Page 10 of The Sweet Spot

“Brynlee, I don’t have to pull rank. I’m the vice president of King Corp. I’m the GM of the Philadelphia Kings and part owner of the Philadelphia Revolution. I am the rank someone wants to pull. I want to discuss this with you in person. Come to the house.”

“Mom—”

“The Kings will be better for your health, Brynn. The season’s shorter, and there’s less travel. You know I’m right.”

I grip my phone as the anger coursing through my veins threatens to engulf me. “Are you kidding me?”

“Brynlee—”

“I’ll save you the hassle, Mom. Consider this my notice. My contract says I have to give you a month. Today is day one.”

I end the call and turn back to Maddox, who’s grinning like the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood. “Looks like it’s a good day for a move.”

I rip the apple out of his hand and throw it at his head. “Fuck you, Maddox.”

The son of a bitch ducks. “Better go shower, Brynn. Looks like you’ve got some news to break to Gracie.”

“You know you’re a dick, right?”

He shrugs. “A dick with a penthouse condo.”

Did I really just lose my job and my home in one day?

BRYNLEE

Congratulations! You’ve successfully made it to the end of June.

Welcome to the next level of Jumanji.

—Brynlee’s Secret Thoughts

Ibegrudgingly let Maddox and Callen convince me to pick up cinnamon rolls from our favorite beach town bakery later that morning. Sugar and coffee is the easiest way to the twins’ hearts, and I’m about to tell Everly and Gracie that Gracie and I are swapping condos with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Whore, so I need all the help I can get.

I walk ahead of Callen and Maddox, pissed at them.

Pissed at myself.

Pissed at my mom.

Basically, pissed at the world.

It’s too early to be this angry.

At least until Everly’s husband, Cross, opens the door, and their one-year-old son, Jax, runs between his legs, playing peek-a-boo. An utterly exhausted-looking Cross scoops him up and pushes the door wide open as he groans, “Hey, Brynn. They’re on the back deck.”

I lean over and kiss Jax on the cheek, then walk through the house, dodging big, fat, neon Legos meant to do severe damage to bare feet and slightly slutty-looking dolls that remind me of a few too many nights in college spent doing things I may be less than proud of but luckily don’t completely remember.

It’s official. I’d say I should go back to bed, but that would imply I’d been there already today, and that hasn’t happened yet. Fuck. It’s going to be a long, damn day.

Gracie and Everly both look up in sync with their nearly identical faces as I drop the sweets on the table.

Everly cocks a brow in question as Gracie very carefully lifts the blue bakery box lid, then looks at me. “What did you do that you’re bribing me with sweets, Brynnie?”

What did I do? I should tell her I made a deal with the devil, but I may be questioning whether said devil is my mother or my cousin.

Fucking Maddox.

“So?.?.?.” I pull out a chair and sit down, pulling a knee up to my chest and wrapping an arm around my bare leg after I adjust my shorts.

---