Her Best Friend’s Brother

by Feeney, M. B.

  “Of course it is. Have I ever let you down?”

  “Never.”

  “So, why did you even ask?” She pulled a tiny black dress out of a bag.

  “Is that even going to fit?” Lucy worried about her extra ‘curves’ after the dress fitting earlier.

  “We won’t know until you put it on. Let’s do your hair and make-up.”

  “Shouldn’t I be the one getting you ready? Tonight’s about you and Elliot, not me.”

  Megan pulled her to stand in front of the full-length mirror and squeezed her shoulders. “You’re single for the first time in six years. Live a little. Plus, did I mention there are going to be some really hot and single groomsmen?”

  “But, Meg-”

  “You’re going to let loose tonight, Lucy. That’s all I want. And yes, I’m using my bride status to get you to do what I want, so get over it already.”

  Once the frenzy of hair, make-up, and heels settled down, Lucy found herself back in front of the mirror.

  “All right, the dress is hot.”

  “Told you so. You look sexy as hell. I need to get something from my room, but be ready to go in a few minutes.” As Megan ran out, Lucy remembered her phone was still on the bathroom floor.

  She found it under a towel, a text notification on the screen.

  Have you ever heard of the term ‘blue balls’?

  Jenson

  Lucy cutting off their phone conversation as it was getting interesting was frustrating as hell for Jenson. He couldn’t wait for his sister’s wedding to be over with so he and Lucy could spend some time together without worrying about being seen by the wrong person.

  Sitting on his bed with a serious case of blue balls, Jenson thought about having to hide what was happening between him and Lucy. He didn’t care if they were seen, but it was important to her that they kept things under wraps until she was ready. However, the most pressing matter for him at that particular moment was dealing with his very prominent erection and a need to release.

  After sending a text to Lucy, Jenson stood and walked into the bathroom, shedding his clothes along the way. Standing naked in front of the mirror, he could see improvements in his appearance. There was a stark difference to the last time he looked at himself for more than a few minutes while getting washed and dressed. His skin was clearer and there was a sparkle back in his eyes that Jenson had Lucy to thank for.

  Thinking about her reminded Jenson of his… situation. He turned on the shower and climbed under the hot water. The tense muscles in his shoulders relaxed the moment the scalding hot water hit them, but he couldn’t rely on the heat to ease the tension in his groin. No, he’d have to relieve that himself.

  Taking his thick length into his hand, he pictured Lucy the way she looked post orgasm. Her hooded eyes, the flush of pink to her skin, and her chest rising and falling as she fought to catch her breath. She never knew what effect she had on him, especially in that post coital afterglow.

  Using soap and hot water as a lubricant, he moved his hand from the base of his erection to the very tip, running his thumb over the swollen head. A hiss of pure pleasure escaped him as he imagined it was Lucy’s hand working him. Picturing her slender fingers wrapped around him, he placed his free hand on the tiles in front of him and worked himself toward his climax. Thanks to their earlier phone call, and the visual in Jenson’s mind, it didn’t take long for him to explode over the shower wall as he yelled out Lucy’s name.

  Trying to catch his breath and calm his heart rate, Jenson rested his forehead against the cool tiles. Slowly, the jelly-like sensation in his legs eased off and he was able to stand without worrying about falling over. He shut off the shower, wrapped a towel around his waist, and made his way back into the room to get ready for the party.

  He couldn’t wait to tease Lucy. It was going to be impossible to keep away from her, to not touch her, but it was going to be fun to get her worked up doing both. There was no way they would be able to get any time alone, but he wanted her to go to bed wanting him, needing him, so he could picture Lucy touching herself as he got himself off. Jenson felt himself hardening as he pulled on his clothes. There was no time to deal with it as he was already running late.

  His sister was going to kill him.

  Lucy and Megan headed out to the hotel’s private garden. It looked stunning and reminded Lucy of something from a romance movie. Looking around at the soft lighting and decorations, she was glad she had loaned the dress she was wearing from Megan; nothing she’d brought with her would have been right for the environment they were in. She turned to her friend, watching as she locked eyes with Elliot. She seemed to float towards him, irresistibly attracted. With a smile, Lucy realized she knew exactly how that felt.

  Alone, she scanned the crowd of about seventy people, but she couldn’t see Jenson anywhere. She decided to check the bar area as she needed a drink. Cutting through the empty dance floor, Lucy managed to locate the bar on the other side of the garden. Jenson wasn’t there either. Knowing he’d turn up eventually, she sat at the bar and ordered a martini.

  Two seats away, a dark-haired man turned to her. As she was looking down into her drink, he leaned over and tapped her on the shoulder, making her jump.

  “Little Lucy Duncan? Is that you?”

  She squinted at him, trying to place his face, memories eventually kicking in. “Devon Phillips? Oh my gosh! I haven’t seen you in… Well, since that summer when you threw dirt in my ear.”

  Devon was Megan and Jenson’s older cousin, and Lucy had had a minor crush on him during her pre-pubescent years.

  Devon scrunched up his nose and took a sip of his drink. “I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.”

  “I have the memory of an elephant; you’re pretty much screwed.”

  “Yeah, I was afraid of that. You look…” He eyed her up and down, his eyes lingering on her face. “All grown up, Lucy.”

  Lucy took a long sip of her martini. She decided to let the comment pass, but she wasn’t going to encourage him. “Do you live around here?”

  “I don’t; I’m in Manhattan. How about you?”

  “I’m still in L.A., though I’m not sure why at the moment. This city is beautiful.” Lucy turned as another man sat on the seat between her and Devon, then her attention was caught by Jenson’s arrival at the party. He dripped sex appeal in his black blazer, tight V-neck t-shirt, and well-fitting black jeans. Even from across the roof, she knew his eyes were raking over her body. The new arrival next to her cleared his throat as Devon walked over to greet his cousin.

  “I overhead some of your conversation. Where in L.A. do you live?”

  “Sherman Oaks. Are you familiar?”

  “Not at all, I just wanted to get your attention back from whoever stole it. I’m Chris, by the way. One of the groomsmen.”

  “I’m Lucy.”

  “Ah, the maid of honor; Megan told me about you.” He must have been one of the single guys Megan had mentioned setting her up with. Lucy could see he was good-looking, but he wasn’t Jenson, and that was all she could think about. Her best friend’s brother had seemingly ruined all men for her once again. To keep up appearances, she leaned towards him, so they could talk some more.

  “You’re the artist, right?”

  “Yes, I am. How about you?” She was surprised he’d been told this piece of information. Megan was always proud of Lucy’s artwork, but Lucy never expected her to be introduced or spoken about under that title.

  “I’m a firefighter.” Lucy’s eyes strayed past Chris’ shoulder to check on Jenson, who was already surrounded by three women. Two of them she recognized from Megan’s dance company, but the third was unknown. Jealousy coursed through Lucy as the unknown, and gorgeous, redhead placed her hand on Jenson’s bicep, smiling at him. Chris’ voice dragged her back to the conversation.

  “I think I remember hearing about your work. Why type of art do you specialize in?” It was clear to Lucy he was trying hard to make co
nversation, but it was hard to concentrate.

  “I mostly paint, but dabble in many different areas. The local newspapers describe my work as modern, yet recognizable.”

  “I like that. Makes it seem relatable to those of us who aren’t art connoisseurs. Do you happen to have any pictures of your work with you?”

  “No, I don’t. Normally, I do, but my phone got broken on the trip from L.A. All I have with me is a single piece in my room that I made for Megan and Elliot’s wedding gift.” Chris sipped his beer, studying her with his eyes. Lucy noticed his eyes were green, rather than blue like Jenson’s.

  “I’d love to see that later.” He smiled brightly at her, making Lucy feel a little uncomfortable.

  Did he just ask to come to my room?

  The DJ’s voice let everyone know the party was officially starting, cutting across the party and stopping her from responding. The soft music that had been playing changed to a louder and more upbeat tempo. People started gravitating toward the dance floor, which had been placed in the center of the garden. She watched from her seat at the makeshift bar, lost in her search for Jenson, who seemed to have disappeared.

  A tap on her shoulder had her spinning round, facing Chris. She’d completely forgotten about him, and instantly felt guilty.

  “So, Lucy…?” She provided her surname when he paused, clearly waiting for the information. She felt as if they were playing some kind of ice-breaker game. “How do you know the bride?”

  “We grew up together…” Her voice trailed off as she spotted Jenson again. He was talking to a tall blonde.

  “Is that the entire story?” Chris probed for more information. Lucy wondered if he’d realized she was distracted and was desperate for her attention to be solely on him.

  “We met at recess at Hartford Grove Elementary in the second grade. Best friends ever since.” Lucy took a deep breath and tried to put Jenson out of her mind for the moment. “So, what’s your last name, seeing as we’re breaking the ice here.”

  “Hemsworth.” Lucy didn’t react to the name.

  “And how do you know the bride and groom?”

  “We all met on the set of a TV show a couple of years ago.” Before Lucy could ask another question, Chris moved slightly to block her view of the rest of the room. “Okay, who is he? Or is it a her? I’m open-minded, so you can spill it if you need to.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m not Chris Hemsworth, nor did I appear in any TV show, but I’m flattered you seemed to believe me. Look, is he here? The guy who’s captured your heart so badly that you can’t bother to hear my terrible jokes and clear lies.”

  Lucy looked at him. Guilt rushed through her as she realized she hadn’t been paying him any attention when he was speaking, trying to get to know her.

  “I’m so sorry for being rude.” Chris waited for her to elaborate. “There is a blonde I’m keeping tabs on. She hasn’t really captured my heart, but she’s caught my eye.” She glanced past the crowd to see Jenson and the woman parting ways. Chris followed her line of sight and whistled.

  “Oh, I know her. She’s a looker, but I’m afraid she’s more into the brawny types, if you know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “But let me know if you want more details about the guy she was just talking with – the one you were checking out earlier; I heard he’s single.” Chris winked at Lucy and turned to mingle with the other guests.

  Lucy decided that if she was going to make it through the rest of the night, she was in need of more alcohol.

  Lucy walked around the party, introducing herself to as many people as possible. She spotted Jenson heading for the bar and made a beeline back to it. She ordered another drink before feeling Jenson’s hand come to rest on her waist.

  “You shouldn’t be so close. Someone may get suspicious.”

  He leaned in close enough that she could feel his breath against her neck as he spoke. Her pulse raced, and she took a long sip of her martini to steady herself.

  “We just spent four days driving cross-country together. If we don’t talk, people will get suspicious.”

  “You’re right, I guess.” She turned to face him, catching her heel on a bar stool. She stumbled forward, forcing Jenson to grab her hip again to steady her. The heat from his fingers seared through her dress, and Lucy couldn’t help but lock gazes with him as the alcohol bubbled through her system.

  “I don’t like watching girls hang on your every word. It annoys me.”

  He laughed, looking her up and down before settling his eyes on her lips. His words, when finally spoken, were husky. “I don’t like watching you parade around half-naked when I can’t touch you.”

  “You noticed.”

  “I’m pretty sure everyone in this damn party noticed you, especially the guys.” There was a growl to his voice that made Lucy’s legs turn to Jell-O.

  “What do you say we get out of here?” She reached out to hook the tips of her fingers with his, giving them a light squeeze.

  “Later.” His voice was deep with promise as he, once more, leaned to speak directly into her ear.

  “Later then.”

  His tall form disappeared into the crowd.

  * * *

  The atmosphere became much more relaxed than before after the music had been playing for a while. Some people were dancing while the other guests stood around chatting and getting to know one another. Lucy stood at a cocktail table, watching for Jenson. He was still surrounded by women, but it didn’t seem to bother her as much now. She knew that if she were to call him, he’d be by her side in an instant. The thought of it gave her a strange feeling of power; something she’d never experienced before.

  She turned as Chris approached her with two drinks. Gratefully, she accepted a martini from him.

  “You look thirsty. Are you still pretending not to care about that dude over in the corner?”

  “I… could be.”

  Chris winked as he took a swig of his beer. “Lucy, your secret’s safe with me, but I find it hilarious that you think no one notices you staring at him every chance you get.”

  “Am I that obvious?” She glanced around the garden, wondering if people were watching her watching Jenson.

  “Yeah, kinda. Don’t worry though. Most people are too drunk to pick up on it. Plus, they’re not as perceptive as I am.” He stepped in closer, leaning down to whisper in her ear, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. The warm skin of his forearms rested against her bare shoulders. “But my question is this: if he could have you, why is he making out with that brunette over there?”

  “What?” Lucy whipped around immediately, her eyes finding Jenson within seconds. He was still in the same spot as before, with a different blonde woman at his side. His eyes were narrowed and focused on her, at Chris’ arm resting on her.

  She turned back around, and smacked Chris on the shoulder. “You’re trying to make him jealous!”

  “Or make him realize what he’s missing. There are two sides to every coin.”

  Lucy and Chris looked up as a deep voice cut through the music. Elliot was on stage, his arm around Megan, microphone in his other hand.

  “Megan and I want to thank everyone for coming this evening. We understand that to many, this entire wedding seems very rushed, but we appreciate each and every person who has made the journey to be with us. We weren’t going to do this, but we decided to have a little contest. As you all know, Meg and I are dancers, so we want everyone to get up and dance. But, naturally, there’s a catch. Each couple must maintain contact throughout the entire song, and once the song ends, partners are changed.”

  Elliot passed the microphone to a grinning Megan.

  “There’s a prize at the end for the couple who dance the longest with contact, but you’ll have to wait to find out what it is. Have fun, everyone.”

  Lucy turned as she felt Chris tugging at her elbow.

  “What do you say? Want to make him
really jealous?”

  Nervous laughter bubbled up around Lucy as music started playing and the guests partnered up. It didn’t take long for the dance floor to resemble a Vegas nightclub.

  Lucy considered Chris’ question. She already knew Jenson was a jealous person, so it didn’t seem fair to make it worse, but they needed to keep up appearances. She was also tired of watching Jenson surrounded by other women all night.

  An arm draped across her shoulders, and she was pulled away from Chris before they could start dancing.

  “So, who are we making jealous?” Devon asked, appearing out of nowhere.

  “It seems that Lucy has an admirer, but he’s too much of a pussy to come over and get her.” Chris filled him in. “So, we have to draw him out.”

  Devon choked on his laughter, his eyes searching the dance floor. “Who?”

  Lucy hoped Chris didn’t point Jenson out to his own cousin. He didn’t, which Lucy was eternally grateful for.

  “It doesn’t matter who, Devon, what matters is that we make Lucy look like the hottest commodity at this party.” He gave her an exaggerated bow and offered her his hand. “May I have this dance, Lucy?”

  “Let’s do this.” As she took his hand, she scanned the rooftop for Jenson and spotted him dancing with the redhead from earlier. The woman circled around him, her legs long and elegant, while trailing her finger along his body. She laughed as she brushed against his sculpted body under his thin shirt. He shuffled awkwardly with a smile on his face. Lucy hoped it was a nervous smile, but the woman’s body language told her a different story. She seemed charmed by Jenson, and pressed up close to him, closer than Lucy would prefer.

  It was his irresistible, legendary smile that made every woman want Jenson Phillips, and the woman dancing with him clearly did want him. Jealousy boiled through her veins as Chris bumped her shoulder with his. Her focus broke when she felt warm breath on her neck. Blinking, she looked at Chris.