Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother novel Chapter 174

Asher

When Penny said it when the words he cheated on me left her mouth – it was like dropping a grenade into the middle of the room.

At first, no one moved.

Then it was all at once.

Her mom stood up so fast her mug of tea sloshed over. My mom gasped. Her dad said, “What?” like he’d just been slapped across the face. My dad’s whole face drained of color.

And that was before they started texting Tyler. Calling. Over and over. Four parents blowing up his phone with the fury of a thousand suns, and the dumb bastard didn’t answer any of it. Coward.

Then, like a coordinated interrogation unit, all four sets of eyes turned on me.

“Did you know?” Penny’s dad asked me.

“No, sir.”

“Did Tyler tell you about the ringtone?”

“No, ma’am,” I said, looking at her mom now. “Though I asked him. He said it wasn’t his phone. Technically, he didn’t lie. But he didn’t tell the truth either.”

“And he laid hands on her?” her father said, jaw clenched.

“He held her back,” I said, measured. “Too tight. But he let go when I stepped in.”

That made it worse. I saw it hit like a second

wave.

They weren’t just angry now

—

they were devastated.

7

—

Penny sat next to me, absolutely mortified. At first, I found it a little amusing her embarrassment, the way her eyes darted like she wanted the earth to swallow her whole but the longer the yelling went on, the less funny it became.

Because they were yelling louder than she did when it all happened. And her shoulders were starting to hunch in again, like she was trying to disappear.

So I stood.

“Alright,” I said. Loud enough to command a room. “While you all figure out what happens I’m taking Penny somewhere else. She’s lived this already. She doesn’t need to relive it.”

with Tyler,

That snapped them out of it,

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Chapter 174: Asher

“Oh god—yes,” her mom said. “Of course. Penny, sweetheart-”

“I’m so sorry, honey,” my mom said.

I grabbed her hand. She looked stunned. Numb. I squeezed.

We left.

I drove her back to my place. No music, no words. Just the quiet tension between us. She didn’t let go of my hand once.

Inside, I handed her a water bottle and held out my hand again. She hesitated only a moment before taking it. I brought her upstairs.

Penny stepped into my room like she was entering a museum–quiet, cautious, her eyes scanning everything like she was searching for clues. She moved slow, graceful even in the smallest things, and all 1 could do was watch her from the door.

She turned once, just enough for me to see the way her brows pinched a little. “There’s not much of you in here,” she said softly, almost like she didn’t want to offend me.

I glanced around. She wasn’t wrong. Four white walls. Bed. Desk. My boots lined up against the wall. A duffel still in the corner, half–zipped and untouched since I got here.

“I haven’t been here long,” I told her.

That much was true. I came home, sure, but I hadn’t exactly… settled.

She nodded, her gaze moving over the books on the desk, the closed drawers, the stripped–back simplicity of it all. Her fingers brushed the edge of my desk like she expected it to give her something. A clue. A story. Something personal.

“You’re planning on staying?” she asked, voice still low.

I walked over to the bed and sat down slowly, elbows resting on my knees, hands clasped together. I watched her for a second, the way her blonde hair caught the light from the window, the way she looked so out of place in this hollow room. Like color in a grayscale world.

“Actually,” I said, “I’m planning on moving out.”

She turned to look at me, confusion/painting across her face. “What? Why?”

I shrugged. “This was never permanent. I didn’t plan to stay here long.” I let out a small breath. “I’m used to living a certain way. Small spaces. Control. Routine. Privacy.”

Her eyes narrowed a little. “Is it because of Tyler?”

“No.” I met her gaze and shook my head. “It’s not about him.”

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Chapter 174: Asher

I leaned back slightly and patted the space between my legs. “Come here.”

She hesitated for a second before crossing the room. I took her hands and pulled her gently onto my lap, her knees bracketing my thighs. I wrapped my arms around her waist and rested my forehead against her shoulder for a moment. I needed the weight of her to settle me.

“I’m used to not having a lot,” I said. “Living light. Moving often. Always being ready to go. But then I met you.” I looked up at her, into her eyes–their depth, their fire, their softness.

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