Free Nepenthe (Bracing for Love #2) by Lindsay Paige Page A

your study session.”
    “You didn't. It just ended. Are you going to come in?”
    “No.” I don't feel like dealing with her anymore.
    She eyes me for a second before shrugging. “Suit yourself. I'm going to do some yoga in about an hour and then play a video game. You're more than welcome to join me if you aren't stubborn and pissy later. Even if you still are, come. Maybe it'll make you feel better.”
    “I'd feel better if I was a football player like Ben.” I'm done talking, so I turn and leave for my own special hell. I knew it was all about to crash again. This morning gave me a bit of hope that maybe it wouldn't hit so hard, but it was only wishful thinking.

 
     
    I FEEL LIKE shit.
    Whether it's from how I have an appointment with a psychiatrist in two days, ignoring Patrick's phone call, being ill with Olivia, or everything in general, I'm not sure. Maybe it's all of the above. I wallow in self-pity for a while until there's a knock on the door. I groan. Has to be Olivia. No one else comes to see me. Well, Patrick does, but only if he has to.
    Sure enough, when I open the door, Olivia is standing on the other side, wearing yoga pants and a hoodie.
    “Are you coming over? I won't even say one word if you do. But fair warning, I'm going to have plenty to say if you don't, and you can't lock me out because I know where your hiding spot is. So, what's it going to be, Corey?” She crosses her arms over her chest. I need to find a new place to hide my spare key.
    I stare at her for a moment, trying to make a decision. To think, I kissed her this morning, and now I'm ready to slam the door in her face. “Have you already done your routine?” Please say yes.
    “No, I was waiting for you.”
    Shit. “Fine. I'll change, but not one word. Not even to tell me what to do. I can watch you and figure it out.”
    She nods, smiles, and surprises me with a quick hug. Olivia points to herself and then her apartment before walking away. I laugh, shaking my head. No talking means hand gestures, I guess. The shitty feeling returns while I change and head over to her place. Her not talking could turn out to be a really good thing.
    The coffee table has been moved and the mats are in place once again. Olivia has taken off her hoodie and tossed it on the couch. Warmer weather can't come fast enough. She has a great body. Too often, it's hidden beneath a hoodie. The girl wears them way too much, even in January.
    Olivia keeps her promise, never speaking, but she laughs. Oh, does she laugh. More than the first time we did this. I don't even glare at her. Only shake my head and maybe give her a smirk depending on how much she's laughing. I like hearing her laugh. She should do it more often, but being around me doesn't really give her lots of opportunities. I'm only rainbows and sunshine about ten percent of the time.
    She mixes it up some, doing poses we didn't do before, and they are a bit harder. That's why she's laughing so damn much. I'm even sweating a little by the time we're done. While I put the table back, she goes to the kitchen and returns with two bottles of water before starting the video game.
    “You can talk now,” I tell her, hoping she won't make me regret it. “I may not do it often, but I can't stand for others to not talk for long.”
    “Don't get pissed later, then. And how come?”
    I shrug. “My sister doesn't talk when she's upset. Not getting into the story behind it, but that's why.” My siblings and I don't talk about our parents' murder often, and I'm not going to share that with her. “It's always bothered me, though.”
    Olivia revs her engine as the countdown begins. “You're one of those annoying overprotective brother types, aren't you?”
    “What? No.” I manage to get a lead right from the start. “It's called loyalty, taking care of each other, and being a family. My sister doesn't find it annoying either. None of us do.” Except when it interferes with my lying to them about how