Page 106 of Winning Brynn

"I don't even know what to say."

"Well, if a yeast infection isn't the problem, you could tell me what is."

She blows out a long sigh then stands and takes the empty pizza box to the kitchen. She takes her sweet time collapsing it into a small enough size that it will fit inside the recycling box, facing away from me so I can't see her expression. Wiping her hand over her forehead, she finally turns back to face me.

"This wasn't how I was planning to start the conversation." She rubs the material of her shirt between her fingers, her voice soft.

It isn't lost on me that she's using the island between us as a barrier, so I heave myself off the rug and take a seat across from her instead. Reaching my hand across the marble countertop, I weave my fingers through hers.

"What's wrong?"

Her face twists, her eyes dipping with something like regret. "Issy was here today."

The words jolt through me like lightning. "What?"

"Salem was asleep," she says quickly. "Napping in her bedroom. I wouldn't have let Issy in if she was awake, you know that, right?"

I nod but say nothing. My heart is racing, my palms sweating so profusely I'm sure I'm drenching Brynn's hand, but she doesn't pull away. I'm grateful for it, but at the same time, I almost wish she would.

She swallows, and I can feel her working herself up to say something. "I think you need to talk to her."

"No."

"Leo..." she pleads, her tone sad and beseeching.

"No, Brynn. I have nothing to say to her, and I don't want to hear anything that she wants to say to me."

"But—"

"She didn't tell me she was pregnant. She fucking abandoned Salem! And she couldn't even be bothered to do it herself."

I'm so sick of saying the same thing over and over again. Of having to explain why what Issy did hurt me so badly, why it scarred me so deeply that I'll never be able to forgive her. I thought Brynn understood.

I thought she was on my side.

"I know she's your friend, but I really need you to look out for me with this."

Her eyes soften. Gently, she releases my hand and walks around the island to stand in front of me. Taking my face in her hands, she soothes her thumbs back and forth across my cheeks. "I am looking out for you."

Unintentionally, I feel myself leaning into her touch. "Then why?"

"Because there's more to the story than you know. And I think, if you heard her out, you might change your mind about her. You might...you might consider letting her back into Salem's life."

I rear back, my chest heaving in disbelief. Her hands drop from my face, hanging between us with a weight equal to the one in my stomach. “Whatever she said to you was bullshit. Surely, you can see that. She’s just saying what she thinks you want to hear so she can get what she wants.”

“No.” Her voice is so small, full of conflict and guilt. “I understand why you think that. But her explanations made sense, and she took accountability for the hurt she’s caused everyone, and I believe her. I know that’s hard to hear, and I fucking hate that I’m hurting you with this conversation, but I do, Leo. I believe her."

"I can't believe you're asking this of me."

Her eyes tear, andfuck,it kills me when she cries. But I'm too wound up, too angry, to do anything about it right now. "I wouldn't be if I didn't truly think it was the right thing."

"I don't understand how you possibly think this is the right thing."

"Because she's Salem's mom. "

"Salem already has a mom!" I roar.

Maybe it's too soon to make such a statement and to believe it so wholeheartedly. But it's true. And it has nothing to do with my feelings toward Brynn.

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