Page 67 of Embody

Twenty-Two

Bellamy

“I’M SO GLADwe got to do this today,” Brynn sighs happily, laid back on a floatie, iced tea in hand.

“Me too,” I agree from my similar pose, lemonade instead of tea though. “I’m sorry for neglecting girl time. Everything’s just been so…hectic.”

“Hectic?” She snorts a laugh. “I guess that’s as good a word as any. My brother, who I swore we weren’t gonna talk about today, has been on you like a blanket. Every day, there he is, taking your time. And let’s not forget, already moved you into a new place he deems fit and sent you a box full of gifts.”

I feel my cheeks flame.If she only knew about the other gifts he gave me last night.

“He’s actually way ahead of schedule,” she laughs again. “Don’t think even my dad and Uncle Sawyer moved this fast. You okay with it all?” She peers over at me and slides down her sunglasses, a seriousness in her eyes. “Honestly Bellamy, are you? I know the men around here can be overwhelming, and if JT’s pushing too hard or fast, you can tell me. I’ll gladly kick his butt.”

Now it’s my turn to snicker—picturing the two of them going at it. I’ve seen a glimpse, the night Brynn hurled herself onto Jefferson’s back and kicked him inthe ball, only the one. It was purely accidental but it was quite the show nevertheless.

“I’m fine, but thanks, bodyguard,” I smile. “Brynn,” I pause, inhaling a puff of bravery, “I really like your brother. A lot. Areyouokay withthat?”

She puckers her lips and twists them from side-to-side, as if she’s swishing mouthwash, then answers calmly. “Yeah, I am. And I don’t blame you. I mean, no icky incest scandal or anything, but I can totally see his appeal, even if he is my brother. JT’s smart, driven, funny, and from what every girl who’s ever met him has told me, hot as hell. Their words, not mine. Wait a second!” She’s apparently pretty excited about whatever thought just hit her because she flips clear off her floaty and into the pool.

When she surfaces, pushing her hair out of her face, I’m being given a playful glare. “Noteverygirl. You,” she points at me, “haven’t bored me with any talk of his hotness. Not a peep.” Her eyes narrow to slits. “Bellamy Morgan, do you not think my brother’s handsome?”

Good God.I immediately start laughing, loud and hard, until my sides ache.

She splashes me right in the face, shocking me into silence. “What is so funny?” She clips in a voice hedged with defensiveness.

“You are,” I hold in my giggle. “You’re also either bipolar or plain ol’ bat-shit crazy.”

“I am the most level-headed, sane person in my entire family! What are you talking about?”

“Okay, first of all, Emmett isby farthe sanest of your clan. Iwould’vesaid you were next…until, well, right about now. Ah, let me finish.” I hold up a finger to stop her interruption and she snaps her mouth closed. “Brynn, you have gone from not wanting your brother anywhere near me, to silent acceptance, and finally, vocal acceptance… within seconds of saying you didn’t want to talk about him today. And for the grand finale, you’re ready to claw my eyes out because I haven’t talked about him enough.”

I shake my head and do release my laugh this time. “Could you make up your mind? I’m getting dizzy.”

“Maybe you have a valid point,” she mutters, “but my brother is not ugly!”

“Never said he was, crazy lady.”

“But you didn’t say hewasn’teither.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and squeeze, trying to get ahead of the mounting headache I feel coming on, all while secretly hoping her “cuckoo” isn’t contagious. And then, I get a brilliant idea that has my mouth twitching in mischievous satisfaction. She asked for it, and what kind of shitty friend would I be to not fully deliver?

“Let’s see,” I tap a fingertip on my chin. “He’s at least six feet of tan, lean muscle. Dark, soft hair. Deep, sexy voice with a tiny Southern twang. A wink and smirk that melt my panties, the best damn kisser alive, and from what I can tell from the few hints I’ve felt, he’s more than hung. Oh, and last night, he gave me see-through lingerie and a coupon to use him as my personal sex toy any time or way I want.”

I affix an expressionless expression, tipping my chin just a tad in proud delight.

Herreaction is immediate…and absolutely priceless!

Her brows damn near fly clean off her forehead and the blank stare she’s sporting goes perfectly with her gaping mouth and scarlet cheeks. The way everyone babies her—I very well may have just given Brynn her first lesson on “the birds and the bees.”

“So yeah, I think your brother’s all kinds of hot,” I simply must tack on dryly.

Brynn still hasn’t recovered, or spoken, when her mom yells at us from the deck. “You girls want a snack?”

“Brynn,” I splash her after a few seconds, “your mom’s talking to us.”

“Huh?” She blinks several, rapid times and shakes her head before turning in her mom’s direction. “What?” she has to ask, because truly, she didn’t hear a thing through her shell-shock.

“I asked if you girls wanted a snack,” Mrs. Kendrick repeats herself.

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