Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother Chapter 134

Breakfast at the lodge is loud and chaotic. The long wooden tables are packed, people half-asleep, eyes squinting against the morning light, shoveling eggs and bacon like zombies. Someone spills orange juice. Someone else is groaning dramatically into their coffee, claiming they’ll never drink again.

Tyler’s sitting next to me, head in his hands, looking half-dead. His hair’s a mess, sticking up in a way that might be cute if he wasn’t groaning every few seconds.

“Ugh,” he mutters. “My head is splitting open.”

I can’t help the little smirk tugging at my lips. “Maybe if you had slept in the cabin, like a normal person, you wouldn’t feel like roadkill.”

He glares at me through one half-open eye. “Last night was fun, though, so… no regrets.”

Asher snorts from across the table, barely glancing up from his plate. He’s eating like nothing happened, like he didn’t just throw three grown men off me yesterday. No sign of strain or fatigue on his face — just calm, composed, and maddeningly unaffected.

I steal a glance at him, and for just a second, his dark eyes flick up to mine. My stomach does a little flip, and I focus on my plate.

After breakfast, we migrate to the big living room, which is somehow still cozy despite the sheer number of people sprawled everywhere. I’m on the couch, legs tucked under me, with Tyler’s head in my lap. He’s still complaining about his headache, one hand draped dramatically over his face.

“Maybe you should learn not to drink that much,” I tease, brushing his hair back from his forehead.

He groans. “Worth it.”

Asher’s next to me, stretching his long legs out, scrolling through his phone. A few minutes pass before his fingers pause and he leans closer, tapping my shoulder lightly.

“Look at that.”

He hands me his phone. On the screen is a photo sent by Rooster — he and Anna are standing in front of a huge poster for the Spring Gala. My stomach does a little flip, and I take the phone from him, bringing it closer.

My heart races as I recognize the poster — me, mid-arabesque, one leg high behind me, arms gracefully curved, Luc right behind me, catching me mid-lift. It’s displayed in the window of a dance supply store, massive and striking.

“They put them up already?” I whisper, half in disbelief, half in awe.

Asher’s lips quirk into a small, almost proud smile. “Guess so.”

I shake Tyler’s shoulder. “Ty, look! They put the posters up. All over the city!”

He barely peeks through his fingers, squinting at the screen. “Congrats, babe… but please don’t shout. My head’s killing me.”

My chest tightens, and I force a smile. “Sorry.”

That’s when Max appears behind the couch, his phone in hand, and leans over us. “No way, Penny! Superstar alert! Look at this!” He flips his phone around, showing me a photo of his little sister grinning big, pointing at another one of the posters.

I bite my lip to stop from tearing up. “Your sister is so sweet.”

Max grins, nudging my shoulder. “She thinks you’re like a real-life ballerina Barbie now. Pretty sure she’s telling all her friends.”

The warmth in my chest spreads, and I glance at Asher. His small, proud smile is still there, like he’s happy for me, and I want to save that look in a jar and keep it forever.

But then Tyler stirs and snaps, “Can you *shut up*, Max? Some of us are trying not to die here.”

Max’s easygoing expression tightens, and he straightens. “Man, you’re such a dick sometimes.”

Tyler’s head shoots up from my lap, and his eyes flash. “What did you just say?”

Max doesn’t back down. “You heard me. You're a dick and you don’t deserve her.”

Tyler pushes up from my lap and gets right in Max’s face. I jump to my feet, trying to wedge myself between them. “Stop it! Both of you!”

Max just crosses his arms. “Someone had to say it.”

Tyler shoves him, not hard, but enough to make Max take a step back. “Back off.”

Max squares his shoulders, fists clenching, but Asher is suddenly there, his tone dangerously calm. “Ty, take a breather.”

Tyler looks at him like he wants to argue, but then just huffs and storms toward the door. Asher follows, muttering to me, “I’ll handle him.”

My shoulders sag with relief, but when I turn to Max, he’s still fuming.

I step closer, voice soft. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

Max shakes his head, his anger shifting to something softer. “You don’t need to apologize for him, Penny. Your boyfriend’s a dick. Always has been.”

My lips part, but he doesn’t stop. “He took away from your moment. That’s fucking *huge* for you, Penny, and he couldn’t even muster the energy to care.”

I open my mouth, but no words come out.

Max takes a breath, then grins suddenly, eyes lighting up with that easy charm. “Actually…” He turns around and shouts to the room, “Yo! Everyone! Did you know we have a celebrity in the house?”

People turn, curious. He holds up his phone, showing the poster. “Penny’s literally famous at this point! She’s on posters all over the city!”

A wave of cheering erupts, and before I know it, people are coming over, congratulating me, giving me high fives. Some of the guys from the football team pull me into hugs, calling me a superstar.  Asher’s still outside with Tyler, but I catch Zoe and Rebecca giving me dirty looks from across the room. For once, I don’t care.

I feel my cheeks flush with warmth, grinning at all of them.

Max leans in a bit closer and whispers, “You should be proud of yourself. This is huge. I’m definitely coming to the show with my sister. She’s already got a countdown going.”

I can’t help the swell of emotion in my chest. I look up at him, eyes shining. “Thank you, Max. You’re such a good friend.”

He smiles back, softer this time. “Hey, you deserve it.”

I giggle when one of the guys from the team lifts me off the ground, spinning me once before setting me down. Max is laughing, too, his mood lightening.