Chapter 23

Brynley

That whole thing about new dating status, new you?

Amazing.

I – honest to the original Uhura – don’t think my tits have ever looked this good in sequins.

However, my mom’s ancient piece of shit curling iron that I’m borrowing?

Less than amazing.

But…beggars shouldn’t be choosers.

Not that I begged to use this thing.

In fact, I don’t typically beg and what I used to beg for, I never will again.

My attempt to fluff out the latest finished piece in a more flattering fashion prompts my mom to tease from the doorway, “If you add anymore volume to your hair, Bryn, you’re gonna be in surround sound.”

I meet her gaze in The Frost Luxury Hotel bathroom mirror and flash her my middle finger.

“ Classy. ”

“ Sassy. ”

“You do know you can be both, right?” An exchange of snickers precedes her offering up my cell. “You left it in the mini fridge next to a half-eaten cotton candy sandwich cookie.”

“Half-eaten?” I playfully retort while shifting the device from her grip to mine. “I knew I was forgetting something.”

Mom giggles, shakes her head, and leans her shoulder on the outside wall she’s standing beside.

One swipe reveals to me missed texts as well as a voicemail.

Given that the former requires less effort than the latter, they’re handled first.

Vanessa: You can move in Wednesday.

Vanessa: James is leaving two days early for the BFTC.

Vanessa: His college friend Wainright is gonna be in the same city for some doc conference so they wanna meet up.

I do my best to smile at the news.

While Vanessa doesn’t need a roommate while her boyfriend is off training for four months to be a Fed or whatever, she doesn’t mind letting me crash in his absence.

We’re on the same schedule.

We like a lot of the same foods.

And we dislike a lot of the same people.

Pretty sure that it’s going to be the second-best living situation I’ve ever had.

“I’ll be off your ship by Wednesday,” I announce in tandem with typing my response.

“You don’t have to deboard,” Mom states, doing her best to maintain the metaphor. “You are welcome to stay aboard.”

“ Onboard ,” is swiftly corrected as I hit send. “And no. You’re Caribbean clear ready to stop living in a hotel. ForSulusake , you’re meeting a realtor for a coffee in the morning to look at condos.”

“Condos with adequate guestrooms, which means you can live with me rent free for a while.”

“And return the cock blocking favors I owe you from high school?” Mirth quickly makes its way into my crystal gaze. “ Nah. ”

Her light beige complexion instantly reddens.

“Is there a reason you hadn’t told me you and Clark were a thing?”

Mom’s lavender cardigan covered shoulders innocently bounce. “It never seemed like a good time?”

“A good time?”

“The right time.”

“To tell me your life of celibacy wasn’t leading you to a convent?”

“That I had found the love of my life.”

Surprise over the proclamation momentarily stuns me silent.

“You know I loved your dad-”

“More than a rational person probably should’ve.”

“-but I know we weren’t right for each other.” An unexpected exhale of relief reverberates around the restroom. “ We made it work for you. ” Guilt grows in her soft gaze. “Which is what a lot of people do when there are children involved.” Her fingers fold nervously together in front of her. “And I don’t regret it, Bryn. It just…required me to wait a tad longer to find my person. ” She lets her head rest dreamily against the wall. “The one I can’t wait to wake up to be with each morning. The one I’m happy to see most nights before I fall asleep. The one who…wants your blessing before he’ll ask me to marry him.”

There’s no stopping my entire frame from melting in awe. “He wants to marry you?”

She bashfully nods on a bite of her bottom lip.

“Mom!!!!” High-pitched squeals are followed by me throwing myself at her. “That’s amazing!” Our embrace is tight and warm and long. “I’m so happy for you.”

She waits until we’ve pulled apart to remind, “He hasn’t asked yet .”

“But we both know he’s going to.” There’s no stopping my head from tilting in curiosity. “Is he meeting you for coffee with the realtor?” A small gasp escapes. “Is this going to be your first place together ?!”

“We’re um…” an unrecognizable emotion flashes itself ever so briefly. “We’re still discussing those things.”

“You mean fighting about.”

“I mean relationships are about compromise and weathering more than just the sunshine together.”

Sensing where this conversation is headed leads me to returning my attention to my cell. “ Pass .”

“Bryn-”

“ Mega pass. ”

“Br-”

“ Beam me up elsewhere level of pass , Mom, ” sardonically slips past my lips. “I do not wanna talk about the captain of the USS Assholeoprise who had the balls to accuse me of being a camouflage cunt for hire sent aboard his ship to seek and destroy his entire crew.” Answering an unexpected text from Puppet Boy is attached to me sneering, “Never mind his. Total. Fucking. Disregard. For you or all you’ve done for his billionaire basking shark ass for the past goddamn decade.” My furious stabbing at the keys momentarily pauses to shoot her an indignant glare. “Except he isn’t a fucking basking shark because they’re social creatures and can establish stable relationships while he can’t! Someone rises to the fucking challenge of getting to know him, figuring out how to fucking date him, learning to fucking lov-” Bitterness flows across my tongue burning away the end of the sentence. “And what’s his response? Accuse her of wanting his money – which she’s never asked for – selling their most intimate moment to a trash mag – ruining her own ability to walk outside without being hounded by the media – and then hitting her as well as her mom with a bullshit lawsuit!”

“Rest assured, Bryn, that lawsuit issue will be dealt with. I have us an attorney if it truly comes to that.”

“Is he single?” I playfully poke in an effort to switch topics.

“ Bryn. ”

“I’m not really into being someone’s mistress but tough times call for tough choices.”

“ Brynley Elizabeth! ”

“She has to finish getting ready for work right now; however, feel free to leave a message after she listens to this voicemail.” A teasing wink shot in her direction is followed by me placing the call to my inbox on speaker and resuming the hair battle I had momentarily left.

After the opening announcement about how many messages I have, the actual recording begins, “ My name is Colleen Post. I am head of the HR department for The Bower and Powell Aquatic Institute. This message is intended for Miss Brynley Winters. ”

The announcement of her position ceases me from curling another strand.

“ Apologies for the late Sunday afternoon call. There was an issue with the rehabilitation release of Booger, the green sea turtle, and then that paperwork was a nightmare which put all other certification paperwork behind and-” Her abrupt cut off causes a small eyebrow crinkle. “ Not important to this call. Apologies again. Little scattered brained. It’s been an afternoon. ”

I helplessly smirk in understanding.

“ I’m calling to officially offer you the job of public aquatic adviser. ”

My mom’s entire demeanor instantly shifts.

“ While you are beyond qualified for several of our other marine life programs, the lack of openings at this time is the reason I am extending to you this particular position. However, your name and information will be on file and in the system for the other departments to include in their consideration process when there are openings. ”

Despite knowing that going into the interview, I can’t help but feel a shark tooth of disappointment.

I crushed the whole thing.

I was charming.

And witty.

And whimsical while simultaneously proving how well versed in the field of marine life I am.

In spite of knowing that I was technically going in to discuss becoming a giftshop girl or tour guide Barbie, I held out hope that they’d have something better to offer me.

But obviously they didn’t.

Which sucks.

However, hearing I’m qualified and that there’s a possibility this position will just be temporary is less shitty.

“ We would truly love to have you here at The Bower and Powell Aquatic Institute. Please give me a call back at your earliest convenience, so we can arrange a time for you to come in and get started on your paperwork as well as arranging your background check. Thank you. ”

Hearing the automated response from my phone regarding what to do next prompts my mom to cautiously inquire, “Are you gonna go for it?”

Wordlessly meeting her gaze in the mirror occurs.

“ Are you gonna go swim in the deep unknown or are you gonna stay treading water exactly where you are? ”