Page 80 of Winning Brynn

"Bethan,” Brynn corrects with a pointed look. “What about her? You think she’s a bad influence because she makes choices about her own life that you disagree with? You don’t seem to have a problem with the interesting choices your friends make, or are they bad influences too?”

“Hey!” Roman gapes, his fingers tapping against the wooden arms of his chair. “I am a sensible and upstanding member of the community.”

“You did a keg stand this summer and nearly drowned,” I interject.

He shoots me a death glare in response. Meanwhile, Alex’s gaze ping-pongs between us, his mouth open, words seemingly frozen on his tongue.

“And what about you?” Brynn continues, hellbent on putting her brother firmly in his place. My dick stirs as I watch her, the glower on her face, the angry red tint to her cheeks. She’s sexy as fuck when she’s mad. “You’ve slept with the entire female population of Seattle. Should I stop hanging out with you?”

Alex stutters something unintelligible.

“Well?” Brynn waits.

To his credit, Alex realizes his defeat in this match is inevitable and hangs his head in surrender. “No,” he sighs. “You win.”

“That’s my girl.”

All eyes swing to me. Ah,shit.I meant to say that in my head. Brynn’s lips twitch with both amusement and endearment, her sparkling eyes so soft as she looks at me, her pretty pink-tipped fingers ghosting across her chest.

“Sorry, bro.” I choke, my gaze not leaving hers for even a second. “I was rooting for your sister.”

Thankfully, Alex brushes off my little slip-up. He drops his head to the back of his chair with a sigh. "I'm gonna need a fucking beer if I have to put up with you guys all night."

"Thought you weren't drinking beer tonight." Roman smirks. "You know, since we're playing tomorrow."

"Shut the fuck up, dude."

"Language," Brynn snaps, but her tone is light and teasing.

Across the room, the tiny padding of three kitten paws echoes into the space. Gordon's face appears round the corner, and he heads straight for Brynn, butting his head against her arm that’s hanging off the couch. She scoops him up in one hand and sets him on her lap, where he watches the rest of us like a prince looking down on his underlings.

"So, how has everyone's week been?" Roman asks with a slap of his knees and a smirk smeared across his stupid face.

"You got amnesia or something?" Alex pulls a face. "We've been with you all week."

"Yeah, but Brynn hasn't."

If looks could kill, that fucker would be dead by now.

Brynn, however, is totally unfazed. Crossing her legs on the couch so her bare feet brush my thighs, she pulls a blanket over her lap and takes a swig of beer. "Yeah, it's been good. I took Leo and Say to Poppy Fields."

Alex shoots up in his seat, Salem bouncing in his arms at the movement, and gapes. "What?"

Roman looks between the two of them, his brow scrunched in confusion. "I didn't think poppies were in season right now."

Brynn rolls her eyes, absentmindedly stroking the purring mass of fluff on her lap. "It's a home for orphans."

"Oh." He nods as if he understands, but his expression stays the same. "Why would you take Leo there?"

"I visit sometimes and thought it might be nice for him to see it. They could do with a big donation, and I thought it might persuade Mr. Money Bags over there to loosen the purse strings a little."

"Ah." I purse my lips playfully. "Now it all makes sense."

She shoots me a secret smile, so brief and small that no one else is able to notice it. But I do. I notice everything about this woman.

All the while, Alex continues to frown at his sister. "You've never taken anyone there before."

She shrugs. "I knew Ivy would love Salem, and I wanted to make her happy."

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