The Summer Deal (Wildstone #5)(12)

“Oh, Brynn,” Raina said softly. “We didn’t want to be right.”

“It’s okay. I was too trusting.”

“Baby, that’s nothing new,” Olive said. “You’re sweet and kind to everyone.”

“You make it sound like I’m perfect,” Brynn said.

Olive smiled. “I love you, Brynn, more than life itself, but perfect you are not. When someone finally does push your buttons too hard, you walk away and cut them out of your life.”

“That’s not true.”

“Middle school, CeeCee Stone,” Olive went on. “She stole your clothes from your locker in gym class when you were in the shower. She was suspended, and even though she lived right down the street, you never spoke to her again.”

Brynn sat up straighter, with a frown. “Does she still live down the street?”

“No, they moved away years ago.”

Good. And of course she’d never forgiven her. She’d ended up naked in front of the entire class because CeeCee had wanted to see if she “looked gay like her moms.”

Not that she’d ever tell them that part. Ever. They’d never forgive themselves. They’d been through enough.

“And then there was summer camp,” Olive said. “You had some problems with a girl there for years.”

True. And Kinsey hadn’t been like the other bullies she’d come across. Nothing with Kinsey had been personal, which almost made it worse. She’d discounted Brynn without any apparent reason, leaving her out, completely ignoring her, as if she hadn’t existed.

For a girl who’d felt invisible for most of her life, it had cut Brynn to the core. “What’s the point of this walk down Brynn’s Bad History?” she asked. “Are you saying I should make up with Ashton?”

“Absolutely not,” Olive said.

“But for people who don’t actually cause you real, long-lasting harm, maybe you can find room in your heart to forgive them,” Raina suggested softly. “Just a little. Just enough to let go of some of the anger and resentment you carry around.”

“I’m not full of anger and resentment,” Brynn said in automatic defense.

“Just think about it,” Raina said. Then they each kissed her and went into the kitchen to cook dinner.

Find room in your heart to forgive . . .

Okay, Brynn was self-aware enough to know that might actually be a thing she should try. And maybe she’d work on that. But first— She reached for her cellphone, bringing up the contact info Eli had given her at the hospital.

BRYNN: If the room’s still available, I’m in.





Chapter 5


From ten-year-old Brynn’s summer camp journal:

Dear Moms,

OMG, this camp does like only one veggie a year or something. This year it’s canned green beans. I’m going to die and I’m NOT KIDDING. Don’t they know they can drive to the grocery store and buy fresh stuff?

Also, my glasses are missing. I think Kinsey hid them, because when I stubbed my toe, she laughed.

She’s still mean.

Eli said he’d help me find the glasses, but he’s good friends with Kinsey so I don’t trust him.

I’m not going to tell you any of this in my real letter to you, you’d be upset for me.

Love you,

Brynn

KINSEY WOKE UP the next morning wrapped around a huge, tattooed, badass body made of pure muscle, sinew, alluring heat, and strength. She lifted her head and found melting dark-chocolate eyes on her, making her breath catch. Funny that such a tough guy had a soft side. Even funnier that she was his soft side.

“Deck,” she murmured, closing her eyes again. “We talked about this. You can’t just break in and climb into my bed. You have to wait to be invited.”

He lifted a big hand and pushed her hair back from her eyes. “Am I unwanted?”

She realized he was flat on his back on one side of the bed, and that she’d curled herself up against him, a leg and arm thrown over his body, her head smooshed into the meat of his shoulder. Her body felt sated and boneless, and memories of the things he’d done to her in the middle of the night had her going damp for him again.

He was waiting for an answer, his eyes still warm, a slight smile curving his lips. She shook her head at him. “You know just how not unwanted you are. I proved that a time or two last night, I think.”

“Four. Four times.”

She snorted and pushed him.

He didn’t budge. One of the things she loved about him. He was as badass as they came, but he was also laid-back and easygoing. And best of all . . . he didn’t fuss over her like everyone else tended to, even though he was a head nurse at the dialysis center. He was pragmatic and never shied from reality. But he was also the best distraction from the hell of her life there ever was. “I’ve gotta get up,” she said. “I’ve got”—she squinted at the clock—“only thirty minutes to get ready.”

“Good thing, then, that you only need twenty.” Rolling her flat onto her back, he pressed her into the mattress, holding her there with his deliciously warm body.

“Yes, but that leaves you only ten minutes to do your thing,” she managed, already breathless. “And we both know you like to take your time.”