Page 44 of Winning Brynn

Brynn:Yeah, but you love me.

Isabella:*eye-roll emoji*

Isabella:He's hot, right?

Brynn:I mean...yeah? Super hot. But what's that got to do with anything?

Isabella:You should fuck him.

Isabella:That would sort your dynamic troubles out real good.

Brynn:That is terrible advice.

Isabella:Meh.

Isabella:You want to do it, though.

Brynn:What gave you that idea?

Isabella:Because you haven't said the opposite.

Brynn:I hate you.

Isabella:Only because you know I'm right.

Chapter Fourteen

Brynn

Leo's been touching mea lot the past couple of weeks.

Not in a weird, I-need-to-make-a-call-to-HR kind of way, just these little touches here and there. A brush across my back when he moves past me in the kitchen, or the tap of his foot against mine while we're both playing with Salem in the evenings.

I'm not even sure he's aware he's doing it.

It all seems mindless to him. And maybe it is. Maybe those brief moments of contact don't register to him at all, but it's the opposite case for me.

I burn everywhere, all the time. If not from one of his touches, then in anticipation of the next one. It's a confusing and unsettling position to be in. This draw I feel toward him. The bone-deep, skin-tingling attraction that I can't seem to distinguish no matter how many times I remind myself that my brother would legitimately skin him alive if he were to return the sentiment.

So, I've reverted back to a more comfortable and familiar state of being, i.e., petulance and insults. Am I acting like an infant? Absolutely. But it's far easier to behave like a child than it is to deal with my feelings.

Maybe I should start taking hemp.

Or see a therapist.

Anyway, it's nine a.m. on a Wednesday morning now, and the man in question left for soccer practice three hours ago. I've started sleeping with the baby monitor in my room so that Leo can leave without worrying about Salem and waking her up earlier than necessary.

Which is a blessing for me.

In no world do I think five o'clock is an acceptable time to wake up, and now I sleep until at least seven. Salem's good like that, waiting until the sun is up before starting her day.

And that's why she's my favorite.

Well, actually, she's my favorite for a litany of reasons, her sleep schedule being just one of them.

But anyway.

I'm taking her out today to the playground because I'm allowed to take her out of the house now. Another blessing. I was beginning to get cabin fever.

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