Page 4 of How to Prevent a Fumble

“Seems awful dangerous to be doing, don't you think?”

He points to his hat with the same hand that holds his sunglasses, as if they were the answer to everything.

“You don’t go all out with fake mustaches like my brother?” I cross my arms over my chest, and I don’t miss the way his eyes flicker to my cleavage for just a beat.

“Nah, I only go for runs when I know there won’t bemany people around. Like right now. Which leads me back to my question.”

I sigh, pursing my lips as I shift my weight from one leg to another. “I’m just hanging out.”

He looks around, his stupid dimple appearing on his cheek as his eyes glisten with mischief. “Really?”

I huff. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, like bothering your own sister?” I don’t wish that on her, especially since my daughter is currently with her and Owen, but I know it’ll shut him up.

“Your brother wants to buy her place from me, so no.”

He sounds… upset about it, and for a second I wonder why. But I know why. “Upset you can’t barge in on her anymore?”

I know my brother got her a second lock for her door, but that doesn’t mean that she regularly remembered to use it. Owen didn’t either.

He rolls his eyes, any trace of a smile disappearing from his face.

“I’ll let you get back to your run,” I tell him as I turn, looking for any excuse to get away from him.

“You looked upset,” he says, catching me off guard.

I flash him a glare. “As I recall, you told me one time I always look upset.”

“Why does your sister always look like she has a stick up her ass?”

“What?”

“Your sister always looks pissed.”

“I think it’s just you, man.”

Leo doesn’t bat an eye. “Am I wrong?”

I flip him off, turning to head back to their building. I’m not getting to any job interviews today, so may as well get Elara and go home.Back to theshithole, more like it.

“One day I’ll crack you, Sunny,” Leo calls after me.

In your dreams, dipshit.

2

LEO

Briar Crosby is the opposite of sunshine. She’s an ice queen. At least, she is around me. I’ve seen her smile. Mainly at Elara and Owen. She seems to have become good friends with my sister as well, ever since she moved here a couple of months ago.

She was living outside of the city before deciding it was best if she and Elara had their own place here. Owen had tried to help her get a place, but in typical Briar fashion she had blown him off, finding a place before he was even able to offer. He had come over to my place afterwards, fuming. I had thought it was badass.

Briar follows her own rules. That much I know.

My phone rings as I sit the box of pizza on my counter, and I stare at it, wondering if I should answer.

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