Rebel: A Brother's Best Friend Standalone Romance

by Brittany Crowley

  “Fuck.” Thinking of Emmy dancing with another man nearly has me running to her room and claiming her as my own. Am I a fucking caveman now? Christ. “Dan, I have a question, and I want you to be honest. What did she mean that I helped her get over me?”

  “You kidding?” He laughs. “Everyone knows she’s had the biggest crush on you since she was sixteen. It was sweet really.”

  It’s all starting to make sense. As the pieces work their way in order, I berate myself for not seeing it sooner. Now the night she snuck into my hotel room makes sense.

  Memories swarm my mind of a time I’ve locked away, and I’m helpless to fight them off.

  Footsteps alert me that someone besides myself is in the room. My eyes have adjusted to the dark having just woken up, and with the moonlight, I can see the silhouette of a woman. When she bumps into the foot of the bed and curses, I know its Emmy.

  I can’t figure out why she’d be sneaking around my room and decide to scare the shit out of her and pretend I’m still asleep until the last possible second. Messing with her is too easy sometimes. She was trashed when I dropped her off in her room a few hours ago, and I’m dying to see what excuse she has for being here.

  When Emmy gets to the side of my bed, she stands there unmoving.

  “You can do this Emerson.” She gives herself a pep talk then pulls my blanket back.

  She’s not going to…and she does. She slides into bed next to me, and I find myself feigning sleep trying to figure out her plan.

  The blanket is slowly dragged down my waist and stops at my knees and god help me when I feel her hand on my hip. I should stop her, but my mind keeps telling me to wait and figure out what she’s doing here. There’s no way she’s here to do…that.

  Emmy’s hand grips my dick through my boxer briefs, and I don’t think my cock got the memo that he’s not supposed to respond to her.

  When Emmy starts working the fabric of my boxer briefs down my hips, I know I should stop her again, but my brain is still telling me to wait. There has to be another reason why she’s currently leaning her head near my extremely hard cock.

  “Oh wow,” Emmy whispers before my tips pulled into her mouth…

  I think of that night often and know pretending like it never happened was for the best. I had Mandy and Danny would have ripped me a new one. I still don’t know Emmy’s motives or if she remembers what she tried to do. She was extremely drunk and not in her right mind. This brings things into a whole other light after finding out she’s had a thing for me.

  She’s always been Emmy. I’ve always seen her as a cute sixteen-year-old with braces and a huge appreciation for life. She’s been like a little sister to me until she turned eighteen and my dick got hard at the sight of her legs in a skirt so short, I wanted to drag her out of the club. I pushed my feelings away knowing I had to draw the line until I started noticing her curves at twenty and realized I was going to hell with the thoughts in my head.

  I picture her ass in the black skirt and honestly don’t know what’s gotten into me. I’ve been able to ignore her perky tits and sky-high legs for years, ignored the visions of her sweet pink lips wrapped around my cock.

  Overlooked everything that made my dick stand at attention before tonight. I’m bombarded with guilt over the feelings I’m consumed with over Emmy.

  Guilty because I broke up with my girlfriend hours ago.

  Guilty because my best friend is her brother.

  Guilty because I’m old enough to know better.

  Guilty because she’s mine to protect.

  Then why does one word that I have no business thinking come to mind?

  Mine.

  Chapter 14

  Emerson

  WILL HER CAREER END BEFORE IT BEGINS?

  I stare at the photo my mom sent me of a newspaper article from home. Yet another headline doubting my capabilities and sporting a picture of me up on the bar. The photo was followed up by a video from a gossip rag site of Penny and me up on the bar. For as hungover as I am, I’m taking this in stride. In life when things become too overwhelming, you can either laugh or cry. I’m choosing to do this first.

  “I’m just going to say it, I don’t hate the way we look,” I state, then laugh when I see Penny spanking my ass during one part of the song.

  “Speak for yourself. I’m just thankful they didn’t print my name. I’m going to end up being fired when I go back.” Penny huffs.

  “You can’t be fired if you co-own the place.”

  “I can if no one wants to seek my help.”

  “You guys are missing the bottom line,” Leo states, then grabs my phone. He fast-forwards the video to the end. “Look at those two gorgeous men manhandling you out of there.” He fans himself. “What I wouldn’t give for my very own alpha badass to rescue me. I’ll be the best fucking damsel anyone has ever seen.”

  Leo says that now, but if he was mid-dance number, he’d have had a shit fit if someone interrupted him. Not that I’m broken up about it, I’m just glad I have rhythm when it comes to dancing. This could have been way worse, and everyone’s blowing it out of proportion.

  My phone chimes and I see my mom has sent me yet another video. “Great,” I mutter, then click play.

  “It’s a joke, and I’m insulted they picked me to be her first fight. Hell, I’m embarrassed for the entire women’s division that they let her in. Emerson Cage is clearly making a joke of the whole situation and got this opportunity because of who her daddy is, not her talents.”

  My mouth drops open as Penny and Leo crowd around me to watch the video. The more Sandy Banks talks, the more I see red.

  “I’ve been training seven days a week and preparing like a real athlete should be. You don’t see me running around drunk and dancing on bars. I also have it under good authority that she had fought someone earlier in the night. We’re less than three months out, and I think her behavior speaks volumes. Let’s be real, we know how seriously the women’s division is taken. It’s fighters like Emerson Cage that give us a bad name.”

  The rest of the video plays out, but I can’t seem to hear the rest of what she’s saying. I quickly pop up Instagram on my phone, and I’m about to go live when Leo tackles me to the bed.

  “Code yellow, code yellow! Run, go get Danny!” Leo shouts as I fight to get up.

  “I’m going to kick your ass when I get up pretty boy,” I growl and try to jerk him off me. It must be the hangover making me weak because he doesn’t budge an inch.

  I’m nowhere near prepared for a pissed off Danny to come barging in my room. Damn Penny and her nimble legs.

  “Are you fucking mental? She calls you out for being a dumbass and you almost prove her right by being a dumbass.”

  “I’m playing the game,” I state.

  “You’re feeding into what they want. All the haters are dying to see you fail, to see a Cage as something other than victorious. You’re acting like a child. You need to think before you act Emmy.” Danny sits on the bed beside me, and Leo finally lets me up. He places his elbows on his knees and takes a deep breath like he’s about to lecture me. “I haven’t seen what you have in the ring, but if you’re as good as Joss has told me, you have a real shot at this. You have the potential to bust down the walls and really make something of the women’s division. Penny was telling me about Rebel’s Army. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for them.”

  I notice Joss with his hip propped against the door jamb. “You mean I have more potential than just being a ring girl?” I stare him in the eye and see his face falter.

  “He didn’t mean it,” Danny says. “For the rest of this trip, we have to lie low. They created a hashtag for you. #WheresRebel. The worlds looking for you and the tabloids are offering top dollar for your whereabouts.”

  “What?” I ask dumbfounded. “That’s invasive.”

  “You’re surprised? After what last night, they’re chomping at the bit to paint you in the worst light possible. We’ve come up w
ith a plan, and unfortunately, it involves sending your bikes home and us all taking an SUV.”

  “What? But, but, our lady gang,” Leo sputters. “I just came up with our road names. You can’t ruin this for me, Daffodil Danny.”

  “The fuck?” Danny asks on a laugh.

  “When Rebs was drunk the first night, she was telling people we were the Hibiscus Hellions and last night she dubbed me Lavender Leo. I thought up names that fit. Daffodil Danny, pussy willow Penny…”

  “What? I am not being called that,” Penny objects.

  “God, you’re all no fun, and yes you are.” Leo crosses his arms.

  “Wait, what’s my name?” Joss asks, a smile playing at his lips.

  “Yours was tricky. There aren’t a lot of J options for flowers. Juglans Joss by default because we know your Juglans are bountiful.” He winks, and it can’t be helped, we all bust out laughing.

  The tabloids, videos and all the childish shit take a backseat as I wipe tears from my eyes. I know I made a fool of myself last night, but if Joss can pretend blow-gate didn’t happen, I can pretend like last night didn’t.

  “Damn, who would have thought your Juglans would be the ice breaker.” I wipe another tear from my eye. “Despite my protests, I’m happy you guys are here.”

  “Baby sis, you’re going to regret saying that.” He chuckles. “Just don’t get angry when we do stuff to keep you safe, okay?”

  I nod my head and rest my head on his shoulder. “Fine, but no more manhandling.”

  “Technically I never manhandled you.” Danny clarifies which has me searching for Joss.

  He clears his throat when my eyes find his.

  “Emmy, can I talk to you for a second in private?” He nods toward the hall.

  “Sure.”

  He opens the door for me as I get closer. Once we’re in the hall, I rest my back against the wall and slide down until my ass meets the floor. He sits in front of me making it impossible to look anywhere but at him.

  “I’m so fucking sorry about last night Em. It was a shitty night, and I took it out on you. No excuse is good enough, and I hope you can forgive me.”

  “You’re forgiven,” I say without a second thought. I know Joss, know that he’d never intentionally hurt me out of malice.

  “Really? This isn’t you saying I’m forgiven, but really you’re going to stew and unleash the beast in six months when I steal a French fry?”

  “Nope. Last night put a lot of things into perspective. I have some things to change about myself, and I’m willing to admit that. I’m also moving on from things that have bothered me, and I feel at peace with it.”

  “Moving on,” he repeats that line. “You know you’re perfect the way you are right? There’s nothing wrong with you.”

  “There’s a lot I can change, and I owe it to my fans to be more present for them. Don’t talk me out of it, I thought long and hard about it.”

  “Okay. Just…” He nudges his knee into mine. “Don’t change too much. You’re kind of one of my favorite people, you know.”

  Don’t read into it, Emerson. He’s just your friend. For the first time, the convincing helps. Last night helped me in so many ways and made me see I’m a fool for holding out on the wish that one day Joss will see me as more than his little sister. It’s gonna be tough, but I know I need to get over him. Stat.

  “I think you’re pretty cool too,” I reply.

  Joss stands and helps me off the ground. He holds my hands a little longer than what’s considered polite, and I have to pull them out of his grasp. I cross my arms across my chest to keep them from going back. He’s looking at me like a puzzle, and I can’t quite figure him out either.

  “What?” I laugh.

  “Have you always had freckles on your nose?” he questions catching me off guard.

  “Um, yeah. As long as I can remember.”

  His finger traces along my nose and I freeze, unable to move a freaking muscle from his touch. He makes a huh sound and retracts his hand.

  “I’ll see you in the lobby in an hour, princess.” He taps my nose, then walks back to his room.

  What the ever-loving fuck was that? You know what, I don’t care — not today.

  By the time I get back in my room, we have to calm Leo down about losing his bike. He understands, he’s just set in his ways. When Leo wants something to happen in a certain way, he gets upset if those plans are altered. It helps when we see a few stray photographers around town looking for me. Ultimately, he understands how dangerous it could be if I’m spotted on a motorcycle. The photographers can be brutal, and I think we all remember the famous princess.

  Who would have thought my fight would become this hot commodity? If I was a no-name, I know I’d be going into this fight with way less expectation and spotlight. While getting ready, I promise myself that I’ll use my spotlight for good instead of bad. I have this power whether I want to admit it or not and I’d be foolish not to use it for the right reasons.

  Chapter 15

  Emerson

  “Em.” My eyes crack open as I try to get the lay of the land. I groggily sit up in my seat when I realize I’m in the car still.

  After wiping my eyes and making sure there’s no drool on my chin, I look over at Joss. “Can I help you?”

  “I don’t want you to miss this.” He points to the seat behind us, and when I turn around, my mouth drops open.

  Penny is lying on my sleeping brother. Danny’s arm is wrapped around her protectively, and they look like a couple. It’s blowing my mind because never in a million years would I have guessed they had a thing for each other.

  “How long have they been like that?”

  “The last hour. You know anything about it?”

  “Nope. Penny’s never mentioned anything.”

  “A man doesn’t grab a woman off a bar top to be a good friend.” He clamps his mouth shut as if remembering his same caveman behavior.

  “Oh, really?” I prod at him. “Interesting.”

  “You never could let anything slide.” He chuckles then takes a deep breath. “I could say I was just doing my job.”

  A stretch of silence fills the car as I mull that line over. I feel like he’s trying to say something without really saying it. I’ve decided I’m keeping things light and fun with Joss from here on out, and it seems like he’s baiting me for...something. I’m not sure I want to know at this point.

  “Listen, Emmy.” He takes a breath and lowers his voice. “I want to apologize again for how I acted last night. There’s no excuse for what I said, it’s just.” I notice his hands fidgeting on the steering wheel and I’m stunned that he’s uncomfortable talking to me about this. “There’s no excuse.”

  “No, but I already forgave you. It’s already been forgotten, we’re good. I promise.”

  “You said something in the elevator last night that I’ve been wondering about.”

  “Really?” I question because I don’t remember talking to him the entire way back to the hotel.

  “Yeah. You said I helped you get over me with my insult.”

  Fuck. Me.

  Surely Leo and Penny would have told me I made that comment because that’s huge. He obviously takes my silence and brushes off my lack of answer as ignorance because he presses on.

  “You can talk to me.” He quickly looks over his shoulder. “Dan told me you used to have a crush on me, that everyone knew about it.”

  “Not everyone,” I mumble. Swearing to myself that Danny will die today. “I really don’t want to have this conversation with you. I was young and naïve.”

  “So, you’re saying this was only when we first met?”

  Jesus H. Christ. “I’m not saying that per se.”

  “Are you still crushing on me, Emerson Cage?” I hear the playfulness in his tone, and I want to die.

  “We are seriously not talking about this,” I mutter.

  “But I love making you blush.” The back of his fingers brushes acro
ss my cheek catching me in surprise. What’s with the touching, he’s never been the touchy-feely type other than a stray hug here and there.

  “Fucker.”

  “I’m your bodyguard,” he says out of nowhere.

  “I know.” I chuckle. “You have been for six years.”

  “Danny is my best friend.”

  “Yeahhh,” I say slowly. “I don’t know what you’re getting at.”

  “I’m seven years older than you.”

  “Are we playing two truths and a lie now?” I look over at him and stare at his silhouette in the dark. “If so, you suck at it.”

  Joss gives me a fleeting look before returning his gaze to the road. “We can’t be together Emmy. You’re just starting your life, and there’s too much to ruin.”

  “Then why say anything at all?” I whisper and wait for his response. When I don’t get one, I presume that this topic is now closed.

  I don’t say another word as I lay my head back on the seat, rest and close my eyes. Do I sleep? Of course not. His words run through my head, and I keep coming back to the same confusing question.

  Was he trying to convince me or himself?

  ***

  Joss

  Emmy’s perfume wafts around the car making my dick hard every time it hits my nose. I don’t know when everything changed, but I feel guilty as fuck over getting a hard-on for her with Danny a few feet away. Her perfume has never caused me to react this way before. It’s like a dam has been broken and everything that I once was able to ignore is hitting me tenfold. I know this is wrong and can’t happen but fuck me if I don’t want a taste of her.

  The whole night I’ve been driving, I’ve been trying to come up with a logical reason why I can’t get her out of my head. She’s right next to me, and that should be the answer, but it’s not. I know she’s not sleeping even though she’s been pretending for two hours.