He nodded as he stepped past me towards my father’s study. I stood there for a second as desperately scrambled to understand what was going on.
“Luke. What are you doing here?” I demanded.
He ignored me as he opened my father’s door and stepped in. So of course, I scrambled after him. My mind was a fog of confusion. But I knew enough to know I needed answers.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Amy
As I hurried into my father’s study my heart raced. Luke was back. Why? And why did he want to see my father?
Dad looked up from one of his books and frowned as he swung his feet down from his desk.
“Luke?” he asked.
“Doctor Jensen,” Luke said as he stopped in front of the desk. Then he pulled a folded piece of paper out of the back of his pocket and put it in front of my dad. He didn’t actually slam it down. But it was close.
Dad took the paper as he leaned forward to scan it. His brow furrowed as his eyebrows rose. I knew that look. My father was surprised. A rare occurrence in my world.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“What does it look like?” Luke said with a hint of smugness.
Dad pursed his lips as he looked from the paper to Luke then back down. “To me, it looks like an acceptance letter from Washington State University in Spokane.”
My heart jumped. WSU had one of the best veterinarian schools in the country. How had Luke gotten in there? I kept looking back and forth between the two of them as I fought to understand. I felt like a cat chasing a laser light across the floor. Every time I thought I understood, someone moved the goal.
“Yes, Sir,” he said as he stood up a little straighter.
“How?” my dad asked. Obviously bewildered.
Luke smiled just a little. “It seems an online high school diploma, a really good SAT score, and an interesting story is what they are looking for. It appears my troubles with the judicial system makes me interesting. … They called it a ‘Diverse point of view’.”
Dad nodded slowly as he looked back at the paper again, as if unable to believe it was true.
My heart soared at the idea that Luke would reach his dream. I realized we were over and that he was just here to prove my father wrong. But I’ll be honest. I loved the idea of my father being shown to be the fool. Especially when it came to this.
Mom stepped into the room and put an arm around my shoulder. I could feel her surprise mixed with hope for me. I was tempted to push back. No way could I let my thoughts go there. No, I had learned to accept that we were over.
“How are you going to pay for it?” Dad asked Luke. My stomach clenched up. I knew Luke, he’d never let his mother go into debt.
He smiled slowly, “I’ve worked every extra shift I could grab and made enough to pay for the first year of college. Plus, I have a job set up for next summer. They are always looking for extra help. I’ll work get a job in Spokane flipping hamburgers or delivering pizzas during the school year cover living expenses.”
Dad froze for a second then slowly nodded. “So, you have it all worked out?”
“Yes, Sir.”
I stood there like a forgotten afterthought. Neither of them showed any awareness as to if I was in the room or not.
A deep frown broke out on my dad’s face as he glanced over at me. Then he looked back at Luke. “Why are you telling me this? Is this about Amy? Are you demanding that I say it is permissible for you to date my daughter?”
Luke slowly shook his head, “No sir.”
My heart fell. I had tried so hard to keep my secret hopes buried but I had failed. Deep down I had desperately wished that Luke had come back because of me.
“No, Sir,” Luke repeated. “Not demand, request. But I’ve got to be honest. Amy turns eighteen in a couple of weeks. And regardless of what you say. We are going to be together. There nothing on this earth that can stop that.”
He twisted to glance at me, raising an eyebrow in a silent question.
My heart melted as I rushed into his arms. I didn’t worry about what my father thought. I didn’t care. All I knew was that Luke wanted me. Me, Amy Jensen. The boy of my dreams wanted me.
Luke’s strong arms wrapped around me and I sank into him. My soul merging with his. Home. I was where I belonged. Safe, secure.
After what seemed like half of forever, I pulled back just slightly to look at my dad. Mom had come around to stand behind him, one hand up covering her mouth, her other hand rested on his shoulder as a tear slowly slid down her cheek.
Dad slowly shook his head. “She is going to university in Seattle.”
I laughed. “Dad, I can’t go to school in Seattle if I’m living in Spokane.” He could be so silly at times. “Of course. There is no law that says I have to go to college.”
My father coughed as if something had gone down the wrong way. I noticed Mom’s fingers tighten on his shoulder.
“You are going to school. And that is final,” Dad said with a scowl.
“Yes, in Spokane,” I said, holding his stare.
Our eyes fought for a long moment until finally, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Very well,” he said reluctantly.
I squealed and threw my arms back around Luke to give him a hug. I felt his body relax and realized just how worried he had been. Our eyes held each other’s for a second then he smiled at me and I knew my world was right again.
“I’ve got to go home and tell my mom I’m back,” Luke said.
My heart lurched. “You came here first?”
He nodded as if it had been an obvious choice.
“Can I go with you?” I asked as the sudden fear of losing him again flashed into me. No way was I letting him out of my sight until I really believed he was back.”
He smiled then looked over at my father. My dad shrugged his shoulders and said, “Don’t ask me. It seems I don’t have any say in the matter.”
Both Luke and I laughed.
He nodded to my Mom and Dad then took my hand and led me from the room. As we stepped out of the house a sudden thought popped into my head. I slapped him in the shoulder and gave him my best frown.
“What?” he asked.
“Why didn’t you let me know. Why didn’t you write?”
He frowned and stopped for a moment as his cheeks grew a little red.
“I couldn’t risk it,” he said. “If I failed, I … I didn’t want you thinking your dad was right.”
All I could do was stare at him in disbelief. I knew deep down I was supposed to be furious with him. But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t stay mad at him This was Luke. My Luke. The boy who made my knees wobble. My Dark Knight. The man I would love for the rest of my life.
Epilogue
Amy
I closed and locked the door to my practice and looked up at the sky with a smile. A beautiful summer day with a high blue sky. The perfect Northwest day.
As I walked across the parking lot to my car I turned and looked back. My Psychology practice was doing well. Between my outpatient work and the hospital, I was busy.
It was going to have to change, I realized as I drove to Luke’s Animal clinic. We’d agreed to go out for dinner tonight. A special night at Sam’s Diner. Not super romantic. But special to us.
Luke was waiting for me. God, the man looked good. Tall, dark, and handsome with wide shoulders and a smirk that shot right to my soul. Even now, after ten years, he still made my heart flutter and my knees wobble.
“Hey gorgeous,” he said as he climbed in and leaned over to kiss me.
“Hey, yourself,” I said as I took a deep breath of contentment. “You hungry?”
He nodded as he reached into his shirt pocket and removed a small box. “Here, I got this for you.”
I frowned as I took it from him. My insides clenched up. A pregnancy test kit.
I could only smile as I reached into my purse and removed the dip strip with the blue tip.
“How did you know?
”
“So, it’s true. You’re pregnant.”
I held my breath as I slowly nodded.
A smile as wide as all outdoors broke out on his face and I was able to relax. He was happy about it. I hadn’t realized how nervous I had been.
“I love you,” he said as he pulled me into a hug.
“You won’t when I get as fat as a cow.”
He laughed again. “Mrs. Prescott. I will love you until the stars fade away. Until there is no longer a universe. In future stories, people will use my love as a measurement for the maximum amount a person can love.”
I looked into his eyes and knew he was telling me the truth. This was Luke. The man I was supposed to be with. The man who made my life worth living. My Dark Knight. My hero.
The End
Author Note
Thank you for reading ‘My Best Friend’s Brother.’ The final book in the ‘Hometown Heroes’ series.
I would love to know what you think of it. My readers make it possible for me to do what I love so I am always grateful and excited to hear from you. Please stop by my website GLSnodgrass.com or send me an Email at [email protected]. Feel free to sign up for my newsletter. I use my newsletter to announce new releases and give away free books. I also post on my Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/G.L.Snodgrass/
As always, I would like to thank my friends for their assistance with this book. Sheryl Turner, Anya Monroe, Eryn Carpenter, and Kim Loraine. I couldn’t have done it without them.
If you enjoyed ‘My Best Friend’s Brother’ please tell a friend or two. And please help out by rating this book at Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads. Reviews from readers make a huge difference for a writer.
I have also included the first part of my book, ‘Certain Rules’. I think you will enjoy it.
Again, Thank you.
G.L. Snodgrass
Certain Rules
Chapter One
Scott
There are certain unwritten rules in high school. High on the list, close to the top, is one that says. ‘Thou shalt not have sex with your best friend’s girl.’ - A simple rule, understood by all. - Danny Carrs totally ignored it.
Another rule even higher on the list says - ‘Thou shalt not beat the crap out of the star quarterback two days before the playoff game.’
I sort of ignored that one. I figured it made us even. Needless to say, the jerks at school didn’t see it my way.
They thought they were going to get to me with the silent treatment. The ice-cold stares and turned backs were nothing. They hadn’t grown up with my grandfather. Their weak attempts didn’t get to me. What killed me, a bone-deep death, was the laughter and snickering behind me, wherever I went.
Scott James, the largest guy on campus, star left tackle, destined for the front line of Nebraska University, was a cuckold. Couldn’t keep a woman satisfied so she had to go somewhere else.
“Steroids man, it kills it,” a high-pitched freshman voice whispered.
A stupid sophomore girl, fresh from P.E., laughed and said, “You know I heard they used him for the model when they made Shrek, only they had to tone it down for the movie, it scared all the kids.”
“I hear he’s so dumb he didn’t know how,” was repeatedly heard.
The fact that she hadn’t ever let me try made it worse.
I’d caught best bud Danny Carrs and the love of my life Miss Gina Woods, in his room the previous afternoon. She had her legs straight up in the air with Danny between them, pumping away like a locomotive going uphill. There are some sights that burn their way into your brain and you’ll never get ‘em out.
I’d come to Danny’s to borrow a chemistry book; the world knew he’d never need it. The boy hadn’t cracked a book in the nine years I knew him. He had his head-banging music going full bore and never heard me knock. I stepped in, the room smelled like old socks and Ben Gay ointment. Gina screamed. Danny cursed, jumped up, and held out his hands as if to say, ‘it’s not what you think man.’
Unfortunately, it was exactly what I thought, man. I saw red and swung.
I’ve got to give him credit. He didn’t stay down. Not a very a smart move. But then Danny wasn’t a renowned genius.
He’s your typical Greek god. – Brown curly hair and green eyes, six-one, hundred eighty. I’m more your Norse variety with black hair and the beginning of a scraggly red beard. I had him by three inches and seventy pounds; all of it pure muscle from a lifetime of slinging hay bales and four years of banging into fellow giants on the gridiron. Danny, on the other hand, made Justin Bieber look like an ugly slug.
He jumped up and threw a quick jab. His fist hit me square in the jaw and I heard the bones in his hand crack with a sickening snap.
The boy had never learned how to throw a punch. I’d been doing his fighting for him since fourth grade, both on and off the football field. But, he tried.
I smiled and returned the favor with a left to the eye and a right to the ribs. He crumbled like a sack of potatoes dropped from the roof.
And with that, the red rage left me to be replaced by a deep burning hurt. How could they do this to me? What did I do? I hadn’t felt this kind of gut-wrenching loss since my parents were killed seven years earlier.
Gina knelt on the bed in all her naked glory, hiding behind a too small pillow.
This was not how I anticipated seeing her naked for the first time. Long black hair messed up in the ultimate bed-head and porcelain white skin that looked purer than a fresh January snow.
Her head swiveled back and forth between Danny and me as if watching a tennis match. Her mouth open in shock and her eyes clouded in confusion. Slowly awareness started to return and her eyes turned to fire.
She screamed and jumped off the bed to cradle Danny’s head in her lap. “What have you done you giant oaf?” she yelled as if everything was my fault. She forgot about me and returned to brushing the hair from his eyes.
I so wanted to come back with a witty retort, a small pithy saying that would put her in her place. Something that would go down in history as the smartest thing a guy in my situation ever said. If not that, at least something to take away the pain. Or better, something to hurt her as much as she’d hurt me.
I had nothing. Nada. I stood there, my knuckles screaming, gobsmacked with reality. No nothing. I never had anything when it came to talking to girls. Maybe this is why I ended up in situations like this.
My fists clenched. I hated her so much. She’d ruined everything.
I felt like a worthless piece of crap. The red rage started to return. One of the few things I’m proud of that night is the fact that I somehow got myself under control. Letting out a big sigh I turned and stomped out.
It had become hard to see, everything had gotten all misty. I made my way out of there and to my truck and home to the farm.
My sister Mattie looked up as I stormed in, yelling that I wasn’t hungry. It probably raised a few red flags. I hadn’t missed a meal since I’d had my tonsils out at age three.
They gave me space. They could see something was wrong and left me alone. Grandfather even did my chores for me without giving me a ration of crap about it. He’d get me later I was sure.
The next morning at school was interesting, to say the least. The hallway full of students parted like the red sea before Moses. That sweet aroma of floor wax and teenage hormones washed over me as I walked down the canyon, feeling every pointed barb and hateful glare.
Of course, everyone knew what happened, or at least some twisted version.
To them, I had become the monster who ruined their chance at shared glory. Taken any chance of a state championship out of the realm of possibility. The beast of the night, too big and too dumb to know what I’d done.
They didn’t realize the half of it and just how close I came to losing it. I could feel the anger building in me like a raging forest fire. My heart raced, and my muscles were tighter than a drum. I wanted to hit something, hard. Desperately needed to cr
ush something. Anything to make this pain go away.
I'd thought she cared. She’d been my first steady girlfriend. She'd approached me first, for Christ’s sake. Coming up to me at last summer’s quarry party.
Acting like I was something important. Staring at me through those long lashes, making feel like I was special. It'd all been a scam to get close to Danny. I could see it, now. She’d always wanted to know what he was up to, who he was seeing.
It was Gina that announced our couplehood on Facebook after two dates to the movies. She was the one who said, ‘I love you,’ first. It was her that said she was ‘saving her virginity until marriage.’
A fact that I could reluctantly accept. I’d have done anything to make her happy. People treated me differently because of her. If Gina Woods was my girlfriend, I must be pretty special, almost normal.
And my best friend Danny, the bastard. We’d gone to war together on the field. I protected his back and he shared his fame and glory.
What had I done to them? Where did I screw up?
I found myself sitting in Mrs. Hollis’ AP History class wondering how the hell I got there. A quick glance at the clock said we only had a couple of minutes left. Earth to Scott, get your shit together boy, it’s going to be a long day and you’re going to need to focus.
A short beep over the intercom made everybody jump and look at the speaker on the wall.
“Mrs. Hollis, please send Scott James to my office, thank you,” a grumbly voice said.
There weren’t any laughs, no snickers, not even a whoop whoop. Everybody knew what this was about and were hoping for the worst. A sea of gleeful smiles and hateful eyes watched me leave.
Only Katie River seemed to be on my side. Her sorrowful eyes looked like she was watching a puppy being taken to the execution chamber.
One out of twenty-five was more than I expected. The rest of them stared and remained silent as I gathered my stuff and headed out the door before the teacher could say a word. It’s not like I didn’t expect it.
My Best Friend's Brother (Hometown Heroes Book 3) Page 19