Page 5 of Love on the Waiver Wire

“Leo just let me look.”

“No, Isla. I need to do this. This is do or die for me over here, okay? You should know this.”

Slapping my hands on my knees, my mouth clamps shut as I get up. “Alrighty. Well, I’m going back home and eat dinner and watch another season of Love Island.”

Leo snorts. “Elsie was in my DMs a day before she went on the show.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course she was.”

His head jerks up from his computer once more, looking shocked that I wouldn’t believe him.

But as I turn to leave and look at his apartment—the apartment that mirrors mine—I’m hit again with the realization that my brotherdid, unfortunately,possibly have a pretty influencer from Love Island in his direct messages.

Owen probably has had them in his, too.

But when I look back at him, he’s simply rolling his eyes, probably also done with my brother’s antics.

“Yeah, well, she’s with Kevin, but he seems like a bit of a douche.”

“I’ll have to hit her up when she’s back.”

“Not if she finds love, Leo. Don’t be that guy.”

He scoffs, and as he’s about to say something, his computer dings, and he holds up a finger, selecting his next player before returning his attention to me. “You don’t go on a show like that to find love, Isla. You go on it to get brand deals. No couple actually lasts.”

“You play fantasy football every single year and still never win. Isn’t that kind of the same thing?” I shoot back, popping my hip.

“Oh fuck,” Owen says under his breath, looking between us.

Leo rolls his eyes again, shooing me.

With one last look shared between Owen and me, I retreat to my apartment, warming up my food before settling into my couch, turning on my show, and relaxing for the evening. Finally.

3

OWEN

“Hey Ken, do you want to join my league this year?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, man; I have so much going on outside this and two other leagues; otherwise, you know I would.”

“It’s okay, bro; I’ll forgive you.”

It’s been two days, and Leo has been freaking out. Two days of trying to convince anyone he can to join our fantasy league, and as I suspected, none of them wanted a part of it. Something about him being a bit of a psycho for the rules and loving punishments a little too much.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good fantasy punishment, but on a much different level than Leo. Leo loves them because he’s a maniacal son of a bitch. I love them because they’re fun to watch. I haven’t had to worry about fantasy punishments for years, considering I’ve been consistently on top of the league.

Leo slams his shoes down, plops onto the bench next to his locker, and hangs his head in his hands. “I can’t believe no one wants to be in the league.”

I somehow manage to hold my chuckle in. “I’m sure it’ll be okay. Just choose someone who’s not on the team. You’re the one who made that rule; you can change it, you know.”

He groans as he looks up at me, annoyance clouding his face. “You don’t get it.”

“What don’t I get?”

“You just don’t get what being the commissioner means. It’s important.”

I roll my eyes, grabbing my bag before leaving. I love Leo, I do. He’s been like a brother to me for a couple of years. But some of the shit that comes out of his mouth needs to be studied.

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