Page 72 of How to Prevent a Fumble

“I do, actually,” I say simply. In fact, I’m pretty sure I know more about what she’s been through than he does. Better than he does, too.

“Then don’t do this.”

“Your sister can make her own decisions.”

“That’s not what you were saying last year.”

I shrug. “Things change. Lessons are learned.”

I get the frustration. I do. He has a right to be nervous. To be mad at me.

But I also know Briar, and she really does deserve to do whatever she wants.

That being said… so did my sister.

“Look. I’m sorry about it all. I’ve apologized over and over. I sold you the apartment. Gave you the key. I can do whatever else you want to apologize. I just want to move on from that.”

“I just don’t want her to get hurt, is all. If you like her, you need to be damn sure that you’re set on that. I’m not picking up the pieces of her heart again, Leo. I can’t watch that happen.”

I nod. “It’ll be her decision whether anything happens every step of the way. She makes me want to be better, Owen.”

“Then do me one favor, Leo.”

I look up, biting my cheek. I’m nervous about what this could be. “What?”

“Please get to therapy. For real this time.”

When lunch finally rolls around, Owen, Cooper, Emmett, Dirwin and I all gather at a table, ready to make a gameplan.

Our heads down, Cooper has a piece of paper in front of him, the wordsLeo Gets the Girlscrawled in his messy handwriting over the top.

I had told him we shouldn’t make it as obvious, but he said I just need to be careful where I put my shit.

I’ll probably put it into my phone and burn the paper after. That’ll work.

“Okay, Owen, you said she likes ice cream?”

He nods, looking at me from the corner of his eye. He’s still not thrilled, and I still have a lot to prove to him before he’s sold on this idea.

“Speaking of which, we got Rita’s last week. Root beer ice? Disgusting.”

“It’s good!” Owen defends.

“Shut up, no it’s not.”

“Fuck you, man.”

“In your dreams, Crosby.”

Cooper clears his throat. “This isseriousguys. Are you kidding me? Get it together. We have work to do. Okay. Ice cream. Got it. Leo, you’re going to ask her to get ice cream at least once a week. If you think she may be on her period, then a couple times a week. No, scratch that, you’re going to bring her ice cream. Find out her favorite and make sure it’s there for her at all times.”

I nod as he writes his notes down.

“Okay what’s next?” Cooper mutters, studying the list.

“She really likes cooking. She has that cookbook going,” Owen starts.

A cookbook? I haven’t heard anything about that.

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