Page 50 of The Penalty

“Theodore.”

I put the potato down and lean my lower back against the counter. “I don’t really know. I think he’s mad I’m at Summerset too.”

“Why would that make a difference?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. We don’t have the same classes or see each other much. Sometimes I’ll see him in the dining hall, but he’s with his friends and I’m with mine.”

“Have you fought at school?”

I really don’t want to tell her about Rhys. Not like it matters now anyway. That door is closed, and I locked it. I won’t have to see him for a long time… but it hits me.

Is he going to come over today? He hasn’t missed a thanksgiving since becoming friends with Tobi.

Fuck.

Maybe I can pretend to be asleep when he gets here.

“Something is going on and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.” Mom wraps me in a hug, and I lean into it. “If you can find common ground, you can work through whatever it is.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I get back to potato peeling when Dad comes in with a big sigh. “He’s refusing to talk to me.”

Mom nods. “We’ll give him some time and try again later.”

Dad wraps his arm around my shoulder. “It’s good to have you home.”

I smile but keep my head down.

Mom puts on some music, and I start singing along. She dances around the kitchen, knocking her head on the cabinet door she left open and running into the fridge when she twirls. It makes me laugh. She’s so clumsy but works with chemistry stuff. How has she never dissolved a foot or something?

By the time I’m done helping in the kitchen, I feel lighter. Grabbing a beer, I head to the living room and sit with Dad and work on the red hat I’m making. This yarn isn’t as soft and splits on my hook, so there’s all these extra pieces that stick out, but if I try to fix them all, I won’t finish on time.

“You’re heading back to campus tonight?” Dad asks.

“Yeah, game tomorrow.”

“Looks like that’s almost finished.” I can see Dad’s hand point at what I’m doing from the edge of my vision. “Who are you going to give it too?”

“Shredder I think. He wears red sometimes.” The hook gets caught when I try to pull the yarn through the stitch. “Stupid fucking shit,” I mutter. Is it long enough as it is, or do I need to add a few more rows? I pull on the yarn to give it some slack and try it on. It’s loose and falls to my eyebrows. I guess that works.

“You’re getting good at that!” Mom says, wiping her hands on a towel as she comes into the living room.

“Are you ready for dishes again?” Dad asks, getting up from the couch. Mom nods and he heads to the kitchen to help clean up. It’s how they operate on big holiday dinner days. Mom does the cooking and Dad cleans up.

I wonder how it works at Rhys’ house. I’ve never asked and now I wish I had.

That’s an innocent question. Not sexy. I can ask him.

Once I’m done tying off the yarn, I pull out my phone and unblock Rhys so I can text him. I know it’s dumb, but I can’t stop myself.

Needs A Breeding: who does the cleanup at ur house on days like 2day

Ejaculate: You can’t just unblock me and pretend everything is normal.

Needs A Breeding: i just did.

Ejaculate: That’s not how it works.

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