Page 54 of The Penalty

“Burgers good?” I ask.

“Sounds great.”

I get to work in the kitchen to keep my mind busy.

When the burgers are almost finished, the doorbell rings, and Kylie jumps to get it. I’ve considered getting McKenzie her own key for the house, but that might be too over the line. I don’t know how I would explain that if someone from the university ever found out.

Kylie ushers McKenzie inside. McKenzie looks tired, but her eyes are less swollen than they were the other day.

“Welcome back.” It feels like a lame thing to say, but I can’t think of anything else.

“Thanks,” she says, giving me a small smile.

“I, uh, made burgers if you’re hungry. If not, all good.” Yeah, that sounded super casual.

“I’m pretty hungry, actually. Thank you.”

We all take our seats at the table as I set out the burgers. I also made sweet potato fries and regular fries because I know my daughter won’t touch a sweet potato with a ten-foot pole.

Dinner is quiet at first, I think because Kylie and I aren’t sure what to say. McKenzie finally blurts out, “Please say something. We can talk like normal. I’m sad, but I’m not broken. If we’re talking, then I’m not thinking, you know?”

That was all Kylie needed to launch into conversation. They talk about McKenzie’s mom and the small town she grew up in. Kylie has always lived in big cities with people all around her. Even here in Nebraska, there are tons of people since we live in a college town. But McKenzie’s town was adorable. Picturesque. Kylie was certainly entranced by the charm.

After dinner is cleaned up, I turn to see the girls sitting on the couch and get an idea. “Hey, how about we play a game?”

Kylie rolls her eyes at me like I’m the most embarrassing dad in the world. Hell, maybe I am. I know McKenzie likes playing games, though, and my hunch is confirmed when she smiles and nods her head. “That might be fun.”

Kylie concedes. “Ugh. Fine. One game. You guys are such nerds.”

“Come on, McKenzie. I’ll let you pick.”

She stands and follows me around the corner to the hallway closet. When I open the door, I hear her gasp. I have a ton of games. Some of them are originals from when I was a kid. My mom still sends me a new board game every year for my birthday, so I’ve got quite the collection at this point. I don’t have anyone to play them with me, so most of them are still wrapped in the plastic they came in.

“This is. . .” she trails off as she looks around the closet.

“Lame?” I suggest.

“No. Not at all. It’s awesome. I’m jealous, honestly. Reminds me of the game closet we have at my house. Although definitely not this extensive. Are you like a collector?”

“No. Just a closet nerd.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thank you. Wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation.”

She smiles, and my shoulders relax. I didn’t realize how badly I wanted her to like this. I know Kylie thinks I’m lame and embarrassing most of the time, but I’m fairly certain that comes with the territory of being her dad. I certainly don’t want McKenzie to think of me like that.

I put my hand on the small of her back and guide her into the walk-in closet. “Pick one.”

Her eyes are wide as she turns, trying to look at all of them. “I can’t believe you were hiding all of these from me.”

I chuckle. “I didn’t want you to see my nerdy side. Kylie hates it. Apparently, I’m ‘such a dork.’”

She looks up at me with the big green eyes that I’ve missed so much. “I’m not Kylie, Tyler.”

Swallowing hard, I reach out and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know.”

Then my thumb slides down her cheek to her lips. Her warm breath tickles my skin. What is it about this woman that I can’t let go of? Why do I want her so badly?