Page 17 of The Love Penalty
If anything, the summer terrifies me. Long weeks of no intense work to focus on? I’m gonna have to figure out a plan for that. I need a job. Maybe I’ll take two, or three, even. That’ll get me some decent spending money for the next school year, right?
My heart rate accelerates as my mean old brain has me rushing through solutions I don’t even want to take.
“I’m gonna go to the library.” I point to the door and make a beeline for it.
“You have no life!” Caroline calls after me.
I close my eyes as the door click shuts behind me, hating that she’s right.
About everything.
I didn’t used to be like this.
How can one incident change so much about me?
Is this my life from now on?
A heavy feeling spreads through my chest, running down my limbs and turning them to concrete as I slowly shuffle back out of my dorm and try to find another hole on campus that I can crawl into and disappear.
CHAPTER 8
ASHER
I push off the wall and skate like the devil, pumping my arms and gaining as much speed as quickly as I can. Reaching the end, I do a slide and spin in the opposite direction, hauling ass back to the other end of the rink.
It’s tiring work, but I don’t give a shit right now. I need to burn off steam, build up a sweat—anything to get rid of this angst that’s eating me like a fucking parasite.
I’ve got a lot of shit going on right now.
The Lennox party ended up being a bust. I got there just in time to see Harvey disappearing down the hallway with a honey tucked under his arm. He said a brief “Hi,” then pointed at the girl and mouthed, “Sorry, man!”
Lucky bastard. I didn’t see him again, and about an hour later, after one beer and some chick’s tongue down my throat, I ended up leaving. I couldn’t help comparing the make-out session with Lani’s searing kiss, and it made it impossible to take things further.
By the time I got home, I was fuming, and even choking the chicken in front of some decent porn didn’t do the trick.
I’ve been restless ever since.
And it doesn’t help that I can’t find any peace in my own fucking house either.
That stupid puppy doesn’t know the meaning of the word silence—I’m serious about that one. If he’s not yapping, he’s snoring in his sleep or making these weird little sounds like he’s dreaming.
It doesn’t seem to bother anyone but me.
Sure, he’s cute. I get it. Puppies are adorable.
But they’re not so great when they’re peeing on the couch or leaving little stink nuggets in the corner of the kitchen. I nearly stepped on one the other day—and I was in bare feet!
Casey laughed so hard he nearly peed his pants.
It’s been less than a day and I’m already over it.
And I’m still worried what Uncle Hayes and Aunt Carla will say if they ever find out. I checked the rental contract last night, and it stipulates that pets are allowed with permission from the owners… which we haven’t gotten yet. So yeah, that’s gonna be awesome.
Casey says it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, but does he get that we could get kicked out of our lush, six-bedroom house if we don’t show some respect? We’re living there for free while we’re studying. Does he not get how fucking amazing that is?
My aunt and uncle could be making bank on that place, but they’re helping us out because they’re good people, and I don’t want to take advantage of their generosity.
I should probably just call them and let them know about the puppy, but if they tell me “no pets,” then what the fuck am I supposed to do?