Page 110 of Cocky Brutal Sinner

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out.

Ryan

Waffle has started taking food right off my plate.

Along with the text comes a picture of his and Pippa’s black cat, holding a piece of shrimp in her mouth and looking unapologetic.

James

Must be Pippa’s influence.

Nate responds with a laughing emoji. After Luke hearts it, I do, too.

They must have known Luke was coming here tonight. I suspect he texted the other guys to say that I’m forgiven—mostly, anyway.

The guys are talking to me again, and Luke has made some sort of peace with Brinley. My mother hasn’t apologized or demanded an apology, but she did email me a new recipe for ribollita. Things aren’t fixed yet, but they’re moving in the right direction, step by step. For the first time since that disastrous poker night, I feel like I can breathe.

That leaves just one problem to solve.

I head back to the walk-in supply closet where it’s quiet and call my lawyer.

—

I stay at Terrace until it closes again. This time, when I creep into Brinley’s bed, she really is asleep. I strip off my clothes and climb in on the other side. Even when she’s asleep, it’s comforting just to be beside her.

“Beau,” she murmurs sleepily.

“Shhh. Go back to sleep, Brinley baby.”

“Come here.” She grabs my arm and pulls me over to spoon her. She fits so nicely against my body, her head under my chin, her legs tangling with mine. Her hair is soft against my skin. “How was work?”

“Luke came in.”

She gasps. “He did? What did he say?”

“That I’m a Meg.”

“What?”

“I’ll explain later. The gist is, he’s not ignoring me.”

“Why do you think he came now?” she wonders.

“I’m guessing that Maura’s health scare reminded him that life is short. Holding grudges doesn’t feel as important.”

“True. I think the girls felt that way, too. I was afraid they’d really shut us out forever.”

“So was I, right up until Luke walked in tonight.”

Brinley’s quiet for a moment. “So I didn’t completely ruin our lives, after all.”

“No, you didn’t. I’d still be here though, even if you had. There’s no one else I’d rather be ruined with than you.”

She hums contentedly. I meant to wait to tell her until tomorrow, but it’s so good to see her happy that it just slips out. “The building is yours now.”

She half sits up. “What?”

“My lawyer is transferring ownership of the Copper Cup’s building into your name. You were right. I fucked up buying it without asking you. It wasn’t right to make a big decision like that about a business that isn’t mine. I can’t undo it, but I can at least make it right.”