Page 60 of The Penalty

I’m proud of my daughter for having such a big heart. I don’t even think she realizes it sometimes.

“I don’t mind covering the ticket cost,” I offer, although I have a feeling McKenzie will decline.

“Thanks, guys, I appreciate it. But I have to work the day after Thanksgiving and the whole weekend, actually. I’ve got to make up for that week I missed.”

Kylie sticks her bottom lip out in a pout. “Bummer. Well, at least stay here with Dad so he’s not alone. I’ll be back on Sunday.”

McKenzie looks over at me, and it seems like the same thought crosses both of our minds. We’re going to be here alone. Just the two of us.

And Kylie has no idea. She thinks she’s innocently suggesting that her friend stay here to keep me company, but little does she know the things I want to do to McKenzie. Kylie would disown me as a father if she found out. I wouldn’t even be able to blame her.

Fuck.

Is McKenzie going to be expecting more?

Am I going to follow through with it?

God knows how much I want her. But if we do this, there’s no turning back. It could fuck up everything.

“Are you sure? I can see if I can crash at one of my friend’s places while they’re out of town,” McKenzie suggests, looking from me to Kylie. She’s just as torn as I am about what we’ve been doing. I can see it in her eyes. Other than a goodnight kiss every night, I haven’t touched her, not the way I want to, at least. I’m still afraid to completely cross that line with her. I’m a fucking coward. I can’t go through with it, but I also can’t walk away.

Kylie waves her off. “No, stay here. You’re cool with it, right, Dad?”

I clear my throat. I could tell her to leave. McKenzie is giving me an easy out. I could take it and shut this thing down now. But I can’t. “No. All good. I’ll be on campus mostly so you’ll basically have the house to yourself.”

McKenzie nods slowly as if I’ve just confirmed what I want to happen. I want her here. I want to kiss her and fuck her. I want it all. “Ok. Well, thank you both.”

“Stop thanking us. You’re basically family now,” Kylie says. “Hey, can we order pizza? I’m starving.”

And with that, the conversation is closed, and it’s decided that McKenzie and I will be staying together alone for a few days.

What could possibly go wrong?

I’m not going to survive this Thanksgiving break.

I know it already, and it hasn’t even started.

McKenzie and I are at the airport dropping Kylie off. She hugs us both and waves until she’s through the automatic doors with her giant suitcase. You’d think she was going for a month rather than four days with the amount of things she packed.

McKenzie and I stand there in silence for a long, awkward moment. Finally, I exhale and ask, “Should we go?”

She nods and we get back in my truck. McKenzie takes the front passenger seat, which was occupied by my daughter moments ago.

We’re silent as I drive back to the house. There’s a heavy tension between us, neither of us knowing what to say or expect for the coming days. I didn’t know how to bring it up or what to say. To be fair, we don’t usually have much time alone and the time we do have, I hold her or kiss her while we talk about other things.

I don’t have many true friends these days. Since my football days are over, I’ve thrown myself into coaching. Sure, I have my assistant coaches, but they work for me. I wouldn’t necessarily confide in them like a friend. But McKenzie is different. We talk about our families and our lives outside of the house. In the past few weeks, I’ve told her about my time playing football and how I felt like such a failure after I got injured. I told her that I hated having to retire when I did. I’ve never told anyone those things, not even Kylie. But it felt good to get all that off my chest; McKenzie just listened and let me talk.

But we never brought up what happens when Kylie isn’t here. Or what happens if we cross the invisible line we’ve drawn.

“So, what are your plans for tomorrow?” McKenzie asks.

“I’ve got practice in the morning, and then I’ll head to Zach’s for Thanksgiving dinner. His wife is hosting for the team this year. You’re welcome to come.”

“That’s ok. I’m going to make my own little Thanksgiving dinner.”

“I would stay with you, but if I don’t show at Zach’s…” People will talk.

“Don’t worry about me, Tyler. I’ll be fine.”