Page 50 of Clouded by Envy

“More than Luca’s?” He grinned.

Bray cocked her head to the side as if in thought. “That’s a hard question. He does read me stories.”

“You can stay this size tonight, so I can be your favorite cuddle partner.”

“I’m willing to try this. I’ve never had a cuddle partner before,” she murmured.

“You’ve been missing out, then. But kissing partner sounds better.” Wrapping his arms around her, Wes pressed his mouth against hers, and pulled them both down to the mattress. They kissed for a little while without anything growing too heated. It was sweet and gentle.

When their lips separated, Wes rolled to his back and she nestled her head on his chest, wrapping her arm around his stomach.

She felt lit up, brighter than the moon and all the stars combined.

18

Brenik

Brenik was ready for his night with Rana. The homeless woman from two nights before had satisfied his hunger, for now. He felt like such a selfish prick—there had to be another way.

Throwing on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, he headed for the elementary school. On the way there, it gave him time to think about things. Talking to Bray was still an issue, and he decided he would do it over the weekend. He would even apologize for how he had been over the years, growing green with envy about her luck—when he should have been happy for her. To her, he would confess all the parts of himself that needed to be unloaded.

On his left, he passed a neat line of pier and beam homes before finally seeing the brick school building.

The dials on his watch showed him it was three o’clock—five minutes until the bell rang. There were rows of cars already lined up, waiting to pick up the kids. Turning away from them, Brenik walked to the front of the building and stood away from the other adults who were waiting for their kids.

A loud buzz came from the speakers which must have been the poorly sounding release bell. Kids of all sizes ran out of the building, and Brenik stepped out of the way, weirded out from all the creepiness.

He had seen kids plenty of times, but never in such a close proximity to where they were surrounding him. Claustrophobia seemed to be setting in. He was unsure about the situation—they were so much smaller.

Two boys were walking out of the building—one redheaded and the other had dark hair. The one with dark hair lifted his head and looked at Brenik, his eyes squinting in confusion.

The dark-haired boy said bye to his friend and wandered in Brenik’s direction. Brenik turned his head to avoid the strange kid’s stare and pretended to rub at his eye.

“Hey,” the kid said, stepping a little too close for Brenik’s comfort.

“Hello,” Brenik replied flatly, looking away.

“You look like my friend.”

He gave the kid a hard stare. “Sorry, I don’t have red hair.”

The nuisance adjusted his backpack on his shoulder. “No, not that one, my other one.”

“Look, kid, before this gets odd, you better go.” Brenik didn’t need some parent thinking he was trying to steal the child.

The boy’s eyes searched Brenik’s face to the point where he felt uncomfortable. “You have the same pale blue eyes and jet-black hair as her, but it’s not just that… You’rehim, aren’t you?”

Whoever the kid was, he was starting to annoy the fuck out of Brenik. “No, I’m not.”

“Brenik?” the kid asked.

Brenik’s eyes widened. He grabbed the kid’s arm a little too tightly and pulled him to the wall. “How do you know my name?” He had no earthly idea how this boy would know it.

The kid flicked Brenik’s hand away from his arm. “Because you’re Bray’s brother.” This kid… This kid was the same one who he had seen through the window. He hadn’t paid very close attention to his face, but the hair and body matched.

“You’re living in Ruth’s old house?” Brenik asked.

Not frightened in the slightest it seemed, the kid tilted his head to the side, like Brenik should already have known this. And he probably should have. “Yeah, me and my brother, and now Bray.”

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