Pretty Please Don't Pinch Me

94. Hopeless

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I am also loving all of your snapchats, and my voice hurts a little so I'm sorry if it was a little sick sounding when I answered some of your questions.

"Hey dork," I am greeted by my brother as I set my handbag down on the table.

Just what I totally need right now.

I sit on the couch next to him and mess up his hair before pulling him into a tight squeeze.

"What are you doing you creep?" He asks, but feel his body language soften at my display of affection.

"What are you watching?" I enquire at the AFL game.

"Brisbane Lions verses Geelong," he answers without looking away from the screen.

"Twenty dollars that Brisbane win it," I bet, remembering the game quite well, and knowing he will fall for my trick.

He scoffs, "Make it fifty. Here's the thing about the game," he says, slowing down his speech as if I am five years old. "See Geelong – well they're at the top of the ladder. That means they're the best. Now Brisbane – well they're all the way down at the bottom, and that's a bad thing."

"Alright, we'll see," I smirk as the last quarter of the game commences.

"Dinner," Mum calls out to the family.

"After this," Brooklyn replies distractedly.

"Now," she says firmly, and I take my place at the dinner table.

"Where's Dad?" I ask, as Marnie heads down the stairs and Mum places the food dishes out on the table.

"Hey Kiddo," he says from behind me as he exits his office.

"Dad!" I squeal, hugging him tightly.

"It was only a few days," he says quite confused as he pats my back. "Remind me to go away more often if this is my welcoming party."

I mainly sit back and listen as my family talk about their lives and I've forgotten how much I miss the small stuff. Even the things that I once found annoying like Marnie and Brooklyn's constant back and forth bickering.

I notice Brooklyn getting more and more anxious as the game progresses as he checks for updates on his phone.

His leg knocks the bottom of the table, causing all of our plates to shift, and directs his anger at me.

"How did you know?" he demands. "How could you know that?"

I shrug my shoulders and take a bite of my salad. "I expect the money within twenty-four hours," I smugly answer.

He growls down at his plate and I go back to listening to Dad's stories about his trip. All stories that I've heard before, but I listen with great concentration as he goes into detail about boring details, and I am enthralled. I guess I'm happy in a way to be back.

"So are you going to explain this morning?" Marnie asks with raised eyebrows.

It takes a moment before I realise she is directing the question at me.

"Hmm?" I reply, as I am brought out of my daze.

"How did I get here? Where's Harry?" she mimics me, unable to stifle her giggles.