Break Me (Brayshaw High) - Meagan Brandy Page 0,30
focus back to me, but the conversation is squashed when Zoey’s little hand finds mine.
“Hu-mon, Uncle Bro! Be on my team.” She gives a hard jerk of her head and I follow as she tugs on me. “Let’s beat these boys!”
We all laugh, and then we spend the next hour playing keep away, refusing to call it a night until Raven is passed out on Maddoc’s lap, and Cap is lifting a sleeping Zoey off of a beanbag.
It wasn’t that long ago that it used to be just the three of us staying up late together, especially since Maddoc hardly ever slept before Raven, and then when she came along, his nights were full.
Not that they weren’t right there with us most evenings, but before they’d get too tired, they’d disappear—what couple doesn’t want a few non-sleeping hours in bed alone?
Me and Cap would last a few longer, watching movies and whatnot, but that changed too, as it should.
I’m not and never will be mad about them spending time with their girls, and Cap has two to balance his time with.
Shit, I’ll sometimes head to my room when it gets late so they don’t feel bad and stick around for me. I know they do sometimes.
They would never, fucking ever, want me out of the mix and I love them for it, but they deserve their alone time.
Right now, though, sitting up in my room at two in the morning, the others passed out in theirs...
Not sure I’d admit it, but I’m itching beneath my skin.
Will this forever be my new normal?
My brothers with their girls, and me by my damn self?
Untrusting.
Unattached and uninterested.
A fly-by fuck at best, not that I keep things quick, but ties are cut when the door closes behind me.
That’s how I like it.
Ain’t it?
Nice and easy, thoughtless.
Careless.
Girl-less?
My phone beeps on the bed at my side and annoyance heats my skin.
This is when the calls and texts always roll in, after fuckin’ dark when I’m useful.
With a sigh, I pick it up, and as I read the name on the screen, a frown takes over.
Little Bishop.
Suspicion forms in the pit of my stomach, and it feels a lot like disappointment, which annoys the shit out of me.
I scoff to myself.
I should have known.
I’ve got to admit, she almost fooled me, acting all ordinary and genuine and shit, or as ordinary as a kind of odd girl who was robbed of... everything can manage.
But a text in the middle of the night?
Fuckin’ please.
I guess she’s no different than any other girl after all, but looking to entice with some late-night pillow talk, probably hoping I didn’t already cut out of her bunk ass town and will offer to bring her to my hotel for what she really wants but hid well.
She acted all unaffected, like I wasn’t her type or something.
Yeah, okay.
I’m everyone’s type and here she’s proving it.
This is good shit, though. I nod to myself.
Real good.
Now that the curtain’s dropped, I can forget about everything else.
I roll over, flipping my pillow in the process and close my eyes.
I toss and turn for another hour before curiosity eats me up inside and forces my hand.
I pick up my phone.
Let’s see how quick, harmless little Bishop faded, allowing her true colors to ring through now that she realizes her opportunity to bag a Bray did to.
I open the text and read it.
My face falls, my phone right there with it.
Fuck.
I glare at the ceiling.
Shit.
I flip over, growling into my pillow as something that feels a lot like thrilling frustration stirs in my gut.
I ignore that shit, but I can’t ignore the rest.
I jump up, reach for my phone and shoot a text out to Mac, my head falling back after it’s good and sent.
I guess it’s fuckin’ settled.
Brielle
I rush into first period with a minute to spare, a half-eaten yogurt hidden at my side, and throw myself into my seat, Micah already in his beside me.
Micah nods his chin in welcome, but focuses on his phone while I try to catch my breath.
The bell rings not a second later and the teacher wastes no time taking roll. As he does, my phone begins to vibrate in the front pocket of my backpack.
I set the yogurt down and pull it out, my eyes freezing on the screen once I see the name flashing across it.
What the hell?
I hold it in my palm, staring at it until it stops ringing, and then it rings again.