The Penalty Box (Greyford High #4)

by Anna B. Doe

  Noah pulls back, his hand sliding to my waist and gripping mine as he finishes his beer. “Let’s go.”

  Before I can say anything he starts moving through the crowd of people scattered on the makeshift dance floor in the middle of Hill’s living room.

  As we walk through the kitchen, he leaves his empty cup on the counter.

  “Where are we going?” I ask, trying to keep up with his hurried pace.

  Noah looks over his shoulder at me and winks playfully. “You’ll see.”

  The cold night air hits me in the face as soon as he opens the door. We slide outside, the iciness of the night eating at my skin and settling deep into my bones.

  “Noah…” I start, but his lips land on mine, effectively shushing me.

  His kiss is almost desperate. Hard and bruising. The complete opposite of the kiss we shared inside of his car. His long fingers dig into my hair, pulling my head back slightly to get better access to my mouth.

  I inhale sharply, my lips parting and giving him enough space to slide his tongue inside my mouth. The bitter taste of beer is strong on his tongue. I stand motionless as it dives deeper, swirling around mine sloppily.

  This isn’t what I want.

  “N-No,” I protest, trying to get out of his reach, but the grip he has on me is strong. Too strong.

  His lips land on mine in a forceful kiss. That meaty mouth assaulting mine possessively.

  Wiggling in his arms, I manage to loosen his grip just enough to pound with my clenched fists against his chest. “Noah, p-please stop.”

  Tears are clouding my gaze, fear like I haven’t felt in my life spreading through my body. Cold sweat coats my skin as my stomach rolls uncomfortably.

  “Evie?” I hear the tentative voice call my name from the darkness. The music is so loud at the beginning I think I’m imaging it, but there it is again, this time louder.

  Liam. The realization hits me at once. Relief and shame swirling inside of me make the tears fall as I struggle to break free.

  “Li—” I manage to break the kiss, but it’s only a second before Noah swallows my yelp in help.

  Finding one last ounce of strength, I use it to push him away with all I’ve got.

  “No!”

  “Evie!” In my attempt to get away, I trip, losing my balance and falling down on the floor.

  Liam looks between the two of us. Even in the darkness of the night, with the faint glow of the moon, he doesn’t miss anything. I can see the fury rise in him when he sees me on the ground with tears rolling down my cheeks. I try to get on my feet, but my legs are shaky. Soft sobs rip out of my lungs as I use the back of my hand to rub my mouth. The dots slowly start to connect.

  “You motherfucker,” he grits as he crosses the distance in a hurried stride. “She said no!”

  Chapter Twelve

  LIAM

  There is a light knock on my door. Tossing the ball I have in my hand up in the air, I call out, “Come in.”

  Mom’s head peeks through the gap in the doorway, her worried eyes landing on me.

  “You’re home,” she points out. She pushes the door open and leans against the doorway, looking at me.

  “So happy you noticed,” I say dryly, giving my best to ignore her. If I do, maybe she’ll walk away without saying whatever she came here to say.

  My eyes are glued to the ball in my hand. I watch as the white baseball slides through the air, almost touching the ceiling before it falls down to my hand and I repeat the process. Over and over again. Maybe if I do it enough times I’ll manage to keep my eyes on the task instead of letting them wander over to the window so I might catch a glimpse of what is happening across the yard.

  Is she still home? Is her light turned on? Or is she out somewhere? With him?

  “It’s Friday.”

  The ball slaps in my open palm, and I toss it in the air, this time more forcefully.

  “So happy you know your days of the week, Mom.” I hate my words as soon as they leave my lips, but it’s not like I can take them back. Something that keeps happening more and more lately. Whatever I say, I end up hurting people I care about and pushing them away.

  “Don’t you sass me, boy. I’m still your mother.” She warns in a strict voice before she lets it soften a bit. “Is it the game?”

  Oh, the game. If that’s what you can even call it. More like a blood bath.

  “This has nothing to do with the game.”

  “There will be more games, Liam.”

  “We almost lost. Because of me. It’ll be a hot day in hell when the coach lets me start again.”

  She sighs and walks across the room to sit on the bed next to me. “He would be a fool not to let you play. It was just one mistake.”

  “One mistake can make or break the game.”

  “Is that why you’re sulking in your room?”

  “I don’t sulk.”

  But of course, she ignores me. Placing her hand over mine when the ball lands in my grip, she looks me straight in the eyes. “Or does this have anything to do with the fact you and Evie have barely spoken in two weeks?”

  “How do you know about that?”

  She gives me a look. You know the one I’m talking about. It’s her mom look. The condescending, yet loving one. The one that says do you know who you’re speaking with, kid? I’m your mother, I know everything, even things you don’t want me to know.

  “Did you really think we wouldn’t notice?” She rolls her eyes at me. And great, of course, she’s not the only one. She and Aunt Emma, Evie’s mom, probably had a long talk, dissecting our new relationship or lack thereof over coffee and cake. “Please, it’s not like your sneaking skills and the fight on their porch went unnoticed.”

  “Great,” I mutter.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “There is nothing to say.”

  “Then why are you sulking on a Friday night while Evie is out on a date?”

  Kick me while I’m down, why don’t you, Mom?

  When I don’t react, she continues. “That cute boy came to pick her up earlier today.” She taps her chin like she’s thinking, but I can see right through her. “Noah, was it?”

  “Fucking Russell.”

  “Liam Ward!” she chastises. “That is no way to talk about your best friend’s boyfriend!”

  Are they official? Actually dating? The blood starts pumping harder through my veins, but my heart… it’s free-falling to the pit of my stomach. What the fuck?

  “Where did they go?” I ask, getting off the bed.

  She can’t date him. No fucking way.

  I grab my phone and wallet, stashing them in my pocket, and turn to her.

  “Mom? Where is she?” I demand, but if I can hear the panic in my own voice, I’m sure as hell she can too.

  She stands up, her hands on my shoulders. “You better make this right, Liam. Or I’m going to kill you.”

  There is a knowing look in her eyes.

  “How long did you know?” I ask, and she knows exactly what I’m referring to.

  “Oh, I always hoped. Both me and Emma did.” She laughs softly. “But sure, sure? This past few weeks.” She cups my cheeks and I nod in acknowledgment. “Go get our girl, Liam.”

  Hill’s house is packed per usual. I’m struggling to pass through the crowd of people, my eyes scanning every dark corner on my way. Still no Evie.

  Where the fuck is she?

  I’m muttering curses when my eyes land on a familiar face. He’s sitting on the couch that’s pushed against the wall, girl in his lap. Her hands are underneath his shirt, his in the dark mass of her hair.

  “Jack?” My words startle them. They turn around to look at me. And I was right, it’s Jack and… Jessy?

  I’m not sure who’s more stunned, but I don’t have time to ponder over it or ask any questions. “Have you seen Evie?”

  Jack shakes his head, and I’m about to leave when Jessy’s words stop me. “She went out. We were dancing and...”r />
  But I don’t stay to listen. Pushing through the people, I go toward the back door, my heart stuck in my throat.

  What if she’s really happy with him? What if I’m too late? What if she wants him? What if…

  Icy cold night air hits me straight in the face as soon as I open the door. I stumble outside on shaky feet, all the thoughts and possibilities swirling in my mind.

  That is until a quiet plead stops me in my tracks. “N-No.” A few heartbeats pass in silence, and just when I’ve convinced myself it’s all just a fruit of my imagination, there it is again. “Noah, p-please stop.”

  Red clouds my vision as the words register in my mind.

  Noah.

  My heart kicks into overdrive as adrenaline spikes in my veins.

  “Evie?” I call out tentatively, walking in the direction in which I hear the voice.

  “Li—” it’s barely audible, but I hear it. Evie’s voice. There is some shuffling followed by a louder, “No!”

  “Evie!” I yell just when I turn the corner and find them.

  Noah’s pressing her against the wall, her feet barely touching the ground. His mouth is on hers, fingers digging into her hair as he kisses her not even noticing she’s struggling, or maybe he simply doesn’t care.

  Evie’s wide eyes find mine over his shoulder, tears spilling down her cheeks as she uses all her strength to push him away, this time succeeding. Noah stumbles, falling on his ass in front of her.

  I look between the two of them. My breathing is ragged, fingers clenching into fists by my sides. Evie’s legs give out underneath her, making her slide down the wall, as a soft sob rips out of her lungs, her hands frantically rubbing against her puffy lips.

  “You motherfucker,” I grit through my clenched teeth. Crossing the distance between us, I grip him by the collar of his shirt and lift him to his feet. “She said no!” I spit in his face.

  Pulling my hand back, I slam it into his face. The sound of bone cracking fills the night air as his head falls to the side, blood spilling from his nose.

  “You had no right,” I say, letting him fall out of my hands. “When somebody says no, it means fucking no.”

  Noah lifts his face to look at me and then at Evie still standing behind me, regret and fear clear on his face as he tries to wipe away the blood.

  “I’m so—”

  I growl at him, stopping whatever words he wanted to say from coming out. The urge to punch him once again is strong, but hearing Evie’s soft cries, I rein it in.

  Clenching my hands into fists, I take one deep breath before I turn around and go to Evie. Squatting down in front of her, I wait for her to look at me before even attempting to touch her.

  My heart clenches at the sight of her.

  She’s disheveled, her hair messy, lips raw, and eyes red and puffy with tears streaming down her cheeks, but she’s still the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.

  “You came…” she whispers, her eyes falling shut and making more tears fall down.

  “Hey,” I say tenderly, my hand reaching to brush away her tears and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll always come back for you, Evie.”

  Slowly, her eyelids flutter open and she looks at me. “Take me home.”

  Wrapping my hands around her, I pick her up in my arms and do just that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  EVIE

  “How are you doing?” Liam asks from the driver’s seat, looking at me wearily. He’s been doing it a lot during our short ride home.

  “I’m fine, Liam,” I reassure him for what feels like the hundredth time. My hand goes to his gripping the gearshift and gives him a strong squeeze.

  “If you want to go to the police we’ll—”

  “No.” I stop him immediately. The last thing I want is to go to the police.

  “Evie, he assaulted you.”

  His words make me tremble. I can still feel Noah’s hands on me. His lips devouring mine. And just the thought of them makes my skin crawl.

  “I shouldn’t have given him the wrong impression. I shouldn’t have gone out with him in the first place…”

  “You said no,” Liam grits. “No means no, Evie. That should have been enough.”

  I sigh, leaning my head against the seat. “I know, I just… It feels like it’s my fault too.”

  “How can it be your fault?”

  “If I didn’t agree to that first date. If I haven’t given him hope maybe…”

  Liam turns to me. His hand lands on my knee, giving it a firm squeeze. “No. Means. No. Every single time. This isn’t your fault.”

  I swallow hard, the guilt I’ve been feeling since Liam came to my rescue subsiding even if only for a little bit.

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  “There is nothing to thank me for.”

  “You’re wrong. If you hadn’t been there…” I shake my head, not wanting to think of what could have happened. I really do believe Noah isn’t a bad guy, but I can’t help but wonder… “Hey, how did you know where to find me?”

  I turn to him just in time to see him cringe. He wasn’t at the party when we arrived—and as far as I know, he wasn’t supposed to come at all—so how was he at the right place at the right time?

  “Umm… about that.” He gives me a small, sheepish grin. “I came to get you.”

  “And I’m really thankful for that, but it doesn’t answer my…”

  “No, Evie. I came to get you.” He says it slowly, emphasizing every single word. “I meant what I said earlier. I don’t want you to be with him, or anybody else for the matter.”

  “What are you saying?”

  He turns toward me, taking my hands in his. “What I’m saying is that I want you, Evie. As more than a friend. You’ll always be my best friend, but you’ve become more and I’m done fighting it. I’m done being scared. I’m done pushing you away. I want you. I want to watch movies with you. I want to make silly jokes to make you laugh. I want to take you skating. I want to see your face in the stands on my hockey games. I want all we had before, but I want more. I want to be able to hold your hand. And take you out on a date. And I really, really want to kiss you.”

  The words are falling off his lips so fast, like now, once he finally let them all out, there isn’t anything that can hold them back. His clammy palms hold hard on to mine and underneath the dim light of the streetlamp, I can see his cheeks are flushed.

  “It’ll be really fucking weird if you don’t say something soon, Eves.” Liam chuckles, but it falls flat. Letting go of my hand, he runs it through his hair before it falls down into his lap. “I really messed up, but I want a chance to make things right between us. I can be the guy you need me to be if you—”

  Disentangling our fingers, I grip his shirt and pull him toward me. His dark eyes grow wide in surprise just as our lips connect.

  The kiss is soft, healing. My mouth brushes against his, tasting his lips, nibbling at the soft flesh.

  Only when I pull back do I whisper, “You’re already everything I could ever need, Liam.”

  “I’m probably going to suck at this,” he warns, his hands cupping my cheeks.

  I press my forehead against his. “I don’t think falling in love with your best friend comes with an instruction manual.”

  “I don’t need a manual.” Liam pulls me back so he can look in my eyes. “I just need you to promise me you’ll never give up on me.”

  “Never,” I promise.

  His lips brush against my forehead. “I’ve always loved you, but I think now I’m falling in love with you, Evie.”

  “Well, you better hurry up, because I’m already there.”

  Liam shakes his head, and this time when he kisses me, the world shifts underneath my feet, and finally everything feels right.

  Chapter Fourteen

  EVIE

  “I don’t like this one bit,” Liam mutters as he glares over my shoulder. I take his hand in mine, giving it a solid squeeze to draw his
attention back to me.

  “I have to do this, Liam. For me.”

  We look at each other for what feels like forever, neither of us saying anything. The buzz of the school cafeteria is background noise to the silence stretching between us.

  Finally, he nods. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

  I lean down to press a chaste kiss in the corner of his lips. “Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”

  He holds on to my hand when I try to step back. “Ten. You’ll be back in ten. If you’re not, I’m going out there and he won’t be as lucky this time around.”

  Rolling my eyes at him, I turn around and go toward the football table.

  It’s been a week since the party and I still haven’t talked to Noah. I needed some time to think and process everything that has happened. He tried to come and talk to me, but when he saw my reaction, he changed his mind. I guess it might also have something to do with Liam breaking his nose.

  But now I’m ready. Silence falls over the football players when I stop in front of their table. All the eyes are glued to Noah and me like they’re watching a tennis match.

  “Hi, Noah. Can we talk for a minute?” I look at his friends. “Somewhere in private?”

  He looks at me, and then over my shoulder, presumably at Liam before he finally nods. “Sure.”

  In silence, he picks up his things and follows me. Neither of us saying anything until we’re outside in the schoolyard.

  My palms grow sweaty with nerves, but I take one deep, calming breath before I open my mouth. “Noah, I’m—”

  “I’m so fucking sorry, Evie,” Noah says abruptly, interrupting me. He turns toward me, embarrassment and regrets clear on his face. “I cannot say it enough. What happened last week should have never happened. I know no apology will change what I did, but I need you to know I’m sorry. That guy, last week? That’s not me. I went over what happened a million times in this past week, and I still don’t know why the hell I did it. Maybe it was booze, maybe it was the fact I knew you were slipping through my fingers and I wanted desperately to hold onto you, but whatever it was, it wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like that.”