Page 38 of Penalized Love

“How did you even know I was cold?” I ask, trying to keep the emotions that are surging through me in check. Why does he still use the same cologne that I used to love?

Asher shrugs, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. “I’ve known you long enough to pick up on the little things, and I saw you shivering. You didn’t seem to be wearing many layers, so I made an educated guess.”

I hate that he’s right. I hate that he still knows me well enough to pick up on these little things. It’s been years since we were together, yet he can still read me like an open book. It’s unsettling and comforting all at once.

“Well, thanks,” I mumble, pulling the coat tighter around me. “I appreciate it.”

Asher’s smile widens, and my traitorous heart skips a beat. “Anytime, Isla.”

Before I can respond, I hear Levi’s voice from across the construction site. “Hey, Ash! We need your help over here!”

Asher glances over his shoulder, acknowledging Levi with a nod. He turns back to me, his expression apologetic mixed with something else. “Duty calls. I’ll catch up with you later, yeah?”

All I do is nod, because I’m unsure what else to say. Asher holds my gaze for a moment longer, searching for something in my eyes. Whatever he finds seems to satisfy him, and he turns to jog over to where Levi is waiting.

I watch him go, my fingers curling into the sleeves of his coat. His warmth and scent linger, and I fight the urge to bury my nose in the fabric.

I love this cologne, and the memories it resurrects are from happy times—not when my heart was breaking into a million pieces.

I shove those thoughts to the side and take a few more pictures before taking another small break. My hands are getting cold, and I want to give them a chance to warm up.

When I place my right hand in the coat pocket, I gasp. I pull out a regular-sized bag of the original Skittles. I flip the candy around in my hand, stunned that I’m holding this item. Is this a peace offering of sorts?

Despite the complicated emotions swirling inside me, I tear open the corner of the bag and pop a few Skittles into my mouth.

Pure bliss spreads through each one of my taste buds. The burst of fruity flavors on my tongue is heaven, and I know I shouldn’t be eating candy this early or basking in the joy this small gesture has given me. But dammit, it’s a bag of Skittles.

My eyes land on him, and as if he can feel me looking at him, he turns his head, so his gaze is on me. It only takes a second forme to find the answer to the question that has been burning in my mind for the last few minutes.

This had been his plan the entire time.

16

ISLA

Icross my feet as I lean back against a wall in the campus center. I’m wasting time listening to the latest episode ofYou’re In Danger, Girlwhile waiting for Hailey to arrive.

The campus center is quieter than normal because it is the weekend, and most students are probably hungover from partying the night before. This is why this was the perfect time to meet up with Hailey for lunch.

Speaking of, I find Hailey before she sees me. She’s standing by the smoothie counter, looking around to, I assume, find me. I wave my arm, and she gives me a small nod.

As I approach, she gives me a look. “There you are. I was starting to think you ghosted me.”

I laugh because I know she’s being sarcastic. “Now, I wouldn’t do that… not on purpose, anyway.”

Hailey smirks. “Well, if you did, just know I’d haunt you for the rest of your life. Let’s go grab a table.”

We make our way to a small table by the window. By placing our things down before ordering food, we show that the table by the window is taken. We both end up with sandwiches andshe also gets a smoothie, while I decide to just drink water with lunch.

I’m glad she breaks the ice first when we sit down at our table.

“You know, I’m so glad you didn’t say you wanted to meet at Brewed Beginnings,” Hailey says as she takes out a reusable straw from her bag.

I shrug. “I figured you were already in there so often, why would you want to spend more time there on your day off?”

That causes her to chuckle for a second. “Not to mention, I’m also the chess club president, and we meet there as well. Sometimes, it feels as if I sleep there too.”

So far, things aren’t awkward between us. I wasn’t sure what to expect when we made plans to meet up, but now I’m glad we did. “Sounds like you’re super busy.”

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