3. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Brynn
"Brynn Bear!" My older brother beams at me as I wheel my luggage through the arrivals gate of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. "You look exhausted."
After thirteen hours of flight time with a layover in the middle, I've reached the point of tiredness when death would be a welcome reprieve. It also doesn't help that my internal clock is set to midnight, when it's only four o'clock in Seattle. No matter how much I travel, jet lag never fails to kick my ass.
"Thanks," I deadpan. "You don't look so hot yourself."
His dimples flash in my periphery. "I always look hot."
With a ball cap pulled low over his head, to hide his infamous long hair, and a light waterproof jacket wrapped around his body, my brother is as inconspicuous as he can be for one of the best soccer players this country has ever produced.
Even so, we're beginning to attract some lingering glances and hushed whispers from the people we pass.
"We need to get out of here before the circus starts," Alex says, taking me by the arm and dragging me through the airport.
I probably should have had one of my girlfriends pick me up, but the lease on my apartment expired while I was in London, and I was hoping to guilt trip my brother into letting me stay with him until I find another place.
I have no idea how he'll respond to the news that I'll be gate-crashing his bachelor pad, but he'll get over it. I'm his baby sister, and he's never been able to say no to me.
"Looks like I traded one rainy city for another," I say as we finally step into the frigid winter air, harsh sheets of rain falling down on us.
"Good to be home, isn't it?" He grins, pulling me through the parking lot until the headlights of his Bugatti Veyron flash as it unlocks.
The temperature is only just above freezing, and I feel it through to my bones. My hoodie does little to keep out the January chill, and I shiver aggressively as I slip into the passenger seat, grimacing at the water dripping off me and onto the stark-white leather. "The Seattle Strikers are paying you too much," I tease through rattling teeth.
Alex pushes the button for my heated seat then reaches into the backseat for a coat before draping it over my knees. "Nah, they know what I'm worth."
"I'm sure."
"So, am I taking you back to your place?" he asks, the engine roaring to life.
"Um, about that."
His brow drops instantly at my tone. "What?"
"I don't really have a place anymore, so I was hoping..."
"Nope." He shakes his head. "Don't say it."
Batting my eyelashes at him, I give him the look I've mastered over the years to get what I want. "Can I stay with you?"
"Goddamnit, Brynn."
"I'm not that bad, am I?" I school my features into a sad expression.
"Oh, hell no, don't look at me like that, Brynn Bear." My lips slip into a pout as my gaze falls to my lap. "You know I can't say no when you pull out the sad eyes."
"Please," I beg, my voice sweet as cinnamon.
"Fucking hell." He sighs, clenching his eyes shut as we stop at a red light. "Fine. Yes, whatever, you can stay."
I let loose a short squeal of victory and perk back up in my seat. "You're the best big brother ever."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." He rolls his eyes. "So, what happened to all your shit from your apartment?"
"I had a company pack it up. It's in storage now, so I'll just have what I need delivered to your place until I find somewhere new."
"You're a pain in my fucking ass, you know?" he says, but his tone is thick with affection.
"I know." I smile.
"And you're a spoiled brat."
"I know that too."
He falls silent, staring out at the Seattle skyscrapers as we drive through the city. The few trees we pass are barren, stripped bare back in November. But as lonely and cold as they look, my heart warms with the knowledge that I’m home.
London was amazing—of course it was. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world, especially around Christmas time, but there’s nowhere quite like home.
"But you love me," I say quietly.
"But I love you," he agrees. "And I'll always help you if you need it, so stay however long you want."
Leaning across the center console, I drop a quick peck on his cheek. "Love you too, big bro. But don't worry, you'll be able to bring back all the goal diggers you want in no time."
"Hold the fucking phone!" he yells, his hands white-knuckling the steering wheel. "You're telling me I can't bring girls home while you're here?"
"I'm saying you'll have to host your orgies elsewhere for the time being, unless you want to traumatize your sister for life."
"Man, I really hate you sometimes."
"I hope you have fresh sheets for the guest room," I sing, ignoring him. "I could really do with sleeping for the next ten years, and I don't want to contract an STD while I do it."
Murky light filters in through a crack in the drapes as my eyes blink slowly open.
According to the time on my phone, I've slept for over fourteen hours. I needed it, though. Between the endless meetings with the clothing company I'm working with, numerous photoshoots, and PR events, I was lucky to manage four hours a night while I was in London.
I didn't even manage to eat before I crashed last night, barely making it through the door before my eyes were closing and my head grew too heavy to hold up.
Thank God Alex changed the bedsheets while I washed the flight grime from my body in the shower. I was too tired to care about venereal diseases, so I would have crashed out regardless, and that's a decision I would have undoubtedly regretted this morning.
Stumbling through his vast apartment in my pajamas, I make my way into the kitchen, where my brother is frying bacon on the stove of the kitchen island.
"Please, Jesus, tell me that's for me."
Alex's eyes flick up, widening as he takes in my appearance. "Jesus, Brynn Bear, you look like you spent the night at a crack house."
Scowling in response, I pull out a stool at the island, the wooden legs screeching against the tile floor. "Shut up and feed me."
He laughs as he serves me up a plate of steaming eggs and bacon then slides a cup of coffee over the marble countertop with a little more attitude than necessary.
"Have I told you recently that you're the best big brother ever?"
"Yep." He nods. "Yesterday. And three days before that when I called to tell you that I'd bought you concert tickets for that band you like, in case you'd missed the sale. And then last week, when you forgot to send our aunt a birthday gift, so I had her favorite flowers delivered in your name. And then—"
"Okay, that was a stupid question."
Alex has always been the better half of me. At twenty-eight, he's four years older than I am and has been there to protect me, hold my hand, and clean up after my fuck-ups since the day I first opened my eyes.
Between the two of us, he's the most sensible, which is a terrifying fact for anyone who knows us, considering the absolute chaos that follows him around wherever he goes.
Perhaps sensible isn't the right word.
Practical.
Yeah, that's it. Alex is the more practical one.
But the point is, regardless of what he's dealing with in his own life, he never fails to show up for me when I need it.
And though I play on it sometimes, there will always be a smarting of guilt in my soul. Because of what we went through in our early years, my brother missed out on truly being a child.
He did everything he could to protect my innocence back then, but in turn, he lost his own.
"The boys are supposed to be coming round for pizza tonight, but I can cancel if you want me to," he says, shoveling a forkful of food into his mouth and barely chewing before he swallows.
"You really don't need to do that," I assure him. "I can just hide in my room, if you want me out the way."
He snorts. "As if you'll be anywhere other than where the food is."
"Fine." I grin. "You got me. But for real, if you'd rather I didn't crash your boys’ night, just let me know."
"It should be fine, so long as no one hits on you." He wipes a hand down his face. "I'm not in the mood to punch one of my best friends in the face tonight."
Shaking my head with a smile, I remind him, "I'm twenty-four, you know? You're going to have to accept that I'm going to meet someone at some point."
"So long as it's not one of my teammates, I'll find a way to deal."
That earns him a roll of my eyes. "You're so overprotective."
"All the best big brothers are." He stands and carries his plate to the sink.
"Leave that," I tell him. "You're letting me stay, and you cooked me breakfast. I can handle the cleanup."
"You sure?"
I nod. "Yeah. Go take a shower, and do whatever it is you do during the offseason."
"Fine." He swipes his keys off the island and pockets them. "Thanks, Brynn Bear. I'll probably head to the gym for a bit, maybe run some errands, but I'll be back this afternoon. Will you be alright on your own?"
"Yep. I need to shoot some content for a sponsored post, so I'll be busy. Don't worry about me."
Then, I shoo him out the door, clean the kitchen in record time, and head back to bed for another hour—or three.