Brynne #2
“Do you like cats?” Trinity asked, and Scout’s shoulder rose in a shrug.
“Kinda.”
“Dogs?” Ronan asked, and Scout shrugged again.
“Oh, I know. You like raccoons.” Trinity flashed a grin, but Scout’s lips never moved.
“They’re cool.”
“Brynne has raccoons at her house.” My head snapped to Trinity.
“I do not have pet raccoons,” I said.
“I didn’t say they were pets , just that you have them there.”
“I wouldn’t have them if you didn’t feed them all the time.” She really had the audacity to roll her eyes. I glanced at Scout again, expecting her to laugh, or question why Trin was feeding raccoons, or…anything. But she didn’t.
Theo cleared his throat as he shifted in his chair. I glanced at him, but he was looking at the menu too intently.
The waitress came to the table and took everyone’s orders, thankfully breaking up some of the awkwardness. But after she left, a hush fell over us again.
“So, Theo,” Willow said, leaning forward to look around Ronan. Theo’s eyes slid to her. “Can I set up a meeting with you?” Ronan let out a breathy chuckle as he shook his head.
Theo blinked. “A meeting?”
“I need to talk to you about something?—”
“We can talk?—”
“Professional,” she finished. “It’s professional business.” Ronan laughed again and rested his hand on Willow’s back.
“Professional business,” Theo repeated, his lips twitching. “Sure thing. I’m free…anytime.”
Willow beamed at him before giving Ronan a look that said she was incredibly proud of herself.
She sank back in her chair, giggling at something Ronan whispered in her ear.
Demi and Theo began talking—I heard something about needing a ride to the market and Demi asking when his car would be delivered—but Scout was still staring at the table.
Trinity scooped an ungodly amount of butter onto her bread before popping it in her mouth. Her shoulder rested against mine as she chewed, and I braced myself for whatever she was about to say.
“Guess what, B?” she said loud enough to get Scout’s attention. “We have someone else who likes Dropzone.”
My brows lifted. “Oh, yeah?”
Scout’s skeptical gaze slid to us.
“Do you think we could convince her to play with us?” Trinity mock-whispered.
“I don’t know.” I tapped my fingers against the table as I watched her. Scout was staring at us with wide eyes now, her face flushed. “You think she’d want to? We’re really good.”
“You are not,” Theo chimed in. My eyes snapped to him. “You lose all the time.”
“That’s not true,” I shot back.
“I’ve played with you both. I’ve seen how awful you are.”
Trinity shoved more bread in her mouth before speaking around it. “Then it sounds like we need definitely Scout on our team to carry us.”
As soon as her name left Trin’s mouth, she shut down. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself in a hug, and the sight of her self-soothing made my heart ache. Her gaze dropped to the table again.
Fuck.
Theo noticed, and his posture mirrored hers— defeated .
Apart from Demi, Willow, and Ronan trying to keep conversation light, no one said anything.
I was honestly surprised Trinity stayed as quiet as she did.
She always had a knack for breaking the tension with the delicate touch of a bull, but she was off her game tonight.
She was more thoughtful before she spoke. Careful , almost.
The food came to the table, and everyone began eating, seemingly thankful for the distraction.
I thought Trinity said Scout had been living with Theo for the last three months, but from the way they were interacting with each other—or not interacting with each other—you’d think they were perfect strangers. Like they’d never met before.
Scout played with her food, her body small and eyes focused on what was in front of her.
Even when Theo tried to talk to her, she acted like he’d said nothing.
But it was more than that—Theo was trying, I could tell that much, but there was a wall up around him.
Like he was scared of lowering it, of letting her in.
Which wasn’t surprising. The man was emotionally stunted, scared to feel anything remotely real.
But I guess I assumed he’d be different with his child.
She wasn’t just anyone, but with the way he still had a protective layer of emotional chain mail on, I knew he wasn’t likely to get anywhere with her soon.
More than that, though, she had on the same exact armor. Maybe they were strangers, but there was no denying that Scout was most definitely Theo Caldwell’s daughter.
My phone vibrated in my bag, pulling me from my thoughts. It was then I realized I’d been staring at them for way too long, and Scout probably thought I was a psychopath.
I took a deep breath as I grabbed my phone from my purse. It was a message from some guy on Pulse asking me out for drinks. I quickly deleted it and moved back to eating my fish.
With the school year coming up, I wouldn’t have time to date. I needed to just delete the stupid app, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it yet. A part of me craved the connection I had with people—okay, maybe not connection , but definitely attention.
It wasn’t that I needed it, but it was nice hearing someone say I was pretty. It was nice going out with someone and pretending—just for a night—that I wasn’t as lonely as I truly was.
When I originally got on Pulse, I was only there for hookups.
I wanted something casual, something fun, nothing serious.
I just wanted a night of debauched sex and then to move on the next day.
But then I went to New York, had a few dates, realized how sleazy men were, and decided against it all.
Apart from casually messaging with a few guys lately, I had no interest in anyone.
I had two hands and a basket full of buzzy friends if I needed to get off. I didn’t need a man .
Bringing the glass of wine to my lips, I took a sip as I scanned the restaurant.
It was packed, but that wasn’t unusual. Dockside was becoming one of the most popular restaurants in town.
As I glanced around the table, I found Theo staring at me.
Our eyes met and held for a moment, and something passed between us—something sharp, electric, unknown.
My breath stuttered, but I didn’t look away.
Not when he was staring at me so intently.
But then he shook his head, an unreadable, almost pained expression falling over his face. He looked away, his lips tightening. Disgust? Annoyance?
Why did he keep doing that? What was wrong with him?
Grabbing my phone again, I sent three words to Theo.
ME:
What’s your problem?
I watched as he pulled his phone from his pocket, almost surprised it had vibrated. He read the message, flicked his eyes to me, then tapped his fingers on the screen.
THEO:
Nothing.
ME:
It’s obviously something.
THEO:
It’s a lot of somethings, Brynne. My life is a fucking mess right now. Sorry I’m not in an acceptable mood for you.
He shoved his phone back into his pocket and stabbed his steak so hard the table rattled. I blinked at the message, at his reaction, at my total lack of awareness.
I stared at the message, rereading it again and again.
Of course, he was going through a lot. Of course, he was overwhelmed and wouldn’t feel like talking, or teasing, or flirting.
Scout likely took up one hundred percent of his mind, and it was unfair and ridiculous I thought his mood had anything to do with me—with anything other than the turn his life had taken.
“So, big big bro.” Trinity rested her forearms on the table as she stared at Theo. He took a long drink of his water, his brows raised.
“What?”
“Have you decided what theme you’re doing for the party?” Trinity asked.
Scout’s brows pinched together as she pushed her fries around on her plate, but didn’t say anything.
“House themed?” He shook his head. “I don’t know, Trin. Just?—”
“Can I plan it?” she blurted. “Pretty please? I promise it’ll be amazing, and?—”
“Yeah, sure,” he said dismissively. “Let me know what you need, and I’ll give you the money.”
“What party?” Scout asked quietly. Again, a hush fell over the table, and everyone looked at her.
Theo shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Trin and Mom thought it would be fun to have a housewarming party,” he explained. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing. Just stared at her plate. “You can invite your friends.”
She scoffed, but still kept her mouth tightly shut. She didn’t need to say anything, though. That sound was full of a million unsaid words.
“Do you want to help me, Scout?” Trinity asked quietly. Ronan’s eyes flicked between his sister and his new niece. “I definitely need your?—”
Without a word, Scout shoved from the table and stormed away, roughly wiping at her cheek. Theo stared after her, a maelstrom of emotions on his face. He sighed as he pushed his chair back, but Demi rested her hand on his arm.
“Let me talk to her,” she murmured. His shoulders fell as he gave her a grateful smile.
Suddenly, the air-tight armor still wrapped around him made sense.