Old Flame︱Brennan Sorrengail

memories are weapons

THREE+ YEARS AGO...

"LET'S MAKE A DEAL," BRENNAN CALLED OVER HIS SHOULDER. I rolled my eyes at him, leaning against the counter to his left. He continued dicing up vegetables for his homemade stew. Delicious, but time-consuming.

Very, very time-consuming.

"I don't like your deals," I said, grabbing a carrot and stuffing it into my mouth. Brennan hummed and slid another my way. I ate that one, too.

"What's wrong with my deals?" he asked.

"At first, you make them impossible to refuse. Then you eventually get something better out of them." I raised my eyebrows at him, gesturing to his soup. I'd never been better at cooking than Brennan, but I could make do. Especially if that meant I could sit here with him and not study.

The Healers were a lot smarter than people thought. And people already thought they were smart.

"Well, Mil, this deal is in your favour. Promise." He set the knife in his hands onto the chopping block, turning towards me. His lips tugged up with a mischievous grin as he stepped closer. I stepped away. Though, I couldn't resist my own smile as my back hit the counter behind me.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, gazing up at him. He kept leaning closer and closer and closer before I could finally feel his breath on mine.

And then he backed away.

"Oh, nothing." He crossed his arms. "Just waiting for you to listen to my deal."

Huffing, I stepped up to him and ran a hand up his arm. "And if I don't?" I whispered.

He narrowed his playful eyes at me. "Then I'll have to keep my hands to myself, Lena."

Oh, he wanted a game?

Then I guess I'd have to win.

I moved to his shoulder, fluttering my eyelashes at him. And I hummed, tilting my head. As delicately as a maiden, I looked up at him, pouting. "Let's see how long you'll last not touching me, Bren." I wrapped my arms around his neck. He brushed his arms against my hips.

"How long do you reckon I can go?" Brennan leaned towards my ear and let out a warm breath. It soaked into my skin, sending a shiver up my veins. "A minute?" His lips barely drifted down my neck. "Two?"

A wimpy hum left my lips. "I'll take great offence to anything past thirty seconds."

"Then I guess I'll settle for ten." I didn't have a chance to react before he lifted me high in the air and dug his nails into my legs that wrapped around his waist.

His lips crashed against mine, and I melted into him, running my hand through his hair. He found something sturdy enough to press me against—a wall, maybe? I didn't care. I was too focused on the way he felt against me. I didn't get much time with him. Between the Healers and the Riders and our families...we never saw each other anymore.

But now—right now—he was all mine. He was all that mattered. It was just us.

Brennan muttered some sloppy curse before sucking on my bottom lip. And—my head spun and spun and spun like a gold thread on a spindle as he ran his hand

Under

My

Shirt.

And everything was so hot hot hot

Using his tongue to draw a line on my jaw before sucking on my neck, Brennan ran his hand even further up my shirt, brushing his thumb against the thin fabric of my bra.

I had just pulled his shirt over his head when my father and younger brother walked in. Brennan and I both jolted up, lips swelled. My cheeks heated.

"Gross!" Jason shouted, gagging. Dad smacked his hand over my brother's eyes, and then his own.

Oh, fuck.

Brennan set me off the counter and threw his shirt back on. I rocked on my heels, clearing my throat once he was finished.

Dad opened his eyes and glared between us. "Of all places, why the kitchen?"

"Circumstance?" Brennan offered. I shoved him away in hopes of shifting the blame his way. He deserved it. I didn't.

"Sorry." I clapped my hands together. "But we're making stew!"

Jason perked up. "Really?" He rushed up and wrapped me in a hug. Then Brennan. "I call first bowl!"

Tugging my lips up, I ruffled the six-year-old's hair, rolling my eyes. Jason swatted my hand away. "Come on, I told you not to do that!" he exclaimed.

I shrugged and chased him into the living room. "Too bad!"

☾

My eyelids drooped more with every step I took towards my room. Brennan was waiting for me. Had been for at least forty minutes.

Next time Violet dropped by asking me to help her study for whatever test her father gave her, I'd have to get him to join us. Not because I couldn't keep up (I could—I really could), I just wanted to spend every minute possible with him. Because after his break was over, I'd have to go even longer without seeing him. And after that...

I couldn't bring myself to think about what would happen when he graduated. It hurt too much.

Overestimating the integrity of my door, I leaned into it too hard, aiming straight for the hard ground below. And I waited to smack onto the floor. And I waited. And waited.

Brennan's words hit me instead. "Are you okay?" he clamoured, righting me and resting his hands on my hips. "Fuck, Mil, how tired are you?"

I fought to keep my eyes open. "Not at all" —I yawned— "why?"

He sighed and propped me up on my feet again. I just slumped into him. He let out a soft chuckle and guided me onto my bed. "Gods, you're exhausted."

A step. He stepped away.

"No," I mumbled, reaching out for his hand. I must've missed it at least thirteen times before he interlocked our fingers. "Stay."

"You sure?" he whispered. "I don't have to—"

"Stay." I finally gained the energy to look up at him. "Please."

"Okay." He lay beside me. Scooted me closer, too. "About that deal..." he trailed off.

"Fine, fine." I moved my head onto his chest, snuggling closer to him. His lips found my hair. "What is your little deal?"

He snuck his arm around me. "You wait for me. Say yes when I ask to marry you. And I'll cook for us every single day."

I jolted up, snapping my head towards him. "What?"

"I want you to marry me." He brushed his lips against my arm. Moved to my shoulder. "As soon as we can, I want to marry you."

"You want to...marry me?" I tried to laugh. I ended up crying instead. "Seriously? Because if you're joking, it's not funny, Bren—"

"I'm serious." He held my gaze and wiped my soaked cheeks. "I want to marry you."

Another half-laugh, half-cry rushed past my lips as I threw my arms around him. He squeezed me even tighter. "I love you," I choked out. "Gods, I love you so much."

"Then say yes."

I nodded, burying my face in the crook of his neck. "Yes. Of course, I'll marry you."