Page 35 of Penalized Love

“Are you sure about that, or are you trying to bullshit me and yourself?”

He got me again. “Fine. I want Isla back in my life and in my bed.”

“Makes sense, given that she’s causing you to snap on some of our teammates.”

“Of course you know about that,” I say as I think about Knox. We’d been doing our best to avoid each other since things hit the fan in our kitchen and have been doing a good job at it. I wonderwho ratted, but it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. “By the way, he started it.”

“I’m not surprised. And I’m talking to you not only as your best friend but also as the captain of the team. We can’t have you and Knox on the outs and expect to continue winning games.”

“I get it, but you know how Knox can be. He just gets under my skin sometimes.”

“I know, but usually, you’re good about avoiding his shit. We need you to find a way to work together, regardless of your personal issues.”

The team has to come first above everything, even if that means swallowing my pride and making nice with Knox. And I can do that if he keeps Isla’s name out of his mouth.

“I’ll try to smooth things over with him,” I promise, already dreading the conversation. “But I can’t guarantee anything.”

“Just do what you can. We don’t want this to raise to the level where Coach needs to get involved.”

Fuck. That’s the last thing I want to happen.

The mention of Coach getting involved sends a chill down my spine. That’s a complication I don’t need right now, especially with everything else happening.

“I’ll handle it,” I assure Levi. “I’ll talk to Knox and smooth things over. We’ll figure it out.”

Levi nods, satisfied with my response. “Good. The team needs you focused and on your game.”

We alternate between silence and small talk for the rest of our run, and before I know it, I run up the front stairs of my house and unlock the front door. The heat from inside is a welcome relief from the crisp morning chill. I kick off my running shoes and head upstairs, straight for the shower, because I need it.

I wrap up my shower and spend the next few hours working on some assignments I need to get done. Just as I’m aboutto close my laptop, my phone’s ringtone plays because of an incoming call. I glance at the screen and see that it’s my mom.

“Hey, Mom. What’s up?”

“Nothing much, just wanted to check in on you and see how things were going.”

“Things are…okay. Are you sure everything is fine?” I hate questioning her reasoning, but I can tell something is up.

“Just tired, you know, the usual. By the way, thank you for sending the money for the bills. I…really appreciate it, Ash.”

I can hear the embarrassment in her voice, so I change the subject quickly. “No problem. What are you doing today?”

“I’m running around trying to make sure your sister has everything she needs for her basketball game today.” She finishes her sentence with a yawn.

“When is her game?” An idea is forming in my head as I wait for her to respond. I stand up from my desk and stretch as I grab my bookbag.

“It starts at 2 p.m.”

“Why don’t you do what you can, and I’ll come there to pick her up and take her to her game? That way, you can stay home and rest on your day off. It can be a surprise.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking. I’m telling you, this is what I’m doing.”

There’s a pause on the other end of the line before Mom replies. “Oh, Asher, that would be wonderful. Are you sure you have the time?”

“Absolutely,” I assure her, already rearranging what I thought I would do today in my mind. “I don’t have any pressing commitments, and it’s been too long since I’ve seen you all. I’ll head out soon and be there in plenty of time to get Avery to her game.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. That means more than you know.” The weariness in her tone is evident, and it tugs at my heart. Iknow how hard she works to keep our family afloat, and this is something I can do to help her.

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