Page 9 of Scoring Eden

“So what? You can sleep when you’re dead.” She stands and hurries me off the futon, pointing a manicured finger toward the bathroom. “Go.”

It’s an hour later when I emerge back in the living area, dressed in a little white dress that has been collecting dust in the back of my closet. I’ve showered and blown out my hair so that it hangs in loose waves over my shoulders. My eyes are dusted with pink glitter, my lips painted the shade of cherries.

“Look at you, hot mama.” Aspen whistles. “Who knew you had legs like that hidden under all your sweats?”

Heat burns my cheeks, but there’s a lift to my shoulders that wasn’t there before. A warm sensation in my chest that I haven’t felt in years.

Because I don’t look like Eden the Mom right now.

I just look like Eden.

Aspen jumps up from the couch. Dressed in a brown cow-print tube top and white bell-bottom jeans, she looks the absolute antithesis of me. And though her outfit shouldn’t work on anyone, she manages to make it look incredible.

“Come on.” She takes my hand, pulling me toward the door. “I’m counting on those legs to score me some free margaritas.”

"THE BROTHERHOOD" GROUP CHAT

Roman: Anyone free to hang out until we go out later? I’m bored.

Leo: Not me. The sitter won’t be here for another few hours.

Alex: Nope. Got therapy.

Roman: I still can’t believe you actually go to therapy.

Leo: I can. The dude’s got problems.

Roman: Oh, I know. I just thought he’d have flaked out by now.

Alex: Nothing wrong with a man in therapy. I’m dismantling the patriarchy one session at a time.

Alex: And FYI, not everyone who goes to therapy has problems.

Roman: No, but you do.

Alex: I’m also a man of my word, dipshit. I made a promise to stick it out, and I don’t break my promises.

Leo: Well, I, for one, am proud of you.

Alex: I wouldn’t need therapy at all if you hadn’t defiled my little sister.

Roman: Come on now. We all know that’s not true.

THREE

ALEX

“So, what do you want to talk about this week?”

“My best friend is fucking my sister.”

Dr. Anika Sharma leans forward in her chair, adjusting the round frames of her glasses on her nose, and fails to hide the flicker of exasperation that passes over her face at my statement. “We’ve been discussing your sister’s relationship for a couple of months now. Are you still struggling with it? Or do you think there might be a possibility that you’re using it to distract from talking about things you find more uncomfortable?”

I shift in my seat. Scratching at a patch of skin behind my ear, I let my gaze trail across to the window behind her and stare out at the swaying leaves of the trees outside. “I don’t know what you mean.”

It’s true that since starting therapy two months ago, our sessions have been dominated by conversation surrounding Brynn and Leo’s relationship. But, in fairness, finding out your best friend has been sleeping with your little sister behind your back would come as a shock to any man. Granted, I may not have reacted in the best way. But that’s why I’m here, isn’t it?

To help me process it in a “healthier” way.