Page 96 of How to Prevent a Fumble

Owen hugs her, cradling the back of her head as he pulls her into him, whispering something that makes her laugh into her ear.

I’m too annoyed to find it gross.

“Where’s Briar?” I ask, looking around. Maybe she’s trailing behind.

Stepping back, Isla looks me up and down. “She left for your place, why?”

A rock forms at the pit of my stomach as I frown. “I just thought she’d come say hi, is all.” Looking down, I try not to pout. I knew she was going to be mad. Of course she was. I just thought she’d get over it quickly.

My sister looks at Owen before placing her hand on his chest. “Can I have a second with Leo?” she asks, shooting him an awkward smile.

He nods, his eyes flashing to mine.

Things have been better between Isla and I. Of course they have. I feel like they haven’t truly been as they used to be since last December, and I get it. I don’t blame her for the distance. I just wish I knew how to fix it.

“Leo, you know why she left.”

My lips thin as I look around, not exactly feeling up to being kicked while I’m down.

“She likes you, you know,” she whispers, folding her arms. She tilts her head, trying to catch my eye.

“I’m not so sure about that,” I chuckle sadly.

“She does. But this thing that you keep doing? Where you think that money is going to impress everyone? You have to stop, Leo.”

“But you?—”

She shakes her head. “You did help me. And I’m forever grateful. But you know what Leo? That didn’t give you the permission to do what you did last year, and you know that.” She takes a deep breath. “You have a history of buying people things and expecting something out of it, and I think that’s part of your problem. Why would anyone want to accept them if they think you’re going to charge them for it another way?”

“I never meant?—”

“Your intent doesn’t erase impact, Leo, even if it’s not how you meant it. I love you, and I know that you bought me that apartment and did all of those things for me not expecting anything in return. But then you still took something, and I think you need to sit and think about how that looks to other people. I think you need to sit and think about how to give up even a little control in life, yeah?”

Obviously she has a point, but I feel an argument rising within me. I’ve only wanted to help, and that should count for something. But before I can say something, Isla looks behind her, making sure Owen isn’t within hearing distance.

“She’s been through a lot, Leo. Don’t you think she’s scared of being trapped in something she can’t get out of again?”

It feels like ice is poured down my back. Like I was punched in the gut. Like I was hit by a car going eighty miles-per-hour.

Because she’s right.

She’s right, and there’s no argument to be had.

I watch as my sister ducks her head, trying to capture my eyes. The same color green stares back at me, and I can see asher face relaxes that she understands that for once, I’m not going to argue.

Because she’s right.

She’s always been right.

When I got to my apartment it was empty, the SUV I bought sitting in the parking garage where I left it, bow and all. Briar’s old beater, however, was nowhere to be found.

Throwing my stuff by the stairs, I turn on all the lights, wishing that Briar would magically appear.

Because it’s cold here without them, and I wonder how I functioned for so long without the growing collection of plants on the windowsill—Ken, as Elara affectionately calls the middle one, is starting to get a patch of brown on a leaf. I make a note to ask them what kind of plant it is and what I need to pick up to make sure he’s happy.

When did I start talking about plants like they’re people?

The stuffed rabbit on the couch catches my eye, and I sigh, brushing my hair back from my forehead. When did I start missing the way Briar yells at me? Or the clicking of Champ’s toenails against my nice, expensive hardwood floors? I didn’t even want a dog. In fact, that was a hard rule.

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