Her Best Friend’s Brother

by Feeney, M. B.

  “I’ve wanted to do that for so long. I know… I mean… it was my first time, but I’ll get better.”

  Lucy was unable to say anything as a small blue car pulled up to the sidewalk. Matthew stood as his mother honked the horn.

  “I better go,” he said quietly, shuffling his feet on the sidewalk.

  “Matthew. I don’t think this is going to work.” Lucy finally got the words out, but all he did was lean over and press a finger to her lips.

  “You’re confused by the kiss, I can tell. I shouldn’t have done it like that, surprised you. I’m sorry I surprised you the way I did, but don’t answer me now. Don’t even answer me tomorrow, but when you get your head clear about us, call me. I’ll be waiting.”

  Lucy watched as he climbed into the car and his mother pulled away with a little wave. He was right, she was confused, but not about him. At least he’d given her a little more time before they needed to speak again.

  She remained out on the wall, taking the time to think in the cool breeze, and after a while turned to go back into the house. She caught a glimpse of Jenson by the garage door, looking at her. Silently, he turned away and disappeared into the house. Lucy panicked about how much he may have seen of her and Matthew. She wanted to talk to him about it, but he was surrounded by his friends. Deciding to leave it, she had already told him she wasn’t interested in Matthew, and she still wasn’t. Taking a deep breath, she started walking back to the house.

  The moment she entered, she saw Jenson laughing and joking with his friends. This filled her with relief as he was acting no different compared to how he would normally when with them. Lucy headed to the table stacked with Chinese takeout boxes, looking for something more to eat.

  She opened a box to find it almost full of chow mein – her favorite. Grabbing a fork, she scarfed it down, realizing she was hungrier than she thought. She plated some rice and pork to take up to Megan.

  A familiar laugh sounded out from behind her, catching her attention. Turning, she saw Jenson on the large couch, facing away from her. His arms were wrapped around the redhead from earlier, pinning her to the armrest behind her as she smiled up at him flirtatiously. Unable to look away, Lucy watched as he leaned forward, nuzzling her right ear. The girl, oblivious to everyone around them, grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled him closer to her. Nausea swept over Lucy as she stood, taking a stumbling step forward.

  Confusion about Jenson and how he was acting now compared to when they were alone washed over her, alongside the nausea as she walked over to the stairs mechanically. She was going through the motions, as if someone had taken control of her body. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she couldn’t resist turning around once more. Jenson stared at her, still with his arms wrapped around the redhead. His blue eyes were ice cold as they locked onto hers.

  Without blinking, Lucy continued to look at him, as her heart froze and her mind locked in the image of him looking at her that way. She decided there and then that she never wanted anyone to look at her like that again, and made an informed choice to never get sucked in by someone like Jenson ever again She turned away, and made her way upstairs where she found Megan under her duvet, watching TV.

  Grateful for the distraction, Lucy slumped onto the bed, leaned her head against her best friend’s shoulder, and fought back the tears that were threatening to overcome her.

  “I’ve decided I’m going to say yes to Matthew,” she blurted out after a while. Immediately, Megan sat upright, muted the TV, and turned to face Lucy, studying her face.

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “He’ll wait for me for all eternity, and he’s not that bad. Until a few moments ago, I didn’t realize how important that is to me, so yeah. I’m sure. Besides, maybe I could grow to feel about him the same way he does for me.”

  Lucy knew by the way Megan was biting at her thumb nail that she was trying her hardest not to blurt out her disagreement. Eventually, she reached out and grabbed hold of Lucy’s hand.

  “Is that why you’ve been acting weird all day? You’ve been afraid to tell me that you’re willing to settle for Matthew rather than turn him down?” Lucy didn’t want to lie to her best friend, so didn’t respond to the question, and looked away. “Luce, never be afraid to tell me anything. You’re my best friend, and if Matthew makes you happy, then I’m ecstatic for you. Don’t ever forget that, okay?”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  Megan pulled her into a hug, and Lucy couldn’t help but clutch at her. The tears she’d been holding in finally streamed down her face.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re really worrying me.” Megan held Lucy at arm’s length. Lucy sniffled then sat up to settle against the plush headboard behind her. “I’ve never seen you like this, ever.”

  “I’m sure. Everything’s okay now.”

  With one last look at Lucy’s face, Megan turned the volume back up, and sat next to her best friend.

  In silence, Lucy vowed to keep the night on the beach with Jenson from Megan and to never let anything like it happen again. Ever.

  Back in the present, Lucy shook her head and took a couple of minutes to gather her thoughts before getting out of the car. She entered the diner and made a beeline for where Jenson was sitting. As she approached him, she couldn’t help but notice the suspicious number of female servers hovering by his booth, pretending to look busy and failing as far as Lucy could see. It was almost laughable as their eyes narrowed and followed her as she slid onto the seat opposite him.

  “You’re wrong. Matthew trusts me and isn’t bothered that I’m with you.” As she spoke, Lucy didn’t see two of the servers raise their eyebrows before scuttling away to no doubt discuss what they’d overheard in the kitchen. It was a freeway diner; they must have got a ton of gossip to keep themselves entertained.

  “Okay.” Jenson’s voice gave no hint of any emotion.

  “Okay? Is that all you have to say for yourself?”

  “I’m glad he trusts you, Lucy. It’s great that he does; but he’s still an idiot.”

  “Are you suggesting he’s an idiot for trusting me? Are you saying I can’t be trusted?” Lucy could feel her anger rising.

  “Not as far as I could throw you,” he responded, glibly.

  Lucy tried to calm herself down. She didn’t want to start yelling at him in public, so decided to try and get an explanation out of him.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” There was still a tone of anger in her voice, but she was proud of herself for remaining civil.

  Jenson said nothing as he opened the menu that had been lying in front of him. He frowned before he put it back down and met her angry gaze with a scowl of his own.

  “You’re one bad decision away from climbing into my bed; you and everyone else.”

  “Full of yourself, aren’t you?” Lucy barely contained her rage at his response, he was making assumptions, but she wasn’t sure what they were based upon.

  “I’m just honest.”

  “Maybe it’s what you’re used to, but that’s not me.” As you well know. She added silently, as Jenson leaned back against his seat, a smile on his face that didn’t quite meet his eyes. They were full of anticipation, and something almost predatory.

  “It takes a single moment, Lucy. One twinge of doubt, one disagreement for someone to cheat, with me or anyone else.” The smile dropped from his face as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. As he started to speak again, his voice was no more than a whisper. “He shouldn’t trust you. You or anyone. It’s nothing personal, merely a way to protect himself.”

  “How can you say that my boyfriend shouldn’t trust me, and then claim that it’s nothing personal?” Sitting up straight, Lucy gave in a little to her anger. “What the hell, Jenson? It is personal. I don’t need you making assumptions about my relationship that you know nothing about.”

  “I’m sorry you’re offended.” He didn’t look or sound sorry at all.

  It was only
day one of a seventy-two hour road trip, and Lucy already wanted to hit him, to remove the smirk from his gorgeous face. She couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that he was deliberately trying to get her angry, but she couldn’t work out why. She mirrored his position, leaning her elbow on the table opposite him. It was a struggle to not feel intimidated by his cold, blue stare.

  “You know what? I actually feel sorry for you.” She kept her voice clear and steady.

  “Why?”

  “Because you don’t have faith in other people. It can’t be a fun way to live.”

  “It’s an easier way to live.” He shrugged, his voice light.

  “How so?”

  “Because, when you don’t care, no one can hurt you.” Abruptly, Jenson leaned away from Lucy, placed his napkin on the table in front of him, and stood up. “Please excuse me; I need to make a phone call.” The tone of his voice wasn’t harsh, but there was a look in his eye that made her feel uncomfortable.

  Lucy watched him remove his phone from his pocket as he walked across the diner, his face turning angry and intense as he spoke into his phone. Eventually, he left the diner to go outside. Analyzing what he’d said, Lucy could only arrive at the conclusion that everything he’d said came from personal experience and she wondered what had happened in the past six years to make him so jaded.

  “Here you go. Two fully loaded burgers.” One of the servers placed two plates on the table in front of Lucy.

  “What’s this?” she asked, feeling stupid as the plates clearly contained burgers and fries.

  “Did you not want a burger? He said you were both hungry.” The server glanced over her shoulder to look at Jenson through the diner window, her face full of admiration and attraction.

  “He ordered me food?” Lucy was even more confused. It was clear Jenson didn’t think very highly of her, despite what she remembered from six years previously.

  “Yes.”

  Graciously, she accepted the food and the server left her with a nod of her head. By the time Jenson returned to the table, Lucy had started eating. He sat down, meeting her eyes.

  “Why did you order me food?” she asked, still very confused by him and his actions.

  “Do you always ask so many questions?”

  “When I need answers, yes. How did you know I’d come inside?”

  “Because I could tell you were hungry. Either that or-” He cut himself off with a shake of his head, his blond hair moving like silk, before taking a bite of his own burger.

  “Or what?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “You can’t start a sentence, and not finish it.”

  “Oh?” An amused look flashed across his face as he bit into a fry. “All I was going to say was that you looked hungry, or that you hadn’t been fucked well in a really long time.”

  “Are you offering?” she asked, her voice low and soft. Jenson blinked, clearly taken aback by the sudden shift in her demeanor, it made Lucy feel bolder. “I mean, Matthew has been pretty busy lately, and he does leave work so very, very late…” Jenson inhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a brief moment. Opening them again, he visibly regained his composure and smirked across the table at Lucy. She wanted to carry on, see just how far she could push him, but her nerves failed her, and her words dried up.

  “You look like you’re about to jump right into a bad decision.” Jenson’s voice was huskier than it was when he sat back down in their booth, which gave her a boost in confidence.

  “Do I?” She managed to school her face into a look of innocence as she tapped her fingertip against her lips. The slight movement attracted Jenson’s eyes. Knowing she had his attention, Lucy parted her lips and touched the tip of her tongue to her finger, before drawing it into her mouth. Jenson seemed to subconsciously lean forward, his eyes locked onto Lucy’s mouth. She removed her finger slowly, taking her time to give it one last stroke with her flattened tongue.

  “Lucy…”

  “You know, you were right. I’m just hungry. Sorry, salt from the fries.”

  Although he tried to hide it, she heard the frustrated groan that escaped Jenson.

  “You shouldn’t tease men like that; you never know what might happen.”

  Reaching out for a cooling fry, Lucy let the smile drop from her face, her game finally over. “You started this. I don’t care what you think, but I know my own boundaries. Do you know yours?”

  “I never promised to be a gentleman on this trip.”

  Without realizing, Lucy paused in moving the fry to her mouth as his words sunk in. That particular phrase… Jenson’s eyes met hers, as though something had sparked in him, but he quickly looked away allowing Lucy to recover from the shock, and stuff the fry into her mouth.

  Once upon a time, Jenson promised to be a gentleman, and she had believed him.

  The rest of their meal passed in silence. As soon as the server placed the bill at her side, Lucy grabbed for it.

  “I’ll pay.” He was driving, and she didn’t want him to feel as if she owed him anything. She’d offered to share the task, but he’d insisted that no one ever sat behind the wheel of his car but him.

  “Hey, I got this.” Without looking at the bill, Jenson tucked a couple of twenties under the check in the middle of the table. “See you outside.”

  He turned away from the booth and walked across the diner. The moment he exited, one of the female servers who had been watching him let out a low whistle of appreciation. Feeling infuriated, Lucy debated taking the cash to give back to Jenson and paying with her card. Realizing she needed to pick her battles, she left the money and made her way outside to the car.

  * * *

  Hours later, Lucy tossed her bag onto the motel bed. The muscles in her back and shoulders were tense and ached from the long, uncomfortable day in the car. Finally, she had some peace and quiet after Jenson booked them separate rooms. The long drive from the diner to the motel was silent, but Lucy had found Jenson hard to ignore. Her eyes constantly drifted to him rather than reading the words on the pages of the book she’d held.

  Deciding to check in with Megan, she dug through her bag to find her phone.

  “Oh, Lucy, thank God. I’m so freaking stressed.” Megan answered on the first ring.

  “Well now, there’s a greeting. What’s up? Why are you so stressed?”

  “Why did I think I could pull off a wedding so close to a show ending? People are calling me left and right, and there are rehearsals and we’re all exhausted from all of the performances. I feel like I don’t have time to breathe.”

  “Is there anything I can do?” Lucy kept her voice calm in the hopes it would have a positive effect on Megan.

  “Apart from get here faster, nothing.”

  “I’m working on it, believe me.”

  “How’s everything with Jenson? Are you guys getting along?”

  Knowing how stressed Megan already was, Lucy didn’t know whether to tell her the truth, but she had made herself a promise not to keep secrets from her best friend ever again… She decided to keep it to herself, for now, and fill Megan in after the wedding. Maybe she could shed some light on Jenson’s strange behavior.

  “Everything’s fine. Why do you ask?”

  “I don’t know. I talked to him earlier, and he was weird. I thought maybe it had something to do with you.”

  Lucy wanted to ask what he’d said, but knew that would lead to further questions from Megan. “Things are fine. We’re making good time and I’m catching up on my reading.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure.”

  “Okay, good. Where are you guys anyway? How much longer until you arrive?”

  “A motel in Utah. I’m not exactly sure where.”

  “I can’t wait for you to get here. We’re going to have a spa day. Just me, you, massages, facials, the works.”

  “That sounds like heaven, Meg.” The yawn that escaped her surprised Lucy and she ended the call after wishing
Megan a goodnight. Exhaustion took over her, seemingly from nowhere. She just about managed to stumble through her night routine and crawl between the over-starched sheets before dropping off to sleep.

  The following morning, after a moment of disorientation, Lucy rushed around the room, making sure she didn’t forget any of her belongings after taking a tepid shower and dressing in clean clothes. Checking again she hadn’t forgotten anything, she headed out of her room for the complimentary breakfast. For some reason, she felt the need to get out of the room as quickly as she could; she’d never been claustrophobic before, but that morning it seemed as if the walls were closing in on her.

  It hit her that she wasn’t excited about seeing the country during the trip because she should be taking it with either Matthew or Megan. If either of them were with her in the car, she’d be all about the sightseeing possibilities and would possibly delay their arrival by veering off course. Sadly, Megan wasn’t an option as it was her Lucy was travelling toward, and Matthew would rather add to his resume than spend a few days with his girlfriend and see how beautiful their country is.

  No, she was stuck in a confined space with Jenson, who frustrated her, and made her wish the time away so they could arrive sooner. Sighing loudly, Lucy finished the bagel she’d picked for breakfast, wondering how Megan had got him to agree to travel with Lucy. He’d obviously been happy to travel by himself up until then.

  Looking around, she couldn’t see him and wondered whether she should take something for him to eat up to his room, and to make sure he was awake so they could get back into the car and start the journey. After all, the quicker they got back on the road, the quicker they’d arrive in Boston and could avoid one another for their stay.

  Moving before talking herself out of it, she grabbed him a toasted bagel covered in cream cheese. Hoping he’d be grateful, she wrapped a napkin around the bagel and walked to his room.

  “Jenson, it’s me. I brought you some breakfast,” she called out, knocking on the door. No sounds came from the other side, and she assumed he was still asleep. His car was still in the lot, so she knew he hadn’t abandoned her – although she wasn’t sure that was such a bad thing. After getting no response, she knocked again, louder. “Jenson, come on. Wake up. We need to get back on the road.”