Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother novel Chapter 126

Falling for my boyfriend’s Navy brother

Chapter 126: Penny

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The medal clinks sofily against my chest as we walk, trose crunching under our boots, theks flatbed from the cold and laughter.

The bakery in actly what it should be

warm, golden, glowing. A tiny cabin of a building strung with lights, wit

chimney that smells like vanilla and cinnamon

Asher holds the door for me. I step in and instantly feel my note thaw.

It smells like sugar and spice and everything I’m not allowed to eat during ballet season.

Which is exactly why I head straight for the pastry case.

We pick our poison – mine is a flaky raspberry croissant and hot chocolate with real whipped cream. Asher gets a black coffee and something that look vaguely like a chocolate turnover but three times the size. When I raise an eyebrow, he says. “They said it had protein

We settle by the window, on one of the benches that runs along the wall. The space is small, cozy. Too many and condu Then again. Then his thigh. I shift my leg. He doesn’t move his.

ar a piece of my croissant and pop it in my mooth. It mehs like a dream. When 1 glance oven, Asher’s watching me, that unreadable look full force.

This back

“What?” I ask, brushing powdered sugar off my lips.

“You’ve got he lifts a hand, brathes a thumb along the comer of my mouth. “Crunt.”

My breath stutters.

He pulls his hand back like nothing happened and takes another sip of coffee. I hide behind my hot chocolate and pretend like the worldn’t just ted

I’m about to say something – anything – when the hell over the door rings again.

Zoe walks in.

Followed by Jonathan Rebecca. A few of the other pu

And Tyler.

He’s got snow in his hair and a smirk on his face and Zoe practically clinging to his arm-

The leans down to whisper something in her ear. She

ir, she swats him, giggling.

No, that’s–It’s just a joke. A dumb one. It doesn’t mean anything.

Still, I can’t help the twist in my stomach as I watch her giggle again and him smile down at her like

They don’t even seen. Or maybe they do and don’t care. They order drinks to–go. Tyler pays for Zoe’s. Rebecca looks bored out of her mind. The others laugh like it’s all just a regular Tuesday.

When they finally leave, I realize my pastry is crushed in my hand

I let out a slow breath, try to unclench my jam.

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Chapter 126: Penny

Asher’s eyes are one. Of crane they are.

Then he leans closer, sans quietly, “I readience that sometimes the second bon gets all the recessive genes. Like the ones that to point cult

It takes me a best

And then I laugh.

10% not even a polite laugh. It’s the kind of laughs that escapes without permission. Ugly and zeal and grateful.

He smirks and ridges his shoulder into mine. 1 nudge back.

And just like that, the tension breaks.

Until it doesn‘

Because that’s when the three gays across the shop turn to look at us

The one closest to us leans forward, eyes taking over me with a look I know all too well.

“You’re beautiful,” he says, too loud.

Tantfen. “Um. Thanks.”

His friend frowns, notices the faint purple under my jaw, the bruise near my temple. “Wait. does your boyfriend hit you?

My stomach drops. “What? No-”

The third guy joins in, standing halfway from his stool. “Hey man, that you?” He gestures to Asher. “You hit her?”

“No,” I say. “He didn’t–be would never-

But they’re already talking over me, crowding closer, angry in that fake protective way that feels more about performance than justice.

Asher stays stall. Too stall.

1 glance at him. His jaw ticks. Hands on his thighs, flexing once. Twice.

“Asher.” I whisper. “Let go.”

He nods, stands slowly

We head for the door.

But they follow

the snow. “Seriously, it wa an accident. I fell. I have a concession.”

“Yeah, yeah,” one of them says. “That’s what they all say. Pretty girl like you shouldn’t have to explain.”

The guy who called me beautiful reaches for my arm. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you somewhere safe.”

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Chapter 126: Penny

And that’s it.

Asher’s eyes go dark. Þve seen him mad. But this is different.

“Let her go,” he says,

The gay just smirks, “Why? You gonna hit mi

Asher sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “The trying to be civil.”

“Oh yeah?”

Behind us, I hear footsteps. Voices. The rest of the retreat creed arising, or maybe just down to the sense.

No one helps. They post watch.

“Tyler” ball. “Guys. Tell them he didn’t hurt me.”

Rebercas

shrugs. “Tyler, just shut up, I want to see how that plays out,” she says with a huge grin before he can say anything.

The guy’s fingers tighten around my wrist. I try to pull away, but his grip is like a vise.

“Come on, sweetheart. We’ll p

| get you a real man. Someone who doesn’t bruise you up.”

“Let her go.” Asher says again. Looder. Sharper.

But they’re not listening. They’re laughing, jeering. Feeding off each other.

“Don’t be jealous,

man,” the one with the beanie says, stepping closer. “We’re just trying to help her out of a bad situation.”

“She’s not in one,” Asher says flatly.

“Right. So that bruise on her neck? Makeup? Or just your signature?“,

*1 fell.” I snap. “1 hit my head during rehearsal. He’s the one who sat with me overnight in the hospital-

“Oh yeah?” the first guy cuts me off. “I’ve seen that trick. Hurt her, then be the hero who cares? Chissic manipulation.”

ty voice is shaking now. “Please

“I’m fine,” I say. My

The one holding my wrist tugs me again, “Nah, you’re scared. We can see that.”

I jerk back, but he doesn’t let go.

And that’s when Asher moves.

It’s subtle at fest—just one step forward: But the air changes

He’s not shouting. He’s not swinging-

Too Hill.

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Chapter 126: Penny

And that’s somehow worse.

He exhales slowly. “I don’t want in da thân –

The gay with the beanie

“Do what, man? Yoni pinna cry?

“Na” Asher finally lifts his eyes. And when they lock on the my holding me, there’s nothing wift in them, bust a cold, merciless stillness.

“Do you have health invamance?”

There’s a beat. A second of pure silence, like even the snow is holding its breath.

The goods. “What does that

“Don’t make me repeat,” he says. “Do you have health insurance?”

All three guys laugh like this is the most ridiculous question someone’s e

someone’s ever asked them. They a

him why be even cares.

Asher’s eyes are dark, his stance relaxed but ready. “Because if you don’t, this is about to get expensive.”

Then one of them lunges.

It’s stupid. Amateur Sloppy.

But it’s fast. And I’m scared for Asher.

He throws a right hook at Asher’s face

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