Up to No Good

by Annabella Michaels

  “You are so whipped,” I snickered as we trailed along behind them.

  Jayce threw his arm around my shoulder and laughed. “It’s called being in love, and I can’t wait for it to happen to you someday so I can give you back all the hell you’ve given me.”

  “You’ll be waiting a long time,” I muttered, trying to remember the last time I’d even been on a date. With the amount of studying and work I’d had to do the last few years, I’d barely had time for eating and sleeping, much less getting to know anyone. But with college behind me and a job opportunity in the works that I had yet to tell my family about, I hoped that, eventually, I would meet someone.

  Jayce stopped walking and turned to me, his expression serious. “All joking aside, you’re an amazing guy, Cole. The right man is out there for you, and eventually, you’ll find him.”

  I smiled shyly. “Thanks, Jayce. I appreciate that.” My family had always been accepting and supportive of me; a fact that I never took for granted. I knew a lot of people who weren’t so lucky.

  “I mean it. Of course, whoever he is, he’ll have to pass the brother test before things get too serious.”

  I arched an eyebrow at him. “Brother test?”

  “Well, yeah. I have to make sure he’s good enough for my little brother.” I shook my head at him and grinned. It was good to be home.

  As we ate the delicious pot roast Mom had made, we talked about the wedding. Evelynn cupped her hand around her phone so Jayce couldn’t see as she showed me a picture of her gown that she’d just gotten back from the seamstress.

  “You’re going to look amazing,” I told her. Of course, she always did, but I knew that seeing her in that dress was going to leave my brother speechless.

  “Thank you,” she responded softly. She flicked through a few more pictures, showing me her bridesmaid dresses. Her sister and four of her closest friends from high school and college would be standing with her.

  “Oh, that reminds me. Phillip, Turner and Chase can’t get here until next week, but Miles said he can help with the bachelor party and anything else you need done,” Jayce told me.

  My head whipped up so fast, I was surprised I didn’t give myself whiplash. “Miles? As in, Miles Butler?” I squeaked. My stomach tightened into a knot as he nodded.

  Jayce gave me an odd look. “Yeah. He and I have always been close, so of course, I wanted him to stand up with me.”

  I wanted to kick myself for not considering that possibility sooner. Of course, Jayce would want him there. The two of them had been inseparable in high school, playing football and basketball together all four years. Miles Butler; the boy who had tormented me every chance he got, using names like Squirt and Pipsqueak to point out my smaller size. He’d never been outright cruel, Jayce wouldn’t have allowed it, but his teasing had been relentless. My happier mood from before quickly disappeared as a feeling of dread settled over me.

  I faked a loud yawn and pushed away from the table. “Dinner was great, Mom, but I’m beat. I think I’m going to head on over to the apartment.” I made my way around the table, giving everyone a hug and a kiss.

  After living on my own for the last few years, the idea of staying with my parent hadn’t really appealed to me, So when Evelynn mentioned that her parents needed to book a hotel room, I’d insisted that they use my room at my parents’ house instead. The lease on Jayce’s old apartment was paid up through the end of the year, and all his furniture was still in it since he and Evelynn had bought new when they’d moved into their house.

  Jayce followed me into the other room so I could get my coat and suitcase. “You need a ride?” he asked as he fished the key out of his pocket and handed it to me.

  “Nah, I’ve got my car in the garage. I’m going to need a set of wheels to get around anyway.”

  He eyed me closely. “Is everything okay, Cole?”

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Everything was going great, and then you just started acting kind of strange.”

  I laid a hand on his arm and squeezed. “Everything’s fine. I promise. I just need to get a good night’s sleep.”

  “Okay. You get some rest and call me if you need anything. I’ll come over tomorrow and we’ll hang out.”

  I nodded and he wrapped his arms around me in a big bear hug. With one last smile, I walked out to the garage and climbed into my old car. Then I let my head drop back on the headrest and closed my eyes. As much as I loathed the idea of having to see Miles again, I was just going to have to suck it up, for Jayce’s sake. I refused to let anything, or anyone ruin his special day. Not even an asshole like Miles Butler.

  Chapter Two

  MILES

  I finished going over a checklist of items with my foreman, Brian. The six-month remodel on a bank in downtown Raleigh was in its final stages and with the building inspector expected to show up the following day, I wanted to make sure we hadn’t overlooked anything.

  I'd always been fascinated with buildings and how they were designed, and I loved working with my hands. That made the decision easy when it came time to choose a major in college. My dream was to own and operate my own construction company one day, but I knew there was a lot I needed to learn first if I wanted it to be a success. So, I worked my way through school, learning everything I could about the construction industry and saving every paycheck until I’d graduated with degrees in both engineering and business.

  But even with all my hard work, I probably still wouldn't have achieved my goal quite so soon if it hadn't been for my grandmother leaving me a chunk of money in her will. She’d been so proud of my hard work and had always encouraged me to follow my dreams, so I took her money and my savings and started my own company, Miles High Construction.

  “You’ve double checked to make sure all the exit signs are lit properly?”

  “Yes, they’re all in working order,” Brian answered.

  “Oh, and what about the window that kept sticking? Did it ever get—” I glanced up from my checklist as I heard him chuckle.

  “Miles, we’re good. We’ve checked and rechecked everything on your list, and I can assure you, the building is sound. We won’t have any problem passing the final inspection, and by this time tomorrow, we’ll be ready to hand over the keys to the bank president, so to speak.”

  I smiled guiltily at him as I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck. “I’m sorry. I trust you and I know you’ve got everything under control, I just—”

  “You just need to see for yourself,” he finished knowingly. Brian had been with me from the beginning, helping me grow my business from the ground up. He was not only a hell of a foreman, but he was also a close friend who knew all my quirks.

  He smiled when I simply nodded. “I get it. This company is your baby and its reputation matters to you. It matters to me too, and that’s why I went over everything with a fine-toothed comb. The inspector isn’t going to find any surprises. Besides, don’t you have somewhere to be in an hour?”

  Glancing down at my watch, I was surprised to see what time it was. Somehow, the day had gotten away from me, and now, I was going to be late if I didn’t get a move on. “Shit! You’re right. I’ve got to get going. I’ll see you in the morning.” Brian’s laughter rang out as I rushed toward the door, and I shot my middle finger into the air, making him laugh even harder.

  I was grinning as I raced out to my truck and climbed inside. Now that I knew everything was in order for the inspection, I could relax. There was nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that came from seeing a project through from the very beginning to its end. That, coupled with the reminder of my plans for the evening, had immediately put me in a better mood. It had been weeks since I’d seen my best friend and even longer since we’d just hung out together. So, when he’d called and asked me to meet him for dinner, I’d jumped at the chance.

  Jayce and I had first bonded over our mutual love of football but soon found that we had
a lot of things in common, like our appreciation for classic rock and our love of horror movies. He was unlike anyone I’d ever met before, constantly smiling and upbeat, but it wasn't until I went to his house for the first time that I saw where he'd learned it from.

  Growing up, my house had been filled with the sounds of my parents arguing. My mother was bipolar, and my father drank too much—an explosive combination when paired together. I'd often lay in bed at night, listening to their shouting and wishing that I had a sister or brother that I could turn to so I didn't have to deal with them all alone.

  Jayce's family on the other hand, ate dinner together at the same table, each of them sharing things about their day and joking with each other. I’d spent so much time over at his house, preferring it over being around the constant tension in my own home, that his parents had begun to treat me like one of their own, picking up my favorite snacks when they’d gone to the store and buying me gifts for my birthday and Christmas. They’d become the family I'd always wanted, and Jayce became a brother to me.

  We’d stayed in touch throughout college, and even though our schedules were busy, we made a point of texting or calling each other at least once a week. Jayce couldn't wait to tell me when he'd met the girl of his dreams, and he’d been the first person I'd come out to.

  I'd had suspicions for years, knowing my body just didn't react to girls the same way it did to guys, but it took a long time for me to accept exactly what that meant. When I finally did, I knew I had to tell my best friend. I’d been so nervous when I’d made the call that my voice shook as I’d told him and I’d felt sure I was about to throw up, but he’d immediately put me at ease as he’d told me how proud he was of me and how happy he was that I was being true to myself. By the end of our conversation, I’d felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and I’s been relieved that nothing I’d said had changed our relationship. If anything, it was even stronger than before because there were no longer any secrets between us.

  Jayce and Evelynn had attended the ribbon cutting for the completion of my first project and I had helped them build a deck on their new house when they’d decided to move in together. Our lives were constantly intertwined, and I couldn't be happier. With my parents barely in the picture, they had become my family; the family of my choosing and I loved them. That was why I'd been ecstatic when they'd announced they were getting married, and I'd been honored when Jayce had asked me to be one of his groomsmen.

  After driving to my condo near Vintage Ridge, I showered then pulled on a new pair of jeans and a black V-neck sweater. Grabbing my jacket, I headed back out to my truck, anxious to spend time with my friend. A few minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot of the bar and grill where we'd agreed to meet.

  The place was busy for a Thursday night, and it took several minutes for me to find a parking spot. Music and the noise of a bunch of people talking all at once poured out of the front door as someone opened it. The tantalizing smell of grilled burgers and hot wings made my stomach grumble, reminding me I hadn't eaten lunch that day.

  It was warm inside, and I quickly took off my jacket and draped it over my arm as I looked around for Jayce. I spotted him sitting at a booth toward the back of the restaurant, and I smiled as I made my way over to him. He grinned when he saw me and stood up to give me a hug.

  "Hey man, it's so good to see you. How have you been?" he asked cheerfully as he pulled away.

  "I'm good. Almost finished with the bank project, and I have three others that are all in different phases of completion. More importantly, how are you? Ready to get hitched?"

  "Like you wouldn't believe," he answered with a happy grin. "Miles, you remember my brother, Cole, don't you?" I turned my head quickly and did a double take at the blond sitting in the booth. I was so happy to see Jayce that I didn’t even realized someone else was with him.

  I flashed him a smile. "Oh, hey there. Of course, I remember. I'm sorry, I didn't realize anyone else was here."

  Cole's eyes narrowed slightly as he mumbled something that sounded like, "Of course you didn't," but before I could ask him to repeat it Jayce ushered me into the booth and sat down beside me.

  "Cole and I were just talking about all the things I have left to do before the wedding. It's mind-boggling the amount of work that goes into making that one special day. It's no wonder some of those women turn into Bridezillas. Evelynn and I split the list of things to do, and I'm still overwhelmed," Jayce explained with a harried look in his eyes.

  "I told you not to stress over anything," Cole reminded him. "As your best man, it's my job to help make sure everything gets done so you can just enjoy yourself."

  "Yeah, and I'm here too. I can help out with anything you guys need," I offered.

  Jayce smiled appreciatively at both of us. "Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it. In fact, it's one of the reasons I asked you both to meet me here tonight."

  I glanced over at Cole, wondering if he knew what his brother was talking about, but the blank look on his face told me he was as clueless as I was. "What's up?"

  Jayce rolled his eyes. "I told Evelynn I didn't want to have a bachelor party, but she's insisting I have one anyway, saying some nonsense about it being a rite of passage or whatever. So, I figured maybe the two of you could work together to find a happy medium? I don't want anything too wild, no strippers or lap dances or anything, but something fun where I get to spend time with my friends."

  "Sure. I think we can come up with something that'll make you both happy. In fact, we can get together tomorrow night and talk about it, if Cole’s free. We only have two weeks until the wedding, so will have to plan it for next weekend," I suggested.

  Jayce gave me a relieved smile and then my eyes slid over to Cole where I caught him staring at me. The look in his green eyes gave me a chill, and I wondered if I'd done something to offend him. The idea was ridiculous, of course. I hadn't even seen the guy in years.

  "That's great. Cole just got back into town, so I'm sure he's not doing anything," Jayce said happily.

  Cole's head snapped over to his brother, but whatever thoughts were going through his mind, he hid them well. "Yeah, tomorrow night is fine."

  We ordered our food then continued talking, and soon Jayce had us laughing as he described the day he'd gone to Evelynn's father to ask permission for his daughter's hand in marriage. "I've known them for years, but I was never so scared to talk to him in my life. I'm pretty sure her mom saw me throwing up in the bushes in front of their house because she offered me a glass of water as soon as I walked in."

  Jayce went on with his story as we began eating, but my eyes drifted over to his younger brother. Cole was three years younger than me and Jayce, and he was the only member of the family I didn't know very well. He'd never spoken much to me when I was at their house, usually disappearing into his room as soon as I got there. Jayce had described him as insanely smart and generous to a fault, but I always got the feeling that maybe he didn't like me very much.

  Watching him, I noted the changes since the last time I'd seen him, which had been the summer before I started college. Cole was only fifteen at the time and still a bit awkward and shy, with sandy-blond hair that fell into his eyes in a way that looked adorable. Back then, my first impression of him was that he was cute, a startling realization that freaked me the hell out. Not only because he was Jayce’s younger brother, but because he was a guy.

  Unsure of how to deal with my confusing thoughts, I’d done what any boy my age would’ve done in the same situation; I called him some lame nickname and then proceeded to ignore him. I shook my head at the memory. Clueless was just one of the words that came to mind when I thought about my younger self and my inability to admit I liked cute boys.

  Still, as cute as Cole had been at that age, it was nothing compared to the gorgeous man he'd become. He had a lithe, toned body, and I wondered if he ran to keep in shape. His hair was styled neatly, no longer hiding his eyes, and I found myself mes
merized by their bright emerald color. He didn't strike me as the type who spent a lot of time on his appearance, yet he was one of the sexiest men I'd ever seen.

  It felt weird thinking those things about my best friend's brother, so I forced myself to pay attention to the conversation. I managed to make it through the rest of dinner and another round of beers afterward before Jayce announced that he needed to get home. I swatted him away as he reached for the bill, insisting that dinner was my treat.

  The air was cold as we walked outside, and I could see my breath as I exhaled. When we reached Jayce's SUV, he hugged us both and said goodbye, and I smiled at how happy my friend looked. We watched him drive away and then Cole turned to me. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and he looked nervous.

  "So, about tomorrow night… We don't have to get together. If you want to give me your number, we can just text and figure things out."

  My forehead wrinkled as I stared at him. Over dinner, he'd begun to relax, and I'd almost convinced myself that I'd imagined the tense look in his eyes when I'd first arrived, but I could see it again in the lights of the parking lot. Something about the expression on his face didn't sit well with me. Jayce and his family were important to me, and that meant Cole was important to me too. I didn't know what I could've done to make him so nervous or anxious, or whatever the hell he was, around me but I was determined to try and set things right between us. That would only happen if we got to know each other better.

  "How about you come to my place instead? I should be home around six. Maybe we could order a pizza and eat while we try to come up with some ideas." Cole's eyes popped wide, and he opened his mouth, but before he had a chance to say anything, I thrust my phone at him.

  "Here, put your number in my contacts. That way we can get a hold of each other if anything comes up.” He still looked unsure, but since I wasn't giving him much choice, he took my phone and added his number. Once he was done, I quickly shot off a text with my address.