Page 67 of The Love Penalty

“Is that why you didn’t go up and try to catch the bouquet?” He smirks and winks down at her.

She rolls her eyes and turns back to us. “The only good thing about the entire event was that I wasn’t one of the bridesmaids.”

“Plus, the drinks were free.” Ethan grins.

Mikayla laughs. “That was kind of essential, to be honest. I don’t think I could have gotten through that thing if I hadn’t been a little tipsy.”

Ethan nods and turns to explain. “Mikayla’s sister and stepsister?—”

“Ugh!” Mikayla pokes out of her tongue.

“—were perfect bitches,” Ethan finishes. “But…” He grins down at his girlfriend. “Your mom gave you a hug at the end of the night.”

Mikayla’s smile turns wicked. “And I thanked her for all the bitchy things she did, because it led me to reuniting with Dad.”

Ethan cracks up laughing. “She went so pale. It was fucking epic.” He wiggles his eyebrows, then turns to look at us again. “As were the jealous glares Mick got from Megan’s friends.”

Mikayla rolls her eyes, although she’s fighting a grin when she admits, “My little sister’s buddies want my boyfriend.” She wraps her arms around his waist while he kisses the top of her head.

“And they can’t have him, because I am all yours, lil’ mouse.”

She looks up with a gooey smile and mouths, “I love you.” He replies with a tender grin and a kiss to her lips. “Thank you so much for coming with me.”

The sincerity on her face is beautiful. For all their teasing banter, it’s plain to see how much these two love each other.

From what I’d picked up, Mikayla was dreading going to her mother’s wedding. Her complaints were endless, and Ethan’s patient responses came on the back of every one of them.

“Who gets married on a Friday?”

“Your mother does.”

“I have to skip my afternoon classes for this!”

“Why are you complaining about that? We’ll be spending the night at a luxury ski resort.”

“Do we really have to stay the night?”

“Yes. It’s gonna be fine. The place is fucking six stars, Mick. We’ll be treated like royalty. That’s gonna be fun.”

“I don’t want to go to the breakfast thing the next morning. Can’t you make up an excuse to get us out of this?”

“No! Your mother invited you. Take the olive branch, like your dad said. You can do this. I’ll be right there beside you.”

And he was.

And I can see how much it meant to her.

I glance at Asher, who’s turned back to his laptop, knowing without a doubt that he’d probably do the same thing for me. Hell, any of the Hockey House men would step up for their ladies, because they’re good guys.

There goes my heart again, getting all mushy.

I frown, turning back to face my own laptop. I start to reread the paragraph I was working on but get distracted by the man beside me. His eyes are focused on the screen in front of him, but I can see the tension in his face, and I wonder if he’s still feeling the effects of his father’s phone call.

It’s obvious he doesn’t want to do that summer internship, but I guess right now he has no real excuse to get out of it. If only he could figure out what he really wants to do with his life. I want to see him happy. He deserves to pursue a job that fires him up. Everybody does.

CHAPTER 29

ASHER