Page 105 of Winning Brynn

“You wanna go to sleep?”

She nods, closing her eyes and pretending to snore. I do the same, leading her to erupt in a symphony of giggles that has me smiling for the first time today. Lifting her under the arms, I set her on her feet. She wraps her hands around my fingers for balance until she feels steady on her own.

We’re still no closer to seeing her first steps, but I’m confident they’ll come soon.

“Should I get her into bed?” Brynn sits up, pulling the material of her t-shirt over her knees. She’s in the same one she wore to bed last night—the one that belongs to me. I like the sight of her in my clothes.

“No. I’ve missed her today, so I’d like to do it.”

“Okay.” She smiles, and there’s a little more truth to it this time. Reaching over, she scoops Salem off her feet and pulls her into her arms. Peppering kisses all over her chubby cheeks, she rests their foreheads together and sighs through her nose. “Sweet dreams, baby girl.”

I take a little extra time putting my daughter to bed. Knowing Isabella is in the same building, only two floors down from where we are, makes me want to cling to Salem and never let go. So, I read her one story, then start another, even though she’s struggling to keep her eyes open.

I just need to hold her and know that she’s safe. Remind myself that so long as only my name is on the paperwork, she can’t be taken away from me. Not legally, anyway. And there won’t ever come a day in Hell when Isabella has an opportunity to take her in any other way.

She needs to go back to Bali, and maybe then, I’ll be able to breathe again.

“Did she go down okay?” Brynn asks as I stumble back down the hallway, my eyes squinting from the transition from dark to light.

“She was asleep before I even got her in the crib.”

“Are you hungry?”

I nod, moving toward the kitchen to fix us something.

“I already ordered pizza.”

My chest sags in relief. I really couldn’t be bothered to cook, being as physically and mentally exhausted as I am. “Have I told you lately that you’re amazing?” I say, flopping down onto the couch beside her and pulling her legs into my lap.

“Some would say I’m the best.”

“Would they? That's interesting.”

She throws a cushion at my head with a light laugh. It’s refreshing. I haven’t heard it in over twenty-four hours, and my heart was starting to feel the effects.

The pizza arrives—mine with meat, hers with extra pineapple because she’s a psychopath—and we eat in silence on the living room rug. It isn’t an uncomfortable silence, per se, but I once had a more relaxing colonoscopy. She’s fidgety, and it’s putting me on edge.

I toss a crust into the box between us and pin her with an expectant stare.

She wipes a smudge of pizza sauce from the corner of her mouth, eyebrows tipped as she waits. “Can I help you?”

“You gonna tell me what you're thinking about? Or are we going to keep pretending you're not thinking yourself into a panic attack?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"The only other reason you could be fidgeting so much is if you have a yeast infection." I pause, cocking an eyebrow. "Do I need to get you some anti-fungal medication?" I pretend to get up. "Would you prefer an oral or vaginal suppository?"

"Sit down."

My lips twitch as I plop myself back down on the rug. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Brynn. And it was bound to happen, really, given all the friction from the sex we've been having."

She covers her eyes with a groan. "Please stop."

"I'm serious. Yeast infections are common, but they're uncomfortable, so we should get it sorted as soon as possible.."

"I don't have a fucking yeast infection!" she fumes, her cheeks a bright shade of scarlet. "And why the hell do you know so much about them?"

"Saw a commercial once about an egg thing that you put up there." I nod my head toward the space between her legs. "I first thought it was a sex toy, so I was intrigued and did some research. Wasn't as fun as I first thought, but I guess it wasn't wasted time after all."

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