Page 74 of The Penalty

I look down into my coffee. This is not at all how I wanted this conversation to go.

“McKenzie. What the fuck?” Matt says, his voice louder than I would like. “That guy’s like forty.”

“He’s not forty. He’s thirty-seven.” Not sure why I feel the need to clarify that, but I do.

“That’s not any better. And he has a daughter your age,” Matt adds.

“I know, ok? I know it’s not the best situation. But it just happened.”

“How exactly did it happen?” Matt asks. His face is red which is his tell that he’s mad. Very mad. His anger is usually not directed at me, so it’s taking all my energy not to cry.

I take a deep breath before I explain from the beginning. “I’ve been staying with them. In their house. I couldn’t afford my apartment this semester, so I was living in my car. Tyler found out and made me stay in one of his guest rooms. We kind of grew closer, and one thing led to another. . .”

“Kenz, why didn’t you tell us? We would’ve helped you with money,” Chris says.

“I didn’t want to bother you all with my problems,” I admit. My brothers have their own lives. The last thing they need is to have to worry about their little sister.

“If you think we wouldn’t help you, then you don’t know us at all,” Matt says. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so mad.

“I know you would, ok? I’m sorry. I tried to handle it myself and couldn’t, but I’m figuring it out as I go.”

“Well, now that we know what’s truly going on, we can help. Get you back on your feet for your last semester,” Oliver points out.

I shake my head. “I don’t need help anymore.”

“You can’t possibly tell us you’re still going to stay with that guy.” There’s full disgust in Matty’s voice, and it makes my heart hurt. He’s making assumptions about Tyler that just aren’t fair.

“Tyler is a good guy. And if I remember correctly, every single one of you was fangirling over him when you met.”

“Yeah, because he’s a football god. That doesn’t mean I want him fucking around with my sister.” All four of them are nodding in agreement.

“I’m an adult, guys. I can make my own decisions. And I’m happy with Tyler.”

“And your friend is cool with all this?” Chris asks.

“Well. . . she doesn’t really know.”

Matt laughs a loud, angry laugh. “So, you’re sneaking around with your friend’s dad. You think she’s ever going to be cool with that?”

“I don’t know.” I throw my arms up in defeat. “I don’t know what I’m doing. But I’m happy, I’m healthy, and all I want to do is get through my last semester of college and graduate. I’m not asking any of you for anything.”

“We’re your brothers, Kenz,” Spencer says quietly. It’s the first thing he’s said since this whole shitstorm started. “Dad isn’t here to watch out for you anymore, so we get to do it now.”

His voice is filled with sadness from losing Dad and watching his siblings argue. Spencer is still in high school, and he’s a lot more emotional than my other brothers. I immediately put my coffee cup down and wrap him in a hug.

“I know. I appreciate you all looking out for me. But I’m a big girl now.” I take a step away from Spence and look at my other brothers, who seem to have calmed down. “I know Dad probably wouldn’t approve of my relationship with Tyler, but I’d like to believe that as long as I’m safe and happy, he’d be happy for me.”

Matt sighs and looks up to the ceiling before he looks back at me. “Just be careful, McKenzie. And just promise me that if you ever need help again, you’ll come to us.”

I nod. “I promise.”

They all get up, and we end up in a group hug. We’ve been doing a lot of those lately. This has been a difficult year for our family, and I hate that part of it is because of me. But they have to learn that I’m not a little kid anymore. I know they just want what’s best for me, but I’ve got to figure that out on my own.

“I love you, guys.”

“We love you too, McKenzie.”

The rest of my time with my family is more awkward than I’d like, so I’m relieved when it’s time for me to head back to La Vista. And back to Tyler.