Page 24 of The Penalty

“Of course, I worry about you.”

“Listen, I do all of this so that you and your brothers can live a better life than me, alright? And look at you. You’re out there doing it. That’s why I called, actually. Your mother sent me the video link of the La Vista sports broadcast from this morning. You looked like you fit right in. I’m so damn proud of you.”

I’m not sure that anyone actually watches the La Vista University news, but my heart warms knowing that my parents took the time to find the link and watch it. They’ll always be my biggest supporters.

“Thanks, Dad. I’m having a lot of fun in the class. And I get to shadow the football team all season.”

“Don’t let any of those football boys talk you into anything.”

I laugh. “Don’t worry. I’ve got it covered.”

“I know you do. I never have to worry about you.”

He tells me he’s just pulling up to the house, so he better let me go. We exchange “I love you’s” before we both hang up.

I lean back on the bench and look up to the sky. I miss my family so much. I stayed here over the summer so I could work to pay for my tuition this semester. But I wish I had gotten at least a few days with them.

“McKenzie?”

I lift my head to see Tyler standing in front of me. He looks amazing as always, and I’m sure I look like I just rolled out of bed.

“Hey, Coach. Good game last weekend.” I haven’t been back to their house since he’s gotten home. I thought about texting him for an interview, but I didn’t want to overstep any boundaries. He gave me his number in case I needed a ride home from a party, not to chat about football. I could’ve emailed him, but I know by now that he probably wouldn’t read the email until the semester was over anyway.

He nods, but his brows are furrowed. “You ok?”

I guess it is a little strange that I was sitting on a bench, staring at the sky. “Yeah, I’m good. I, uh, just talked to my dad and was feeling a little homesick.”

He nods again. “I thought you’d be at the field house today.”

I probably should’ve stopped by to at least get his account of the game, but I had to sneak into the student gym center early to take a shower before anyone noticed. Then I was scrambling to get ready for class. Time wasn’t in my favor this morning.

“Yeah, I just got tied up with some things for my classes. I didn’t get a chance to make it out there. You can’t get rid of me tomorrow, though. I’ll be by to watch practice before I head to work.”

He looks around like he’s checking to make sure no one is close by before he asks, “Are you coming by the house tonight to see Kylie? I could make dinner.”

His tone kind of makes me feel like I’m some sort of dirty little secret. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but the thought of him making dinner excites me more than it should. I kinda hate that I’m about to turn him down.

I shake my head. Kylie already asked, but I told her I needed to spend some time in the library and then run some errands. I’m almost out of bread for my PB&Js, and I really need to do laundry. There’s a laundry mat in town that I like that has a few couches to sit on while you wait for your clothes. I usually do my homework there until everything is washed and dried.

“No, not tonight.” For a second, he almost looks disappointed, but then I realize that’s probably just my imagination playing tricks on me. I want him to be disappointed that I’m not there. Which is silly. I’m his daughter’s friend, the annoying student he doesn’t even want shadowing him. There’s no way he’d want to see even more of me than he has to.

“You sure you’re ok?” he asks again.

“All good, Coach.”

“Alright, well, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Yep. Tomorrow.”

He eyes me suspiciously for a second before he finally walks past my bench.

I don’t mean to turn to watch him walk off, but I do. He’s got an absolutely perfect ass, and the jeans he’s wearing certainly don’t hide it. It’s hard not to just sit and watch him walk.

Then I realize I’m drooling over my friend’s dad again, so I get my shit together and head out for my fun evening of errands.

ELEVEN

TYLER