped it in my mouth.

“Not bad.”

“Is that your default answer? Something has to be better than not bad.”

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