The only tragedy was that, for the next part, Brynn had to let go of Hallie’s hand. But it was worth it as she walked by Ruby, who’d started to clock that something was happening, before stopping at her neighbor’s table. “Susan? Could I bother you for a second? I’m talking with Kathy, and I wanted your input on the games. You make them, right?”
“Sure do,” Susan said, her face all smiles as she quickly walked down her side of the tables, back to where Kathy was standing.
Brynn made sure to give Ruby a hard, dismissive glance when she walked by her again, which, as Brynn expected, only made Ruby focus on her more.
When she got back to Hallie, she quickly grabbed her hand again.
“Brynn, what is going on?” Hallie’s voice was still steeped in confusion, and she had that exasperated tone that Brynn had grown to love. If it was coming from Hallie, of course.
“The hats and games would be perfect for the cancer wing at the Boston Children’s Hospital. I was thinking that we could get a set of games for The Stone’s Throw, too.”
Hallie’s whole face softened, likely realizing why something like this would matter so much to Brynn. She liked that Hallie knew these things about her and was surprised even more that she found comfort in Hallie knowing the hard, messy stuff.
She didn’t want to hide anything about who she was or how she’d become this way from Hallie. Regardless of whether it made anything between them more complicated.
“But still,” Hallie breathed out, “it’s got to be thousands of dollars worth of stuff.”
Brynn would have spent ten times that just to see the look on Ruby’s face when Brynn focused on Kathy and Susan again and said, a little louder than necessary, “I’ll take them all. Everything you have with you today and whatever you have at home. And I’d love to get a card so that I can talk to you about commissioning some additional pieces.”
As a general rule, Brynn didn’t flaunt her family’s wealth. Ever. But in this moment, and with the knowledge that it was doing something good while also very likely making Ruby insanely jealous, she couldn’t regret her decision even a single bit.
Ruby shouldn’t have ever made Hallie feel like she wasn’t good enough. And Brynn was in a position to make sure that Ruby connected those dots.
Which, apparently, she had, judging by the glowering look that she was throwing in Brynn’s direction before furtively looking at Hallie.
Brynn spared Ruby one last pitiful glance, the type that you couldn’t grow up affluently without knowing how to do, regardless of the fact that Brynn never employed it. But she wanted to make it absolutely clear that they wouldn’t be stopping at her table next.
For all the judgment that Ruby had thrown Hallie’s way a few weeks ago, her art was surprisingly and tackily kitsch. Sure, the items she was selling were all made out of metal, but ultimately, they were… you guessed it… coastal-inspired. Metal formed into waves. Metal formed into a seagull. Metal formed into a beach umbrella.
It was basically the equivalent of Kidz Bop putting out a metal album.
Really, Brynn had been expecting a little more originality, but apparently, Ruby also had bills to pay, even if she clearly didn’t want to give that impression to people that she dated. All while making those dates feel terribly if they couldn’t live up to some unrealistic standard.
Hallie caught the look that Brynn had just bestowed on Ruby, and her mouth dropped open. She lowered her voice. “You are not doing this just to make some sort of point to her, are you?”
Brynn smiled cheekily, trying not to let the throaty timbre that Hallie used distract her too much. Right now, she had wares to purchase. “Why can’t two things be true? I really do want to give these hats to the children’s hospital, but I won’t pretend that I didn’t love seeing the look on her face.”
And Hallie’s, too, she realized, as the other woman’s lips bloomed into a vibrant smile. “This is too much, Brynn. You don’t need to?—”
Brynn cut her off, exhilaration coursing through her veins. She felt like she’d just sprinted around a track, and her heart was skipping around wildly in her chest. Yes, from what she’d just done, but also because of how Hallie was looking at her. Like Brynn had just traveled halfway across the world and hand-mined her a diamond or something. To Brynn, though, it was the bare minimum someone should be doing for Hallie. “Iwantto. Considering this me paying you rent for the last six weeks.”
“Why would I make you pay rent?” Hallie argued.
Brynn laughed and admitted, “Honestly, I don’t know. But it felt like a good enough reason a few seconds ago.”
Hallie groaned, even though she was still smiling. Brynn would do anything to keep that look on her face, especially when Hallie’s dimple popped. “You truly do live in another world.”
Brynn handed her credit card over to a still slightly shocked Kathy, but she kept her focus on Hallie. Really, it felt impossible to look anywhere else. “You aren’t the first person to tell me that, and you probably won’t be the last.”
Accepting that there was no way that she was going to talk Brynn out of this, Hallie looked at the table, still piled high with items. “Well, I hope that they deliver. Because there’s no way we can walk home with all of this stuff.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Istill cannot believe you did that,” Hallie muttered for about the dozenth time.
Brynn had spent the last ten minutes coordinating delivery directly to the hospital, which Kathy and Susan were, unsurprisingly, more than happy to accommodate.
Instead of responding, all she received from Brynn was a cheeky, satisfied smile.
