Page 83 of How to Prevent a Fumble

Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head.

“Alright, I’ll come check on you in a few, and if you want we can play video games, okay?”

She nods.

Making my way back to Briar’s room, I find her sitting on the bed still, a vacant look on her face.

“Good girl,” I tell her with a smile. I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear, but the way her cheeks pinken does something to me, and I have to hope and pray that she doesn’t notice the tightness of my jeans.

“Wha—what?” she sputters.

“You stayed where I told you to. You don’t usually listen to me.”

She watches me as I head to the bathroom, grabbing a bubble bath from under the sink and starting to fill the tub. Pulling over a stool, I place the book she had sitting on the counter on top of a towel.

Looking around, I study the work I’ve done, but it’s missing something.

Without a word, I head back out into the bedroom and out into the hall, and a second later, I’m swinging the hall closet open, rummaging around until I find the box of candles from a brand deal I did two years ago. Grabbing two that look like they may be the same scent, I head to the kitchen, opening my junk drawer and getting the lighter I’ve used for special occasions and definitely not weed before heading back to Briar’s room.

Elara watches me go, a look I can’t quite place plastered on her face the entire time.

It looks almost like hope.

Lighting the candles, I set them on the counter, and when I back up, I look through the door to Briar, who's watching me intently.

Stepping out of view, I take my phone out quickly, snapping a photo and sending it to my group chat with the guys.

Owen responds immediately.

OWEN (pookie)

Get me out of this chat, please.

Rolling my eyes, I head back into the room.

“Get in the bath,” I tell her simply.

“Are you going to ask please?”

I don’t want to, but I do. “Please?”

She studies me for a couple more moments before letting out an exasperated sigh. Getting up, she enters the bathroom, looking at the tub as if it’s her lifeline.

“I’ll leave you to unwind,” I tell her, heading back out the door. “Do you need anything?”

“No,” she shakes her head.

I nod, heading out the door.

An hour later, Briar’s footsteps are heard coming down the hall. Elara is on one side of the couch, a remote controller in her hand, while I’m on the other, losing to a six-year-old.

She wanted to play Lego Star Wars, which was great. I love that game. I’m quite good at it, too.

It was a bit of a learning curve for her, that’s for sure. She was having trouble with it for a little while, but the second she got the hang of it, she started following me around, killing me over and over again.

We’re on the same side.

“I just want your heart,” she told me with a completely straight face. She smiled at me, and it took everything in me not to text Briar and ask if she raised a psychopath.

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