Leeann ruthlessly pokes me in the cheek. “You should haveseenhim blushing when she threatened to murder him, Wynn. It wasadorable.”
My face heats at the memory alone, because itwasadorable. More specifically,shewas adorable. “She was just…quite suddenly…very close.” And she’s too cute for words. And I’ve thus far been surviving purely off staring at her public Leopard profile picture. No camera could hope to capture all the many, many constellations scattered across her nose and cheeks. She’s more freckle than skin, and—yet—each is distinct, an entity of its very own. My hand grips the clothing over my heart while the hammering in my chest refuses to subside.
Wynnter mutters, “Explain to me again why you can’ttalkto her? It’s a revolutionary concept, I know, but you might just learn it’s effective.”
“Wynnter Gray,” Leeann chides, “youknowyour sister wouldn’t stand for such a thing.”
“She wouldn’t stand for clear, mature, adult communication?” His dark brows ascend. “You’re right. What am I thinking? Only elaborate schemes, which involve renting U-Hauls and wearing blond wigs, will ever work.”
“I’ve been trying foryearsto set you two up in happy relationships. Ifclear, mature, adult communicationworked, I’d be a great grandmother by now. Am I?” Leeann’s hands launch into the air. “No!”
“My condolences,” Wynnter grunts.
Leeann’s eyes narrow so sharply I get chills. “Don’t you want your sister to be happy?”
“She seems pretty happy to me.”
“No, she doesn’t. She is sad. And lonely.”
“Ah. My mistake then.”
I get the feeling that Wynnter has dealt with his grandmother a littletoomuch in his lifetime. Maybe all the Winslows arecrazy, and wouldn’t that be wonderful? What an endearing family to marry into. “If I may,” I begin, “I don’t absolutely need to stay here. I have other accommodations available with my grandparents, but if you wouldn’t mind playing along and pretending that I am staying here, I’d appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome to stay,” Wynnter notes. “In fact, I think we should give it a few days, then tell August that your bed caught on fire.”
My head…tilts.
He proceeds, relentless, “You’re too tall for my couches. She’s got a pull-out sofa. One day of her seeing you curled up in a ball and trying to sleep on these things, and she’ll take you in with my confirmation that you’re a decent guy.”
“You’re…sure that’s how things would play out?” I ask.
A near-wicked gleam cuts through Wynnter’s brown eyes. “Yep. At that point, you’ll be too interesting to let slip away. If I know my sister, she’s already invested.”
My heart pitters.
“That’s why she calledme.”
My heart patters.
“This disaster you’ve fabricated has already piqued her interest. You’ve garbed yourself in a story, Alister. And she’s nothing if not feral in her curiosity.” His eyes roll. “Don’t get me wrong. I think all of you are idiots, but…” He stands, offering me his hand as his attention skates across my blond wig. “It’s clear you’ll do what it takes to meet her crazy where it is. If you want my opinion, it’s probably prudent to learn whether or not we can stand each other…assuming we might become brothers someday.”
Heart floating, I rise and clasp his hand. “To our glorious siblinghood.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And to the arson that will get us there.”
His lips quirk as his grip tightens. “Well. Yeah. I guess so. But don’t push it.”
Chapter 3
?
What a stellar investment.
August
“December’s freshly painted pink toenails kicked back and forth, back and forth while she lay reading on the floor in August’s office. Elegant as a princess, she turned the page, lifted her red pen, and scribbled her distaste in the manuscript’s margin.”
