Holding my gaze, I can see the uncertainty flicker across her face. The way her pupils dilate, the sharp intake of her breath only adding to my uncertainty.
“No. It's nothing like that. We're not on the run if that's what you mean. We just… We just couldn't live where we were anymore.”
I stare at her a little longer, taking in the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Something you'd only notice if you were lucky enough to be this close to her.
“Alright.”
I know there's more to it than she's letting on, but who am I to demand her secrets when I sure as shit won't be sharing mine. We will leave it at that for tonight, because I'll find out eventually if someone's coming after them.
“Hey, Mom!” Jovie calls from where she's spread out. “I love it here.”
Brynn smiles up at me. “Thank you for helping us out for the next few days. The bed will be fine for us to share, and I promise to leave everything exactly as we found it.”
Stepping over the threshold, I stop her from closing the door completely, trying to figure out how to say that I know there's more to this picture and they can stay as long as they need, but all that ends up coming out is, "I'll see you tomorrow,” as she closes the door gently. The lock mechanism clicking into place only seconds later.
Good Girl.
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 6 - BRYNN
Amoment of peace isn’t something I’ve been able to indulge in very often.
Not as a single parent who works at night and goes to school during the day, all while raising a smart, sassy daughter and babysitting a chaotic parent with no self-control.
This morning is different though.
This morning, I’ve spent no less than thirty minutes in a scalding hot shower, while Jovie skims through every streaming service and television channel on the extra large TV hanging on the lounge wall.
A cloud of steam follows me from the bathroom as I pad down the short hallway of the small apartment and into the living room.
Jovie sits up on the sofa, her nose crinkled. “You smell like a dude.”
I lift the back of my hand to my nose, inhaling the faint smell of cedar and pine courtesy of the soap I found under the sink. “It is kind of boyish, huh?” I agree before shrugging it off. “But I kind of like it. It’s warm. Forresty.”
Jovie rolls her eyes and drops back onto the sofa just as a sharp knock rattles the door.
“You order something?” I joke, walking over and pulling the door open without thinking.
Grizz fills the doorway, his broad shoulders blocking the morning light that’s shooting up the small stairwell. His eyes narrow instantly.
“Don’t open the door without asking who’s on the other side,” he grumbles, his voice low and sharp, instantly cutting through the happy haze that I’d been dancing in. “What if it wasn’t me?”
I roll my eyes. “Then I would have flashed them and slammed the door while they were stunned,” I counter with a smirk, though it falters quickly when he pushes his shoulders back and folds his arms across his chest, tattoos and muscles on full display. A rush of heat blazes through me, like a fire crawling up my chest and neck.
I clear my throat, clutching the towel a little tighter to my body, though to my surprise, Grizz doesn’t so much as glance down at my exposed skin.
His intense gaze stays pinned to my face, and I swallow a nervous lump before I finally force a couple of words out.
“To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Groceries,” he says, stepping aside to reveal bags lined neatly along the landing, mostly paper bags with fruit, snacks, and some bread, but there’s also a couple of others with folded sheets and blankets. “Figured you two could use more than bar food and a bed. I’ll be downstairs opening up. Staff’ll be here soon.”
The heat that had been raging through me like a hot fire suddenly turned to something else.
It became warmth.
Like a hot coffee on a cold morning, or a fluffy hat on your head on a winter's day. It’s a warmth that wraps around you—the kind I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced before from a single gesture.
