Page 32 of Winning Brynn

Like I've done it a thousand times before.

"No problem." He clears his throat, and I snatch my hand away, nursing it in my lap like he burned me. "I actually need to talk to you about something."

Spooning some eggs into my mouth, I nod and wait.

"We have an away match in Chicago next week, and I need you and Say to come with me."

"But the season hasn't started yet."

"It's just a friendly, but it'll help us get our heads back in the game before the major league begins in a few weeks."

I don't know why this news comes as such a surprise.

It shouldn't, since my brother has been playing soccer all his life and I know well and good how these things work. I guess we just hadn't explicitly discussed what would happen if he had to travel for a game, and the thought hadn't crossed my mind.

I've been slowly getting the hang of caring for a one-year-old, but traveling with one is a different ball game.

And truthfully, it's not like I've had to do much. This week, my nanny responsibilities have been minimal. I care for her while Leo is at practice, but he takes over as soon as he's home, and that's when I’m done for the day. He hasn't asked me to help during the evenings or nights, doing it all himself and leaving me to my own devices in my bedroom, where I'm usually catching up on social media work.

Honestly, I don't even know why he wanted a live-in nanny.

I'm basically a babysitter, just with a better salary.

"Okay." I swallow and nod slowly. "So, how is this gonna go?"

"You'll fly with us on the team plane, and I've already spoken to Coach Carter about us having adjoining rooms so you can help me with Say if she fusses during the night before the game."

"And when do we leave?"

"Monday."

"Well, okay, then."

“Yep.” He nods sharply, the awkwardness of the aftermath from me touching him still lingering like smoke between us.

“Is there anything else you need from me today?”

“No. I’m taking Say out this afternoon, so you’re all good.”

I hate the way my stomach sinks in disappointment because I wasn’t extended an invite. Not that I would have accepted. I have someplace I need to be today, but the thought would have been nice.

During the hours that we’re both in the house, we avoid each other like we’re self-isolating, which, until now, has suited me just fine.

But my hormones are fickle little things, and apparently, they don’t hate Leo as much right now as they did before.

We don’t even eat together, with the exception of the eggs I’m eating now. It says a lot that this is the first meal Leo and I have shared since I moved in a week ago, and he’s not even eating it. I don’t know why I’m only now starting to care.

Maybe I’m starting to tire of feeling like I’m not wanted. Or maybe I’m PMSing.

“Right, well, thank you for breakfast,” I say, standing quickly and loading my plate into the dishwasher at record speed. “Frankly, I’m surprised it wasn’t poisoned, but I’m going out now, so I guess I’ll just see you later?”

“Yeah,” he says quietly. “Later, Brynn.”

He looks up at his cap that I’m still wearing but doesn’t ask for it back. And I don’t offer it back to him either, despite knowing I should. I just leave it on my head and walk back to my room to get ready.

I’m still wearing it even as I catch a cab downtown to my destination, the heady scent of him following me the whole way there.

Text thread between Leo and Brynn

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