Playing for Keeps (Heartbreaker Bay #7)(96)

“Is someone going to come check me?” Mason bellowed.

“He doesn’t wipe efficiently,” Mindy explained.

Brooke stuck her head out the bedroom door. “Listen kid, your mom’s busy having a meltdown, either handle the paper work yourself or hang on a second.” She looked at Mindy. “Have you actually talked to Linc?”

“Yesterday. He actually had the nerve to get mad at me for my suspicions.”

“So maybe he’s innocent,” Brooke said. “And anyway, what does this Brittney chick have what you don’t?”

Mindy stared at her like she had moss growing where her brain sat. “Boobs that haven’t been ravaged by three babies, for one thing. And a waist! And I bet she doesn’t pee a little when she sneezes!”

Brooke grimaced. “Okay. So what do you need.”

Mindy turned to her. “I need Linc to say he can’t live without me. In lieu of that, I could use a day or two off the merry-go-round.”

“Have you told Linc this?”

“He should just KNOW,” Mindy said and then dissolved into tears again. Right after she took another swig from the half empty bottle of wine.

Even though she and Mindy were currently estranged, Brooke could admit she knew a little something about self-pity. Even more about needing a break from real life. “I’ll take the kids home to Wildstone tomorrow,” she heard herself say. “You can stay here for a few days and rest up, and then meet us there. I was going to come visit you anyway.”

“No you weren’t,” Mindy cried. “You never come visit me!”

This was true enough and there were good reasons for it. Reasons she’d kept to herself. But she’d worry about stepping foot in Wildstone again once she actually made it there in one piece. This whole meltdown thing better not be contagious. Taking the wine away from Mindy, she set it down on the dresser. Then she pulled off her sister’s sneakers and eyed the rest of Mindy’s clothes. “How comfortable are those yoga pants?”

“They’re my skinny weight ones,” Mindy said sleepily. “So not comfortable at all because they’re too tight. I’m not at my skinny weight. Or even my medium weight. I’m at my fat weight, but I threw away all my fat weight pants because my skinny weight self is a complete selfish bitch who thought I had more control than I do.”

Brooke tugged Mindy’s leggings off and went hands on hips. “Min, I know life sucks right now, but that’s never a reason to wear granny panties. Like ever.”

“My skinny panties give me wedgies.” With a purr of contentment, Mindy turned on her side and curled up in just her t-shirt and undies.

Brooke grabbed a blanket to cover her up.

“But the kids,” her sister said softly, eyes already closed.

“I got them, Min. Sleep.”

“Hmmmm. Thanks, Bee. I owe you one.”

“Wiiiiiiiipe meeeeeeee!” Mason bellowed.

Mindy didn’t budge and Brooke headed to save the kid thinking she wasn’t going to have a problem not falling for these kids after all.