Page 17 of Cocky Brutal Sinner

Her expression softens. “Fine. I promise, I’ll keep my mouth shut. I know that’s what you want, even if I’m not completely on board. And thanks for the book—I really did want to read this.”

She heads back to our table, book in hand, and I send Beau a text back.

Brinley

Of course! Eden’s totally cool with it.

Beau

Great. I’ll be there in an hour.

Sighing, I shove my phone back in my pocket. I feel an extra twinge of anxiety thinking about tonight. It’s not that I think Eden will really be rude to Beau. I just wonder how our relationship will look to someone else. Whether what we have looks as real from the outside as it feels from the inside, or whether it looks like exactly what it is: two people hiding.

5

BEAU

My forearms ache as I lug the bags of groceries up the stairs to Brinley’s apartment. After my morning gym session, my muscles were sore even before I stopped by the grocery store to pick up wine, risotto rice, mushrooms, four kinds of cheese, and several pounds worth of vegetables.

I hadn’t planned on cooking for us tonight, but I need a chance to think about how to handle the Peppermint clusterfuck. Nothing makes my thoughts untangle and makes sense like cooking does. Maybe making my mother’s mushroom risotto will give me some idea of how to confront Brinley about her secret identity.

Because right now, I have no idea what to say after, “Brinley, I have to ask you something.”

I dig Brinley’s keys out of my pocket and unlock the door. I’m immediately greeted by the sight of a honey blonde woman dancing through the living room with a broom in her hands. Presumably, this is Eden. Also presumably, the music playing in her headphones must be pretty loud, because she doesn’t turn around to greet me. I clear my throat.

“Uh, hi.”

When she doesn’t turn around, I take another two steps into the apartment. I’m about to politely tap her on the shoulder when she spins around and stares at me. For a second, her eyes widen. Then she shrieks bloody murder and whacks me in the stomach with the broom handle.

Fuuuuuuuuck.

Eden might only be 5’6”, but she hits like a hockey forward. I wheeze out a breath and double over, clutching my stomach.

“Oh my god!” Eden cries, dropping the broom and bringing her hands to her mouth. “You’re Beau!”

“Uhf,” I grunt.

“I’m so sorry! You startled me. I thought you were a burglar.”

I shake my head. “Nuhf.”

Just then, Brinley emerges from the bathroom in a robe, her dark hair wet around her shoulders. She cocks her head and stares at us, confused. “What happened here?”

“Broom,” I choke out.

“Sorry, he surprised me,” Eden says sheepishly. “I didn’t realize he’d have a key, and I didn’t hear him come in. I kind of attacked him.”

“Oh, no. Eden’s stronger than she looks.” Brinley hurries over to my side, examining my face. “Are you bleeding? Any intense pain? Do we need to get you to a doctor?”

“M’fine.” My lungs are able to take full breaths of air now, anyway. I almost lean forward to brush a kiss against Brinley’s cheek, but I stop myself. There’s a witness here in Eden, and I know instinctively nobody’s allowed to see me and Brinley.

Eden knows, though. It’s allowed. I could kiss Brinley on the mouth, even with tongue if I wanted to, and no one would bat an eye. It still feels too weird, somehow.

Brinley points to the grocery bags on the floor. “Beau, it’s too much. You don’t have to buy out the entire grocery store before you come over.”

“Yes, I do, because I know your kitchen is completely empty.”

“That’s not true!” she scoffs.