Filed to story: Penny and Navy Brother Asher
“Six-four.”
I blink little – and sets the plate down like it doesn’t cost him anything,
He smirks – just a li
And you?” he tosses back.
I grimace, reluctant,
“Five-three,” I admit. “But! On pointe, I’m like five-fre
He shakes his head, dendpan.
“Doesn’t count.”
I gasp, clutching my chest dramatically.
He shrugs, completely unbothered, and starts plating the eggs like he didn’t just insult my entire existence.
MOGH!
“You’re basically fun-sized,” he adds, and this time I swear I see the corner of his mouth twitch like he’s fighting a real smile,
“Fun-sized.” I repeat, scandalized. “I’ll have you know I am notnud-stred;”
He just grunts, handing me a plate like he’s already decided this argument is beneath him
I huff but accept it, stealing a fork from the drawer with exaggerated dignity.
The eggs actually look amazing-fluffy and golden and way better than anything I would’ve managed
The kitchen fills with quiet-not the uncomfortable kind, but the kind that feels… easy.
Warm.
Even with the storm still rumbling faintly in the distance, even with the uncertainty still lodged deep in my chest like a splinter.
I sneak glances at him over the rim of my plate – the way he leans against the counter, arms is crossed loosely, the casual strength in the way he moves, the scar on his throat catching the morning light
The way he exists so solidly, like nothing could ever move him unless he chose to be moved.
My stomach twists not from the eggs.
From something heavier.
Guilt, maybe,
Guilt because this is wrong
Because my body: shouldn’t be responding to him like this shouldn’t be reacting to his nearless,
He’s Tyler’s brother. to the easy banter, to the low rumble of his voice like it’s been starved for it
Tyler, who didn’t even text last night to see o see if I survived the hurricane.
T’es midway through another bite when the hont door wines open with a corak and a gust of cooler air.
Footsteps.
Laughter.
Tyler’s voice, muffled, cheerful, as he talks into his phone about something that makes him laugh again, and bright.
I stiffen slightly, pushing my plate away as Ashel’s gaze flicks larily toward the doopway.
Tyler rounds the corner into the kitchen, still grinning – and then stops dead in his ti tracks..
His eyes go wide, the phone dropping from his ear to dangle forgotten in his hand as he stares at me like he’s seen a ghost
? “Pen?” he blarts out, voice high and cracking slightly.
“What are you are you – what are you doing here?”
I set my codfer down carefully, hands steady even though my heart isn’t.
My house last power during the storm.” I say simply, keeping my voice ever, casual,
Like there’s nothing strange about any of this.
Like it’s totally normal to find your girlfriend wearing your brother’s clothes, sitting at your parents kitchen table, drinking coffee while you walk in like you weren’t expecting her to exist this morning.
Tyler’s face does a weird dance between panic and casualness before he clears his throat, shoves his phone into his back pocket, and tries to smile.
“Right, right, duh. Crazy storm,” he says, waving a hand vaguely
“Yeah, uh = sorry I didn’t tell you where I was yesterday”
He glances at Asher, who’s just sitting back in his chair, arms croad, expression unreadable,
I just… I didn’t want to worry you, Tyler says, aiming a crooked grin at me like it’ll fix everything.
I tilt my head slightly, studying
Where were you?
There’s a beat
The air goes thinner tomchase, the kitchen too small for how loud my heart suddenly feels
Tyler scratches the back of his neck, eyes darting away before he answers. game, and then when the storm hit it was so had I decided not to drive back
“Jonathan’s house,” he says. “He asked me to come over to watch the football game, Thought it’d be safer to just stay pui.”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal.
Like it makes perfect sense.
And maybe it does.
Maybe it’s fine.
But something deep inside me knots Tighter, uncond-stable and dow.
Maybe fex a good reason,
Maybe not.
But he still lied.
I nod because I don’t know what else in do-beruse fighting about it here, now, feels like lighting a match I’m not ready to deal with.
Tyler beams like he’s relieved, crossing the room to pepper quick kisses along my fourhead, my thrcks, the side of my mouth.
“Sorry, babe,” he marmurs against my temple. “I just didn’t want you to worry.”
“It’s okay,” I hear myself say, even though it feels like the words float up from somewhere that isn’t fully mine.
He grins and beam back, tugging his shirt over his head as he heads for the stairs.
“Gonna shower real quick but hey, you wanna go out for dinner tonight? Just the two of us?
I blink, pulling the shirt tighter around me. parents actually invited me over,” I say.
He pauses on the second step, then smiles, easy and unaffected
“Cool, even better.” he says. “See you in a bit
He jogs up the stairs, whistling low under his breath.
The second he’s gone. the kitchen feels heavier-like someone threw a weighted blanket over the whole house.
I glance at Asher – and find him already watching me, yes dark and unreadable, arms still crossed over his chest like he’s holding something in
The silence stretches tight
Then he says, low and steady,
“Why do you stay with him?
I flinch like he slapped
Straighten my spine like it’ll protect me.
That’s none of your
He doesn’t move.
Doesn’t look away. business,” I say stiffly, gathering the plates into a messy stack just to have something to do with my hand.