Don’t Date Your Brother’s Best Friend: Strong Family Romances

by Checketts, Cami

  Gavin shifted in his seat. “Not really. I still worry you’ll hurt her.”

  “I will do everything in my power not to hurt her.” He leveled his friend with an even gaze.

  Gavin met his eyes and finally nodded. “I know, but sometimes people still get hurt. Please be careful. You have no clue how … much she likes you.”

  Trey knew people got hurt if a relationship didn’t work out, but he saw no reason why he and Ella couldn’t be the perfect fit. Sure, they had some things to work out with their careers and finding ways to be together, and they especially needed to start kissing and not stop for a long while, but he saw nothing wrong with Ella liking him a lot. He smiled at Gavin. Everything was going to work out now that they’d settled some things and his friend was on his side. Well, on his side was pushing it. At least Gavin wasn’t fighting against him.

  Chapter Nine

  When Trey hobbled down the stairs, freshly showered and using Gavin as his support, Ella wanted to rush to him, get to the bottom of whatever his “responsibilities” with Kaytlyn were, make sure he was still interested in Ella like she was in him, and then kiss him long and hard. He looked so good, and he winked slyly at her.

  Mama must’ve noticed her staring, because she whispered, “Still got it bad for him?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Mama raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.

  They all sat down to dinner, and Ella was grateful the adorable Austin was such a chatterbox; she could hardly form a coherent thought with Trey giving her not-so-discreet glances that had her struggling to contribute to the conversation. Mama’s perceptive eyes got wider as the meal progressed, and Gavin’s frown got deeper.

  Gavin and Trey acted more settled, as if they’d worked out whatever had fired Gavin up so hot about Kaytlyn. Yet Gavin still didn’t seem to approve of Trey giving her significant glances or complimenting her soup and bread over and over again. She kept redirecting to Austin and football or fishing. At least Austin was in heaven with all the adults’ complete attention.

  Ella had barely finished her last spoonful of soup when Gavin announced, “Thanks so much for dinner, Ella. Trey and I will clean up. Why don’t you go on that hike with Mama and Austin?”

  Trey’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Trey isn’t going to be a lot of help cleaning up,” Ella pointed out. She wanted Gavin to go on that hike and leave her alone with his best friend again. She’d happily scrub the entire house for even five minutes of alone time with Trey.

  Gavin chuckled. “He’s never any help cleaning up.”

  They all laughed at that. Trey had always been the first one to pitch in and help with their chores at home or at the lodge, and he’d always insisted that he clean up dinner whenever he ate at their house. He was almost as thoughtful as he was handsome. Ella caught his eye, and he smiled softly at her.

  “But you’ve been stuck inside all day,” Gavin said. “Go. I’ve got it.”

  Ella forced a smile of thanks. It would be good to be with Mama and Austin. That was why she was here, after all, not to swoon over Trey—but that was hard to remember when Trey was staring longingly at her. She jogged upstairs and found her running shoes and a windbreaker. Even in June, the mountains of Colorado could get chilly in the evening.

  As she walked back through the downstairs, Trey and Gavin were still sitting at the table. Mama and Austin must’ve already gone outside.

  “Thanks, Gav,” she muttered, trying to be grateful to her brother who thought he needed to be a surrogate father. He seemed insistent on keeping her and Trey apart. She knew he thought he was trying to protect her, but he needed to trust her a little more.

  “No problem.”

  “See you soon, beautiful Ella,” Trey said, giving her a significant glance.

  A rush of anticipation swelled within her. Trey would make sure they got some time alone. Smiling, she nodded to him and hurried out the door.

  “Let’s go, girl,” Austin called to her, bouncing impatiently by the trail.

  Mama ruffled his hair. “Patience, my sweet boy, patience.”

  Austin wrinkled his nose. “I’m not sweet, Mama. I’m hot.”

  Mama’s mouth dropped open. “Who taught you that?”

  “Uncle Stetson.” He innocently grinned and then darted up the trail.

  Mama and Ella had to break into a fast jog to keep up with him. The incline didn’t slow him down at all. They were both out of breath by the time they reached the lake. Austin was already there, throwing rocks in and disturbing the glassy surface. The ripples sparkled in the evening sun as the water rolled gently from the rock-throwing and lapped onto the shore. As children, they would sometimes get brave enough to swim in the lake in the summertime.

  Ella walked to the water’s edge and bent down, dipping her fingers in. She jerked them back quickly and rubbed them with her other hand to warm them back up. “Whew, that’s colder than I remember.”

  Austin picked up a large rock and threw it hard at the water. The frigid liquid splashed Ella, and she cried out in protest, “Dude!”

  Austin’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean to splash you, but you really shouldn’t have been standing there.”

  Mama laughed, and Ella couldn’t help but join in as she wiped water off her jacket and face and backed up. “You splash the rocks. Mama and I will sit over here where we’re safe.”

  “Boring,” Austin sang out, but he went back to throwing his rocks.

  “It’s a good thing he’s cute,” Ella said as she perched on a fallen log by the tree line next to Mama.

  “For sure. He wears me out, but it’s so worth it for all the joy he brings us.”

  “He is a love bug.” Ella paused, then asked, “Is Papa going to be okay?” Ella stared at the water, afraid to meet Mama’s gaze and see all her fears reflected there. She wished she could have found a job closer to home and be there for them more.

  “It’s always touch and go with your papa.” Mama sighed. “But this really is just a cold and cough. If we can keep him from pneumonia, we’ll be fine.”

  Ella noticed how exhausted Mama sounded. “Are you okay?”

  “Of course. I’m Superwoman.” That had been their nickname for her growing up. She truly was, but Ella still worried she was running herself ragged between Papa, Austin, and helping Gavin run the resort. Mama smiled at her and said, “You are so beautiful, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, thanks, Mama,” Ella said. She wanted to keep finding out about how Mama was holding up.

  “Someone else seems to have finally taken note of that beauty.”

  She tried to shrug nonchalantly. Ella wasn’t sure she was ready for this conversation, especially as she was still unsettled about Trey and their future, if they had one.

  “Don’t you shrug at me.” Mama clasped her hand and grinned. “That Trey has always been the cutest thing, and I know you know what I’m talking about.”

  Ella laughed. “He is amazing.” She pushed her shoe through the dirt. “But Gavin’s worried I’ll fall too hard and fast and damage every valve in my heart.”

  Mama squeezed her hand. “I worry too, but you’re all grown-up, sweetheart. I trust that you’ll make the right choice for you, and truthfully? Broken hearts are part of life.” She looked at her far too perceptively. “I don’t think you’ve ever had a broken heart, have you?”

  Ella thought about it. “Not really.”

  “Why do you think that is?”

  Ella focused on Austin, who was now trying to skip rocks across the smooth surface. “No boy could ever measure up to Trey in my mind, so I’ve never let myself get that invested in anyone I’ve dated.”

  Mama was nodding. “Exactly. That’s why Gavin is so worried.”

  “Because I’m more invested than Trey is and he’ll break my heart,” she grumbled.

  Mama gave her a half of a smile. “I guess you’ve heard that from Gavin?”

  “Too much.”

  “
There’s also the worry that not even Trey can measure up to Trey in your mind.”

  Ella’s brow furrowed. “That’s not possible. He’s amazing. Having him look at me, I mean really look at me with those blue eyes … the way it feels when he touches me …” She held in a sigh. “Having Trey interested in me is better than anything I’ve ever daydreamed about.”

  Mama chuckled. “You’re far too amazing for anyone, but you know how much I love Trey. If this is what you want, I’ll pray it works out for you two.”

  “Thanks, Mama.”

  “What will happen next week when you both have to go to different states?”

  Ella shrugged, though that was the question plaguing her as well. “We haven’t even kissed yet, Mama. I think it’s a little early to be planning the long-distance relationship.”

  “All right. I’ll zip my lips and keep saying my prayers.”

  “You’re the best.” Ella hugged her Mama tight, savoring her warmth and sweet gardenia smell.

  A little scream followed by a large splash yanked them apart. Ella jumped to her feet, and they both rushed to the water’s edge. Austin was clinging to a log, drenched, a couple dozen feet from the shore. He was kicking his feet, trying to get back.

  “Austin!” Mama screamed. She rushed toward the water’s edge.

  Ella grabbed her arm. “Let me get him, Mama. You can’t get chilled and risk getting sick.”

  Ella rushed in front of Mama and waded into the ice-cold water. Immediately, she felt chilled through and her body was begging her to go back. At that moment, Austin let go of the log, apparently thinking he could swim the short distance to shore, but his little body must’ve been too cold; he splashed around, then slipped under the water, then came up sputtering and trying to grasp the log again.

  “Austin!” Ella screamed, and she heard her mama echo the yell. She pushed faster through the water. It sloped off quickly, and she gasped as it hit her midsection and then her chest.

  Austin was bobbing under and above the water. He must’ve been pushing off the bottom of the lake, as he’d shoot up again, flail around for a second, gasp for oxygen, and then go back under.

  Ella finally reached him, in up to her neck. Her body already numb. She grabbed his arm and pulled him close. “Oh, Austin.”

  He clung to her neck, sobbing. “El!”

  Ella just wanted to sit and hold him and cry herself, but she had to get them out of the lake. She pushed as hard as she could to get out of the iceberg. Austin wouldn’t let go of her, so when she got waist-deep she was also holding him against her hip and struggling to push out of the water. Her entire body felt like it had been dropped in a vat of dry ice and she was frozen in a chunk.

  Mama bounced at the water’s edge, tears streaming down her face. Apparently, she could take no more, as she splashed into the water and opened her arms to Austin. The little boy flung himself at Mama and buried his head in her neck. His teeth were chattering and his entire body trembled.

  “It’s okay,” Mama soothed. “You’re okay.”

  Ella reached her side, and they slogged out of the water and onto the shore.

  “El?” Mama questioned. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Let’s get the monkey home.” She ruffled Austin’s wet hair with her cramped, frozen fingers. “You okay, bud?”

  “Thanks, El,” he managed to say, still crying. “I woulda drowned myself.”

  “Let’s go get you two warm.”

  They started back down the path, Mama carrying Austin for about fifty feet; then she set him down and said, “Sweetheart, you’ve got to move so you get warmer.”

  “Okay, Mama.” Austin clung to her hand and plunged forward down the trail.

  Mama looked over his head at Ella and mouthed, “And he’s too heavy for me to carry.”

  Ella smiled, but even her mouth felt frozen. She hugged herself and kept putting one foot in front of the other. All she wanted was a warm bath and then a warm hug from Trey.

  * * *

  Trey spent almost an hour chatting with Gavin about the resorts and different spots Trey had traveled in the six months since they’d been together, including some spots that Trey loved almost as much as their little Lonepeak Valley. He kept checking the back windows for any sight of Ella, but it was nice to talk to his best friend.

  There were at a truce. It wasn’t uneasy, because they’d been friends for too long to have awkwardness between them, but they also weren’t a hundred percent united as they usually were, because Gavin still wasn’t on board about him and Ella. Well, Trey was on board enough for the both of them. He’d pulled up the anchor and had both engines at full throttle. If only she’d get back here so he could spend more time with her, hold her, talk with her, and finally, finally kiss her.

  “You know something I’ve noticed, Gav?” he said to keep the conversation going and—hopefully—to keep Gavin from grumbling about him staring out the window. His head felt remarkably better, but he was still tired and felt a little beat up on his right side.

  “What’s that?”

  “You seem to love hearing about all my adventures, but you’ve hardly left this valley. Why?” Trey had talked himself out of breath back when they’d graduated high school to get Gavin to go off on adventures with him. Gavin had not only turned him down; he’d given up his football scholarship and never even went to college, getting a hotel management degree online. Trey had never been able to get a satisfactory answer out of him; Gavin would just say that Papa’s injury had left Mama shorthanded, so he’d needed to stay home and learn how to run the resort and help with his younger siblings.

  Gavin’s dark eyes became guarded but also sort of haunted. He glanced down, and a muscle worked in his jaw before he said quietly, “Guilt.”

  “Guilt?” Trey stared at his friend, forgetting to watch for Ella for a second. “Guilt about what? All I’ve seen you do your entire life is take care of everybody else. You’re the most selfless person I know. What could you ever feel guilty about?”

  Gavin rubbed at the growth on his jaw and stared at the unlit fireplace. Finally, he muttered, “Thanks, man. I appreciate that you think that of me, but I’ve done some things that are more selfish than you can imagine. Things that probably hurt Mama and Papa worse than Papa’s injury.”

  “I don’t believe that.”

  Gavin shrugged, but when he looked at Trey, his eyes were as expressive and warm as Trey had ever seen them. “Thanks for being such a loyal friend.”

  Trey nodded.

  “I’m sorry that I’ve been a dink about you dating Ella.”

  Trey recognized that first of all, Gavin was deflecting from telling him what selfish thing he’d supposedly done, but he couldn’t not respond. “Are you … okay with me dating her, then?”

  Gavin forced a smile. “I’ll figure it out. Just please be careful with her.”

  Trey nodded. He loved how loyal the Strong family were to each other, almost to a fault. Usually he was included in that circle of loyalty, but today Gavin had tried to shove him out. Of course, Trey would be careful with Ella in every which way. She was unique and special to him.

  The back door burst open and Austin raced in, wet from head to toe and yelling, “Gav! Bro! I fell in the lake. Ella rescued me. Come help her, please; she’s a Popsicle.”

  Mama tugged Ella into the house behind him. Gavin sprang to his feet. Trey tried to follow suit, grasping the edge of the couch so he didn’t hurt his leg. Ella was shivering uncontrollably and looked almost as wet as Austin, though only the ends of her hair were wet. She was pale and her lips had a blue tinge to them.

  Gavin rushed to her, sweeping her off her feet and carrying her toward the stairs. Trey had never been so ticked at his injury as he was at this moment. It should be him carrying her, not Gavin. She gave him a strained smile as Gavin stormed past him.

  Mama and Austin hurried after Gavin with Trey hopping behind them all. Austin chattered a mile a minute as they climbed the stairs.
“And I was balancing on a log and I was rocking it, but then I fell and I couldn’t touch, and you know how good I can swim, right, Gav?”

  “Yeah,” Gavin grunted, reaching the top landing and hurrying toward Ella’s room.

  “But I couldn’t. It was like I was freezered, and I couldn’t even do anything but push off the bottom and then go under again. I thought I was gonna run out of air and be a goner, but then my Ella saved me!”

  Gavin carried Ella into the spacious bathroom attached to her room, and they all followed. Mama released Austin’s hand as Gavin set Ella on her feet, tugged open the shower door, and pulled the nozzle to hot.

  “You go with Gav, and he’ll get you in a warm shower,” Mama said to Austin.

  “Okay, Mama.” Austin took Gavin’s hand and happily skipped from the room telling him. “I’m not even that cold. Mama said if I got moving, I’d feel better, and it worked—but it didn’t work as well for El.”

  They disappeared out the door and Trey wanted to push past Mama and hold Ella, stop her from shivering, tell her how proud he was of her for rescuing Austin. He just wanted to right her every wrong, and do it while kissing her often.

  Mama raised her eyebrows at him. “You get on out of here.”

  “But Mama—” he began.

  “No ‘but Mama.’ She needs a warm shower, and you probably need a cold one.”

  “Mama!” Ella and Trey said at the same time.

  Mama gave Trey one of those looks that said he was treading on thin ice. “Shoo. You can hold her later.”

  “I’m planning on it,” Trey said. He caught Ella’s smile before he turned and hopped out of the room, Mama’s laughter following him.

  Trey shut the bathroom door behind him, then made his way through Ella’s bedroom. It smelled like her peaches-and-cream scent, and it was enough to make him mad with wanting to be close to her. She was okay. He knew that, but he didn’t like seeing her in any distress.