Page 6 of Winning Brynn

He falls silent, staring out at the Seattle skyscrapers as we drive through the city. The few trees we pass are barren, stripped bare back in November. But as lonely and cold as they look, my heart warms with the knowledge that I’m home.

London was amazing—of course it was. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world, especially around Christmas time, but there’s nowhere quite like home.

"But you love me," I say quietly.

"But I love you," he agrees. "And I'll always help you if you need it, so stay however long you want."

Leaning across the center console, I drop a quick peck on his cheek. "Love you too, big bro. But don't worry, you'll be able to bring back all the goal diggers you want in no time."

"Hold the fucking phone!" he yells, his hands white-knuckling the steering wheel. "You're telling me I can't bring girls home while you're here?"

"I'm saying you'll have to host your orgies elsewhere for the time being, unless you want to traumatize your sister for life."

"Man, I really hate you sometimes."

"I hope you have fresh sheets for the guest room," I sing, ignoring him. "I could really do with sleeping for the next ten years, and I don't want to contract an STD while I do it."

Murky light filters in through a crack in the drapes as my eyes blink slowly open.

According to the time on my phone, I've slept for over fourteen hours. I needed it, though. Between the endless meetings with the clothing company I'm working with, numerous photoshoots, and PR events, I was lucky to manage four hours a night while I was in London.

I didn't even manage to eat before I crashed last night, barely making it through the door before my eyes were closing and my head grew too heavy to hold up.

Thank God Alex changed the bedsheets while I washed the flight grime from my body in the shower. I was too tired to care about venereal diseases, so I would have crashed out regardless, and that's a decision I would have undoubtedly regretted this morning.

Stumbling through his vast apartment in my pajamas, I make my way into the kitchen, where my brother is frying bacon on the stove of the kitchen island.

"Please, Jesus, tell me that's for me."

Alex's eyes flick up, widening as he takes in my appearance. "Jesus, Brynn Bear, you look like you spent the night at a crack house."

Scowling in response, I pull out a stool at the island, the wooden legs screeching against the tile floor. "Shut up and feed me."

He laughs as he serves me up a plate of steaming eggs and bacon then slides a cup of coffee over the marble countertop with a little more attitude than necessary.

"Have I told you recently that you're the best big brother ever?"

"Yep." He nods. "Yesterday. And three days before that when I called to tell you that I'd bought you concert tickets for that band you like, in case you'd missed the sale. And then last week, when you forgot to send our aunt a birthday gift, so I had her favorite flowers delivered in your name. And then—"

"Okay, that was a stupid question."

Alex has always been the better half of me. At twenty-eight, he's four years older than I am and has been there to protect me, hold my hand, and clean up after my fuck-ups since the day I first opened my eyes.

Between the two of us, he's the most sensible, which is a terrifying fact for anyone who knows us, considering the absolute chaos that follows him around wherever he goes.

Perhaps sensible isn't the right word.

Practical.

Yeah, that's it. Alex is the more practical one.

But the point is, regardless of what he's dealing with in his own life, he never fails to show up for me when I need it.

And though I play on it sometimes, there will always be a smarting of guilt in my soul. Because of what we went through in our early years, my brother missed out on truly being a child.

He did everything he could to protect my innocence back then, but in turn, he lost his own.

"The boys are supposed to be coming round for pizza tonight, but I can cancel if you want me to," he says, shoveling a forkful of food into his mouth and barely chewing before he swallows.

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