Dandelion

Twenty-Two

Briar walked off to find some food and a towel with Jane-Anne in tow. She was oddly quiet, Briar looked over to her. Jane was walking with her head low and her hands in her pockets. Her eyes had bags under them, and she looked as if she had been crying.

"Everything okay, sis?" Briar paused and made Jane-Anne face her. Jane gave her a small grin but wouldn't fully meet her eyes.

"Yea, just stressed about the wedding next week is all," she lied. Briar shook her head.

"What's going on?"

"It's nothing, really. I'm okay," Jane smiled and squeezed Briar's hand. Briar sighed and nodded before they started forward again.

"I see your friends with Myrick," Briar said slowly, trying to lighten the mood.

"He's sweet, and a good listener," Jane giggled. Briar bit back a grin. They didn't say much else as they reached the porch where Ada sat next to Cordelia. The two women laughed as if they had been lifelong friends. Cordelia looked up and smiled.

"Girls. Briar you're soaked, where's Eli?" She looked around her.

He's still playing on the waterslide with Greyson and the guys. Greyson was hungry and I need a towel."

"I've got a towel inside, and there's a bunch of food left over on the island bar if you want to make you guys a plate," Ada said and climbed off the swing with Cordelia.

"Don't worry about getting the floors wet, I've got to mop anyways from all the foot traffic," Ada waved her hand, and they all followed her inside. Briar walked to the kitchen while Jane-Anne disappeared with Cordelia and Ada. Briar grabbed a paper plate and started to stack food on it when she heard someone walk in. She glanced up to see Haley there leaned in the doorway. Briar's blood became hot, as her hands began to shake. She looked back down and went back to stack more food on the plate. Haley was passive aggressive and downright rude. She didn't even try to hide how she felt about Briar.

"So, you're my brother's new flavor of the week, huh?" Haley said bitterly. Briar shrugged, trying to remain cordial. Maybe she was just being protective.

"I mean, we've been seeing each other almost a month now, but sure," Briar sighed.

"It won't last, you know that right?" Haley chuckled and walked into the kitchen more as she leaned against the other side of the island bar. Briar stopped making the plate and looked up to Haley.

"Maybe not, but either way I don't see that being any of your business," Briar bit out. Haley sneered.

"You're not special. I could snap my fingers and he would leave you without batting an eye. You are nothing," she pushed further. Briar huffed a laugh as she looked to the doorway, biting on her lip and then looking back at Haley.

"Let's see it then," Briar dared her. Haley narrowed her gaze.

"What do you want from my brother? Money? Fame? That little side show act you two put on earlier? Have to say, I find slugs more entertaining. You are nobody, just a slutty single mother looking to mooch off someone with money, all because your baby daddy couldn't provide, am I right? You want my brother to pay for your little bastard?" Haley ripped at Briar, and she ripped the wrong fabric.

"The fuck did you just call my son, bitch?" Briar bit out.

"A little bastard? Lemme guess, you got knocked up by some rando and now you see my brother as a piggy bank," Haley laughed. Briar chucked her plate at Haley. And tore around the island after her.

"What in the hell is-"

Briar laid into Haley with one hit to the jaw, sending her flying backwards. Someone wrapped Briar up in a bear hug.