Page 85 of How to Prevent a Fumble

Because Leo Warner may be all of the above things, but he’s also a fucking gentleman, which is the most aggravating part.

Why can’t he just be a dick.

Isla walks beside me silently as we make our way around the inner harbor, Peaches, her dog, and Champ sniffing the ground in front of us.

“My brother is treating you okay, right?” she asks suddenly. The conversation until now has been tame. We’ve talked about how she’s caught up on the latest Real Housewives drama, and another show she’s been watching, and I’ve asked about her feelings on the latest Survivor episode.

I adore Isla with everything in me, and she’s absolutely perfect for my brother, but our conversations aren’t usually that deep.

I sigh, instantly wishing I had an excuse to retreat back to the apartment, much preferring to be with Elara right now coloring peacefully in her room. She wasnotinterested in going for a walk, and I was in desperate need of some peace.

She’s started school, and the kid can get grouchy, that’s for damn sure.

“He’s been great,” I say simply, hoping to keep it to that.Infuriatingly so.

She lets out a relieved breath. “Thank god. I was really worried about it. He seems to have toned it down a little recently, don’t you think?”

He has. In fact, he’s been on his absolute best behavior. He even asked me for advice on finding a therapist yesterday, which knocked the wind out of me. Leo? Therapist? Not two words I’d ever think to say in the same sentence.

But that seems oddly personal, and I know from the amount of things I tend to hide from my brother that there are just some things to keep to yourself. I’m not going to tell her about this big step. He needs to come around to it on his own time.

“Yeah, he’s been doing really well. He’s really excited about the season, too.”

Isla eyes me, worrying her lip as she pulls gently onPeaches’ leash, stopping her from chasing a duck. “I just feel horrible. I fell in love with your brother, and I just knew that he was too protective to let it happen. I feel like lying to him had him spiraling for a while there.”

I shake my head. “What your brother went through is no one’s fault but his own. You have the right to love who you want and do what you want. You’re an adult, and he can’t police you. If that made him spiral, then that’s his problem. You should never feel guilty for that.”

Her shoulders slump. “I know. Still. I don’t know. I just feel like I could have handled the situation so much better, you know?”

“Nope. I don’t want you to feel bad.”

She smiles a little, grateful. “Thank you. You know, you seem really good for him.”

I wince, not really wanting to get into this conversation in particular.

“Like, even if it’s fake, I think that you being there for him and all has been great. So thank you. I’m not sure what you’ve done, but I feel like he’s returning back to his normal dumb self.”

He’s not dumb,I want to say, despite me calling him that half the time too.

But I’m the only one who can call him dumb.

When did that change for me?

“Well, he has a lot more room to grow, but he’s been doing really great. And I hope their season keeps going well. I’m sure that’ll help too.”

She nods. “Definitely. Speaking of, are you good to come over tomorrow for the game?”

Isla invited all of the girls over to her place for the football game. Amara will be bringing papas rellenas, while I told her I’d make spinach artichoke dip, and, if she wanted, homemade pizza. I also asked if Zara could come too, to which she said of course.

“Yeah, I’m excited to see everyone.”

And I am. For as exhausted as I felt after last weekend, getting out and being social was good for me. And unlike last weekend, it’s just for a couple of hours, and I can go right home and climb into bed.

“Me too!” she exclaims, a giant smile spreading across her lips.

“I have something to admit,” Heidi says, her face twisted with embarrassment.

“What?” Mila asks, flipping her beautiful hair over her shoulder.

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