Heartthrob ✓

five

F I V E

BRETTON LOOKED UP FROM HIS FOOT AND BACK AT ME IN CURIOSITY.

It was definitely warranted because I was applying golden nail polish to the nails of his toes, but I had no one else to do all of the sisterly stuff with that I felt comfortable with calling up right now. No one else was technically allowed to see me in such a mess like this, like I was untethered and bound to break into a million tiny pieces.

Cliche, I knew, but what else could I say? Kane Marchant just had that effect on a girl.

"Sorry," I apologized, shooting my cousin a lopsided grin. "I just really needed something to laugh at and your toes just had to be that thing."

He nodded, leaning back on the couch so he could stretch his feet out further on the coffee table, placing his hands behind his head. "Fair enough. But why did you call me, Fiona? I asked to miss the last hour of practice tonight just for you, so this better be good."

I looked up at him in shock, realizing I forgot all about his training schedule and how I could be jeopardizing his performance in the upcoming games he would be playing in. "Shit, I forgot. You should go then -"

"My nails," he chuckled, pointing at his golden toenails and even I had to smile. "Besides, I actually want to be here, Fiona. You know me, I never had a problem with being there for you no matter how needy you may be."

I would've protested but we knew each other better than to pretend he was wrong.

"Besides," he said as he moved one of his arms from behind his head to wrap it around my shoulder and pull me closer to him. "It's okay to need things."

I froze at his words, just letting those fill the space between us. I felt guilty about being the reason he had skipped out on the rest of his training, especially when considering the friendly fire between Nolan and I at work earlier. Not only was a stupid bet in the office on his head, but his reputation and his perspective of his career. He had an amazing one and it would be selfish of me to let him squander it because of my broken heart - I wouldn't allow it. This wasn't family over all when so many people were depending on him to provide his talents.

No, I couldn't nor wouldn't be that selfish. "Well, I'm not ready to tell you, so you can just crash here if you really care about the nail drying that much. I'm not telling you about my ex until I'm ready and probably not until you're ready as well."

"In my defense," he started, "you really seemed to put a lot of work into that paint and I am definitely one to appreciate art. Not to mention the fact that I wore my lucky socks today and I don't plan on ruining them because of you and your late night paint-my-toes sessions."

I shouldn't have laughed because that would only invite him to ask, but I did and so did he. "I'm always ready, especially for your guy drama considering how much I talked your ear off over Marilyn. So, what aren't you telling me about this guy?"

I rolled my eyes. There it was, that soft heart that always landed him in leagues of trouble. I knew that if I told him anything, it would only make everything worse. I wasn't ready for that, carrying the heavy burden always felt better than seeing what decimates after you dropped it.

"Now is - not the time," I said slowly and carefully. I doubted there ever would be a time, even, everything was too unstable right now and it was the last thing anyone needed.

-

I WAS THANKFULLY ABLE TO CATCH THE BUS WITH ELIJAH THIS MORNING.

It was a fun experience, him informing me of all the people in the office who would make my life hell.

"Whatever you do," Elijah warned sternly, "avoid Meredith Marks at all costs. If you have to communicate with her, be as tight-lipped and formal as you can because she means business. She's the great-niece of one of the first women to work for the Baldwin's which is tragic because there were only three generations of women, but she takes it upon herself to make sure she is the only outstanding female. Rumor has it, Elise who worked here was bullied into resignation."