Page 125 of Pretend You Love Me

Brooklyn

I actually sleep in a bit the next morning, so when I come down to the kitchen, everyone has already finished breakfast. Zadie and Ethan are peeling potatoes while Christmas music plays softly in the background. I scan the room - my eyes fall on Kip, holding Micah. He’s talking happily with Zadie and Ethan. None of them have spotted me yet.

“We readRefugein one of my book clubs,” Zadie says, sliding a peeler across a potato without looking up. “It’s one of my favorite books.”

Kip is staring down at Micah who is sound asleep. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Are you still writing?” Ethan asks.

“I took a break for a few years, but I’m back at it again.” Kip’s eyes are still down. I want so badly to join this conversation, but I stay still and just listen.

“That’s wonderful.” Zadie points to a bowl. “Ethan, will you pass me that?”

He hands it to her, and she starts adding her peels.

“Will it be coming out anytime soon?” Ethan asks. He stops peeling and lays his peeler on the counter.

Kip finally looks up, his eyes flick to me briefly and then back to Ethan. “Yes. It’s coming out in March.”

“I can’t wait to read it.” Zadie finally notices me. “Brooklyn, good morning. Are you hungry? Everyone else is about to start the snowman competition, but I can warm some food up for you.”

"Not hungry.” I don’t move.

Kip’s jaw tightens slightly, and then he opens his mouth to say something, but Micah starts to stir and fuss.

“Looks like someone is ready for breakfast number two.” Ethan starts to walk toward Kip.

“I think it might be breakfast number three. I’ve lost count.” Zadie shakes her head. Ethan takes Micah from Kip, bouncing him up and down while Zadie washes her hands. “I’ll meet you guys outside after I feed him.”

Without a word, I head over to the foyer and start getting into my snow gear. I can feel Kip behind me, but I don’t acknowledge him. I’m pretty sure he’s just watching me, and I hate it. It’s making me irrationally angry and somehow irrationally horny too.Good Lord, someone save me from my hormones.

The snow has stopped falling, but I overheard Will say last night that it was supposed to resume later this evening and continue through the night. When I step outside, I have to shield my eyes. The snow is so bright in the morning sun.

“Brooklyn, join us.” Eli waves. He’s working in the snow with Juno and Keene.

I walk over. “What are we making?”

“An octopus!” Juno’s eyes light up.

Eli stops gathering snow for a moment and says, “What happened between you and Kip?”

I groan. I didn’t come over here to talk about this. “Really?”

“Are you just mad he had his brother fingerprint that house?” Keene asks. He pauses from rolling a big snowball to look up at me.

“That seemed like a reasonable thing to do,” Juno says. She’s smoothing some snow to make legs.

“I would have done the same,” Eli adds.

“Me too,” Keene nods in agreement.

“Do you want my help or not?” I’m not hiding my impatience.

They ignore my tone, and Juno says, “I like him.”

“He seems like a nice guy.” Eli agrees. I scowl at him.

“Yeah, I really like him too,” Keene chimes in.