Page 88 of The Penalty

There’s so much I want to say but can’t bring myself to say any of it. I want to know what happens next. Has he talked to Kylie? Where do we go from here? Are we done? I have so many questions.

I don’t ask any of them, though, because I’m scared of the answers.

Instead, I keep my cheek pressed to his chest, listening to his racing heart, just like I used to do when we lay in bed.

“Are you ok? Are you set up in your new apartment?” he asks, still not letting me go.

“Mmhmm. It’s fine. Luckily, the girl who moved out left her mattress. It’ll be fine for a few months until graduation.”

“Right. That’s good.” We’ve never talked about what happens after graduation. To be honest, I have no idea. I know I need to start looking into jobs. As much as I love Alessandro’s and appreciate everything the team there has done for me, I don’t want to be a server forever. And I’m certain Angel doesn’t want that for me, either.

“How are you?” I ask.

He inhales deeply. “I’m. . . I don’t know.”

I look up at him, and he leans down. The tip of his nose brushes against mine. His lips are inches away from mine. It’s killing me not to kiss him right now.

“I wish things were different,” I say.

“Me too, baby. Me too.”

The front door of Alessandro’s opens, and a server and a line cook walk out. It’s dark, so I doubt they can see us, but Tyler and I take a step away from each other just in case.

“I should go,” he says solemnly.

He doesn’t want to go. I don’t want him to go. But we’ve already caused so much damage.

I nod and take another step away to give him room to leave.

He starts to walk back to his truck parked on the opposite side of the lot, but he stops, turns, and marches back to me.

His lips connect with mine, and he’s kissing me like it’s the first time all over again. My arms wrap around his neck, my fingers tugging at his hair. His tongue swirls with mine, and it feels like we can’t get close enough.

“I’m going to ask you something that I have no right to ask, but I’m a selfish bastard, so I’m going to ask anyway,” he says after he pulls away. His forehead presses against mine as we try to catch our breath.

“What?”

“Wait for me. I know it’s supposed to be me and you, deep in my soul. You’re it for me. I just need time to figure this out with Kylie.”

There’s no hesitation in my answer. “I’ll wait. I’ll always wait.”

His hand cups my cheek as he kisses me again. “I don’t deserve you.”

“I love you,” I whisper.

His thumb swipes a rogue tear from my cheek. “I love you.”

He kisses me one last time before getting in his truck.

My heart breaks all over again as I head back to my new apartment alone.

THIRTY-SIX

TYLER

It’s been two weeks since Kylie walked out of my house and hasn’t come back.

She’s been careful to only come by when she knows I’m not there. While she hasn’t responded to any of my attempts at communication, her mother has made sure to tell me what a fucking idiot I am over and over again. Like I need that reminder right now. So, at least I know Kylie is talking to someone.