The water ran cold and pulled me from my thoughts. I hurried out of the shower, got dressed, and was out the door for work in record time.
When I walked through the door to the employee area, Chris' ass was the first thing I saw. He was bent over putting his stuff in a locker. How could I possibly pass that up? I walked up slowly, pulled back, and smack.
“What the,” he yelled out, as he spun around.
“Couldn't pass it up,” I said with a shrug.
“I'll get you for that,” he growled.
His eyes were glaring, but I could see the smile on his lips. His muscles were bulging tight beneath his shirt. I'd known Chris since I started at the restaurant five years earlier. He worked there to pass time just like I did. During the school year, he taught computers at the local high school.
“You're looking super fine today,” I said.
“Oh yeah?” he asked.
“Yep,” I said. “I wouldn't kick you out of bed.”
“Too bad you don't have the right parts for me, or I'd say the same about you,” he joked, as he wrapped his arms around me. “How was Vegas? Bring me back any fine looking men? I mean gifts.”
“No,” I joked back. “I used them and left them there. You should have gone with us. Rachel met a guy. You won't believe it. He ended up being that asshole of an ex's boss.”
Chris' eyes widened.
“It gets better,” I said. “The woman he was doing, his secretary, was the boss' sister.”
“Oh no,” Chris said. “Are you serious?”
“Yep,” I said. “He seemed to really like Rachel. He even upgraded all three of us on the flight home. Best flight ever. I'll probably never be able to afford a flight like that myself.”
“Sure you will,” he said. “I believe in you.”
I've joked around with Chris since the day we met. We've gone out to clubs together, talked for more hours than you can imagine, and watched movies together. He's let me cry on his shoulder, and I've listened to stories about his life. That man has had some hot boyfriends, hotter than any of mine have been. I can honestly say, he is the closest person to me and knows more about me than anyone outside of Florida. Why didn't I think of taking him, I wondered? He'd be perfect. I didn't have to take a woman. I knew Chris would've had my back more than anyone.
“Chris,” I said in the sweetest voice I could find.
He narrowed his big, brown eyes at me.
“Whatever you're thinking, the answer is no,” he said, as he turned to walk away.
“Hold on,” I said. “This could be good for you.”
“What?” he asked.
“You have your daughter next weekend, right?”
I met his daughter many times. We've taken her to do so many fun things together. He loved her with everything he had and was an amazing dad. She was nine and very smart. He got along great with her mother. They were together just after he started college, before he decided to be true to himself and stop worrying about what everyone thought of him. He had a great relationship with his little girl. Sometimes it made me sad that I didn't have that, but I tried not to think about it too much. I couldn't imagine anyone I'd want to have a baby with. It would've had to be someone really, I don't know.
“Yes,” he said. “Why?”
I knew Chris was off weekends just like me. If he had his daughter the next weekend, then he wouldn't the weekend of the wedding. It really was perfect.
“You want to have some fun and spend the weekend after next with your favorite friend?” I asked with a smile.
“The whole weekend?” he asked. “Where would we be doing that exactly?”
“Florida,” I said, as I closed my eyes and waited for him to speak.
“You want me to cross state lines with you,” he said with a smile. “Out with it, woman.”
“Okay,” I said. “My brother called me last night. He's getting married that weekend and made me promise I would come.”
“You're going home?” he asked, as he put his hands on my shoulders and looked down at me.
Chris knew I hadn't been home for more than a minute in ten years. He knew nothing about Jackson and that night, but he knew everything else about my life.
“I have to,” I answered. “When I said no, he got upset. I said I would be there, but I want you to go with me. I'll pay for your flight and our room. You don't have to pay for anything.”
I could tell that I wasn't convincing him.
“I'll get us a room at the nicest hotel. There's a club in it that is amazing. Beside the rehearsal and wedding, you can do whatever you want. We'll dance, drink, and eat. Come on.”
Still nothing.
“The guys there are hot. It's right at the beach. We'll find you a tan, built, sexy man. Please,” I begged. “I need a friend with me. I don't want to stay at my parents. If I come alone, they'll want me to. You could be saving me from hours and hours of questioning. Think of how much you'll be helping me. We can fly out right after work on Friday and come home late Sunday night. It's not that long. It'll be so much fun. I promise.”
“Fine,” he said. “I've got your back. We'll hang at the beach together. I'll find you a hottie too. You don't do that good of a job yourself.”
“Shut up,” I said, as I turned to walk out. “Sounds like a plan.”
I walked out before he could change his mind. We were going to have so much fun together, and I needed to make sure he had some fun on his own. He deserved it. Chris was a great friend. I was so happy that I wasn't going to have to face them alone. One of my best friends would be by my side.
As soon as I got home that night, I called and booked a suite for us. It was more than I wanted to spend, but I knew he'd probably need a bit of privacy. I didn't need to know that much about him. There was no reason for me to need privacy. I hadn't done the hook up thing in two years. Yes, two years. It had been way too long since I'd been with a man, but I wasn't willing to settle. I was tired of that. Once the room was booked, I got on the internet to book our flights. When I saw the price, I thought about how I'd turned my parents offer to pay for my ticket down. I guess that's what happens when you wait until last minute, I thought. My brother was worth it. He deserved to be happy on his wedding day. I knew my parents would have paid for the ticket without a second thought, but I couldn't let them go through that expense. They were probably dealing with enough from the last-minute wedding.
The hotel was booked and our flights were paid for. Everything was going to be just fine.
Chapter 5
Jackson
I worked my ass off so I could be there in time for the rehearsal. It would've looked pretty bad for the best man to be late. Tim would be all freaked out and nervous. The least I could do was be on time. I'd been up since four o'clock in the morning and ran around like crazy getting things done. I was only going to be gone for one weekend, and I wasn't going to be more than an hour away. Maybe it was time to re-evaluate how much work I was doing and how much was being delegated to others.
I rented the room for the second night so I could spend a few minutes with my parents before going home. They complained all the time that I was never around and traveled too much. I certainly did, but that wasn't a problem for me. I wasn't very fond of being home. There were too many memories there. It made me think about her. My parents weren't all that while I was growing up anyway. I always told myself I'd make enough money to never need to count on them, and I'd done just that. It just drove me crazy to always be told what I was going to do with myself and never be asked if it was what I even wanted. In the end, it all worked out. I was doing exactly what I wanted.
Tim's parents were always good to me. They didn't have much, but they always let their children think for themselves. I liked spending time with them. They treated me like one of their own, and I really appreciated it. I felt closer to them than I ever had to my own parents. They honestly were more proud of the man I had become than my own mom and dad.
When I
walked up to check in to the hotel, the girl at the desk looked from my shoes up to my eyes. I shook my head and laughed. How ridiculous, I thought. She could have at least appeared a bit professional. Then it hit me. Where did I know her from, I wondered? We went to school together. She'd been in a few of my classes. Oh great, I thought. Hopefully we could get through checking in painlessly so I could get to my room and make it to the rehearsal on time. I was already exhausted from the long day and didn't need her to make me lose any more time.
“Jackson,” she said, almost in a whisper.
“That's me,” I said. “I need to get checked in as quickly as possible. I have to be somewhere, and I'm running late.”
She typed a few things into the computer and snapped her eyes back up at mine. There it was. Maybe I shouldn't have rented the biggest suite in the place.
“I knew you'd done well for yourself, but I hadn't realized you'd done that well,” she said. “Let me get you checked in and on your way. I see you're here for two nights. Maybe we could get a drink and catch up.”
I looked down at her without a word. Not a chance, I thought.
“Who knows,” I said with a smile.
I signed the paper she handed me, grabbed my keys from her, picked my bags up from the floor, and hurried to the elevator. I pushed the button for the top floor, relieved to get away from her. I walked quickly into my suite, put my clothes in the master bedroom, and took a quick shower. What was someone required to wear to a rehearsal, I wondered? Weddings weren't my thing. I normally stayed away from them as much as possible. There was probably a dinner as well that night. I really wasn't in the mood to put on a jacket and tie, so I grabbed a very nice button up and pair of suit pants. The shirt was dressy enough without adding a tie. As soon as I grabbed my keys, slipped on my shoes, and grabbed my phone, I was on my way. If I hurried, I'd get there right on time.
I thought about Tim as I drove. He was a great guy, and he truly deserved happiness. Renee was good for him. She didn't take shit, and she loved him very much. Not everyone got what they wanted. Not everyone found real love with the one they belonged. He did, and that was awesome.
I parked my car in the lot of the church and hurried inside. It was nice to drive myself and not have to count on my driver to cart me around. He was thrilled to get a couple of days of. I'd have to admit me driving was more of a selfish act than one of concern for my driver. I rarely got to drive, and I'd taken my new car. Cars were one on the things I actually spent money on. I don't know why, but that was my thing. I did set a limit of owning only three cars at once. If I wanted a new one, then I had to get rid of an old one. They didn't have to be the most expensive cars out there either. That wasn't me. It just had to be something I really liked. I'd had everything from a Camaro to a Mustang to an SUV to a Ferrari, which was what I took to the wedding. It was by far my favorite. It was the most expensive car I had ever bought, and I'd gotten it for my thirtieth birthday and the signing of the biggest deal to date in my career. I knew it was crazy when I did it, but it was the perfect car. It was red with black, and it was mine. It was like a kid at Christmas, and that was how I felt every single time I got behind the wheel.
I was relieved when I walked in and looked around. She wasn't there. Yes, I thought. The knot in my stomach settled and all of my muscles relaxed. I hadn't even noticed they were tight until they loosened. A deep breath filled my lungs. It felt good to release the stress I had built up surrounding the wedding. I had no idea why I'd let it get to me so much. There was no way she was going to be there. She hadn't been back in ten years. I guess she might have been back for a day at some point, but I'd never seen her. I made a point never to ask about her.
Tim walked up and wrapped his arm over my shoulder. He looked really good and very happy. We talked for a few minutes before he pulled me over to his family and friends. His mom didn't waste one second pulling me down to hug her and telling me how much she missed me. I had to admit that I missed her too.
“We're still waiting on two more people,” Tim said.
Renee walked up with a very tall, leggy woman. She was very pretty. I could see Tim looking back and forth between us. I don't think so, I thought to myself. Did he seriously think he was setting me up at his wedding? I knew exactly what he was thinking. Don't get me wrong, she was gorgeous. She had on a form-fitting dress that showed each of her curves. They were in all the right places. Her hair was long and dark. She had dark eyes and a huge smile. Renee introduced her as the maid of honor. Her name was Bridget, and she was Renee's best friend. I had only met Renee a handful of times and had never met any of her friends. The four of us had walked off to the side to talk about we needed to do as the two main people in the wedding with them. We were deep in conversation when Bridget tripped on the rug with her heel. I reached out to steady her before she had the chance to go over. She'd just gotten back on her feet, when air breezed by and my body tensed.
The scent that filled my nose was one I would never forget, and the light giggle that followed was just as familiar. When I turned my head to see if my mind was playing tricks on me, our eyes connected. I felt the air leave my lungs, and I froze.
It was her. She was there. The one person that could turn my world upside down was standing in the same room as me, and she wasn't alone.
Chapter 6
Tina
The two weeks leading up to the wedding were the longest of my entire life, and I'd had some long weeks. I picked my clothes carefully. Well, some of them anyway. I told my parents I wanted to rent a car. That way I wasn't dependent on anyone, and if I needed to, I could drive my ass to the airport and get the hell out of there. They wouldn't have to wait around to pick me up either. That was what I went with when I turned down their offer for a ride.
I wore a nice pair of jeans and a t-shirt to the airport so I could be comfortable on the flight. Chris was dressed nice as always. That man could make sweats and a ripped up shirt look sexy. He had on jeans that fit his tight ass perfectly. I still had a hard time not grabbing it. Sometimes I couldn't help myself. He also had on a t-shirt that fit his muscles like a glove. If he liked women, we totally would have hooked up years ago. He always joked that we would've gotten married for sure. We are perfect friends.
We went straight to airport after work that Friday, so we were sure to make the flight on time. I'd really never considered that the flight might actually not be as on time as we were. Nope, there was an hour delay. As it was, we were going to have to get to the hotel, check in, and be back in the car all in thirty minutes or so. I didn't check us in ahead of time, so by the time we found out we were late, our bags were already checked. What are the odds, right? You do know what that meant, right? We were going to the rehearsal in what we were wearing. I forgot to mention my hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail. I figured I'd probably sleep on the plane and would fix it in my thirty minutes. Nope, not going to happen either. My only hope left was that Jackson had turned Tim down and wasn't going to be there, but I knew better than to believe that.
I pulled out my phone and text my wonderful brother to let him know my plane was delayed and I would head straight to the church. He assured me that they would hold off as long as they could, but that it would be fine. It wasn't like the directions at the wedding were going to be that complicated. When I text back that maybe I should just see them at the wedding, I got back an all caps NO. He let me know that I was expected to attend the dinner no matter what time my flight arrived. I'd totally forgotten to tell him I was bringing someone, so I shot back a text letting him know that I had someone with me and we were getting on the plane. With that, I shut my phone off.
I joked with Chris the whole flight about what kind of man we were going to find him when we got there. So many different scenarios played out in my mind. Most of them were hilarious. I knew it was the right decision to bring him and was glad Rachel and Jen couldn't go. I hadn't laughed as much just being myself as I had in a long time. Coach wasn't the same after
flying like a queen. It made me appreciate what Cliff did for us even more. I made a mental note to send Rachel a text for her to show him once we landed.
When we got off the plane, we both ran for the restrooms. I brushed my hair but put it back up when I realized there was no hope of making it look that great. Chris came out of the restroom looking as awesome as always.
“Did you get a makeover while you were in there?” I asked him.
“Very funny,” he answered.
We took off for our luggage and laughed at our craziness. I pulled up a text to Rachel while we waited for our bags to appear.
Me: Tell Cliff thanks again for those awesome seats. I just flew coach. I'll never forget what it felt like flying like a queen.
I shoved my phone in my pants pocket, grabbed my bag, and took off with Chris behind me. I got our rental car as fast as I could. We got in, shut the door, and both fell back against the seats.
“Your family is crazy,” he said. “I can't believe I let you talk me into this.”
I wiped the light sweat from my forehead.
“I can't believe I forgot how hot it is here,” I said.
I knew what church the wedding was at and drove straight there. When I pulled into the parking lot, I let out a gasp. There were only five cars there, and the one I parked next to was not one I had ever seen before. Chris had his door opened before I even parked the car, which looked ridiculous next to the one beside mine. I was right there next to him in seconds. He was a car guy, but the beauty of that car was not wasted on me. It was bright red with some black. I pulled out my phone, turned around, and took a selfie of me standing with it. I was late, but I took that extra second to post it on social media. Chris laughed as I took one of him standing there too. We walked around it and looked in the windows. It was immaculate inside as well. Whoever owned that car was one lucky person.
In Love with My Brother's Best Friend: Complete Box Set Page 4