Page 92 of Penalized Love

My lips twitch because of her usage of the worddiabolical. People have been tossing it around more because of social media. I know she threw it out there to lighten the mood a bit. My face loses the war I’ve been fighting with myself, and I let out a humorless chuckle.“Diabolical is the perfect way to describe this, because what the hell?”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think Asher going all out like this is super romantic. You’re living the life in a forbidden love romance novel… I can list all of the tropes right now if you like.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“I love romance novels just like everyone else, but I think you’ve taken a deep dive into one. It’s not as glamorous as you make it sound.”

“It could be worse. You could be living in one of the true-crime podcast stories you love so much.”

Selene - 2. Me - 0.

“Yeah, that’s not even something I want to joke about. Some of those stories are… whew.”I shake my head just thinking about it.

“That’s valid, but let’s go back to what’s going on with you and Asher and telling his teammates. It went well, I assume?”

I tell her what Asher said about how his conversation with the guys went.“Knox took him aside to confirm that he was okay with all of this.”

I tilt my head as I watch Selene’s reaction when I mention Knox’s name. Her eyes grow wide when I say his name, and now I’m curious. I know they’ve hung out before at one of the hockey parties we attended, but nothing came of it as far as I knew.

“What exactly did Knox say?”she asks.

Although this part of our conversation only takes a few seconds to occur, the wheels in my head are spinning faster and faster. I didn’t expect this scenario when I asked if we could chat in person, but now I’m very intrigued. However, I can’t let my eagerness show too much, or Selene might try to play it off.

I know her way too well.

“He just wanted to make sure Asher was certain about going public with our relationship. If this explodes in our faces, it will hurt Asher and me and affect the team. He had some experience in that arena when he was in high school. But I don’t have any more details.”I watch for her reaction.

Selene’s gaze drifts a bit as if there is something on her mind that she’s not sharing with me. Then she lifts her eyes and tucks a piece of red hair behind her ear.“That’s interesting. It’s a lot of pressure, having your personal life out there for everyone to see and judge. I wonder what happened to Knox in high school, though.”

There’s the opening I want.“I’m not sure, and if he did tell Asher, Asher didn’t share it with me, which I’m completely fine with. I don’t tell him all the things we talk about. Why are you so interested?”

I keep my tone light and teasing because I don’t want my best friend to think I’m grilling her. There’s a time and place for that, but right now, isn’t it. She pulls at some imaginary lint on her sweatshirt, and I know she’s trying to think of a way to evade the question.

“Just curious,”she shrugs, trying to play it off.“Knox seems like a private guy, so it’s surprising he’d open up about his past like that.”

That’s true; I can confirm that from my interactions with him, but how would she know that, having only met him briefly at a party? It’s time to push her more here.“How do you know all this when you’ve only met him once, when we went to the hockey party? I get that he gives off that vibe, but what are you hiding?”

She stares at me for a moment, and I see a mix of emotions cross her face. First surprise, and I assume it’s because she’s shocked. And Selene is never caught off guard. Then there’s some nervousness as she refuses to look me in the eye. There’s no doubt in my mind that she can feel the beginnings of a blush appearing on her face, and she has to know that I can see it, given her pale skin. Finally, a soft, nervous laugh leaves her lips as if, once again, she might try to play it off as if it’s nothing serious.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not hiding anything.”

“Bullshit. I know you way too well for that, and you know it.”

“Okay, fine,”she says, giving in.“We may have talked a bit at the last party. And maybe texted a little since then.”

My brows lift in surprise.“Texted? About what?”

“Nothing major. Just, you know, random stuff. Memes. Recipes he wanted to try.”

My mouth opens and closes a few times before I can get the words I want to say. I wish I had a bag of Skittles with me because this is pure entertainment.“What in the actual fuck? Since when have you texted anyone recipes?”

“I’ve texted you recipes!”she exclaims.

Doth the lady protest too much and all that, I can’t help but think. Thank you, high school English class, for my being able torecallHamlet.“Yes, but I’m your best friend, not a hockey player that you met at a party.”

Selene opens her mouth, then closes it again.“Fine. I might be a little into him. But it’s not a big deal. I don’t think he’s that into me, anyway.”

I narrow my eyes, and it only causes her face to become more red.“Not into you? Selene, when has a guy ever not been into you?”

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