“Did you forget to tell me your family is loaded or something?” Chris asked. “Do you have any idea how much one of these cost?”
“It's beautiful,” I said. “I bet it cost at least two hundred thousand. My family doesn't have that kind of money to spend on a car.”
“Try well over a million,” he said, and my jaw dropped.
“You're kidding,” I said. “Who would spend that kind of money on a car? Can you imagine what their house must look like? Maybe it belongs to someone from the church or someone Renee knows. Come on. Tim's already going to kick my ass for being late.”
I grabbed Chris' hand and hurried to the front doors of the church.
“You okay?” he asked. “Your hand is shaking.”
“Just nervous,” I said.
“You're not the one getting married,” he said. “It's just your family.”
“I haven't been home in a long time,” I said.
Chris squeezed my hand and held it tight.
“You know they miss you, Tina,” he said.
He was right. My parents did miss me. I felt bad about not coming home to see them. It was nobody's fault but mine. I was letting my past run my present and my future, and it needed to stop. When he squeezed my hand again, I held his tight and pulled the door open.
“Let's find out who owns that car,” he said, and I let out a tiny giggle.
We didn't get far before I heard Chris whisper.
“Oh man,” he said. “Who is that fine looking man?”
I look up and let out a gasp, as my eyes found Jackson at the same moment his eyes found me. He looked better than I remembered, much better. I could have sworn for one tiny moment that something crossed his face. It was gone just as quickly. My mind was playing tricks on me. My palms were sweating, and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
“I take it you know him,” Chris whispered, and I squeezed his hand.
I took a huge breath in and let it out before holding on to Chris dear like and taking a few steps forward. You can do this, I thought. Don't let him ruin this and don't ruin it for your brother, I told myself. Jackson was absolutely perfectly put together. He had on a nice dress shirt and suit pants. There was way more muscles under that shirt than there used to be. A few more steps, I told myself. My feet felt like they had lead in them, but I forced myself to keep moving.
Then I saw it. His hand was on the lower back of the woman beside him. He wasn't there alone. Of course he wasn't. Why would I possibly think he would have come alone, I wondered? Not Jackson. He always had a girl, or woman in that case, standing next to him.
Every bit of confidence I had spent ten years building came crashing down in that moment.
She was so stunning. I didn't think anyone would have missed that. She was tall and thin but had the perfect curves. Her dress clung to her body and her long brown hair was perfect. She was a million times more beautiful than I could have ever imagined being.
It took all I had to fight the tears from streaming down my face. I held Chris' hand even tighter. Seeing her with Jackson reminded me why I never would have been good enough for him. It was time to finally come to peace with that. Then she turned to face me. She was even more beautiful than I thought. Her skin was flawless and her eyes were big and bright. She had the sweetest smile on her face. It was that moment that I realized I was in jeans and a t-shirt and that my hair was pulled into a ponytail. I'd been in such a hurry and laughing with Chris, and I'd totally forgotten what a mess I was.
My mind started moving a million miles a second and I turned to run, just like I had been for ten years.
Chapter 7
Tina
“Tiny,” I heard Jackson whisper.
I thought I was going to lose. I seriously thought I was going pass out right there. Then Chris squeezed my hand and leaned down next to my ear.
“You've got this,” he whispered. “Whatever is going on, I'm right here with you. You know I've got your back. Do I need to kick some butt?”
I looked up at him and smiled, as I shook my head and turned back around. It was my brother's wedding. I couldn't run. It was time to face him. I could do it. It was only a couple of days.
My eyes moved from Jackson's hand on her back up to his face. I felt my heart clench tight and jealousy run through my body. It took all I had not to snatch his hand from her back. I couldn't do that, but it didn't make it any easier not to. I moved my feet to take that final step. My brother turned to look at me just as my eyes saw Jackson's hand move on her back.
That was it. Something snapped in me. I wasn't running anymore. I'd missed so much time with my parents and my brother because of my feelings for him. I lived in New York because of those same feelings. I was so tired of running. Of course he was with that beautiful woman. She looked perfect, just like him. I felt my tears fighting to break free, but I wouldn't let them. I wouldn't let him see what he was doing to me. How could I still let him bother me after all those years, I thought? It felt like everyone's eyes were on me. The room was quiet. I felt like they were all waiting for me break, but I wasn't going to. I couldn't do it. I couldn't let them see me like that. Jackson's eyes were one me. I could feel his stare and felt like he could see straight through to the mess I was inside, but I couldn't let him see it. My hand was shaking in Chris', and I felt like I was breaking. It wasn't going to happen. I wouldn't let it.
I looked at Jackson's hand again and moved my eyes to his. The smile I'd gotten so used to putting on face appeared. I'd been faking it for ten years. In the happiest, most energized voice I could push out, I spoke.
“Jackson,” I said. “This is my boyfriend Chris.”
I could see Chris' eyes shoot over at me and felt his hand squeeze mine so tight I thought he was going to break my fingers. Then I turned and looked up at Chris and smiled. He looked straight into my eyes before putting his hand out toward Jackson and smiling.
“It's nice to meet you, Jackson.”
In Love with My Brother's Best Friend, Part 2
Chapter 1
Jackson
I'm not sure why I expected Tina to be alone just because I was. Why wouldn't she have someone in her life after ten years? That night hadn't meant as much to her as it had me. I probably never even crossed her mind anymore.
She was beautiful and perfect and deserved so much happiness. It sucked that I couldn't be the one to give that to her. She felt self-conscious about what she was wearing. I could tell by the way she moved from foot to foot as she talked and the way she kept touching her hair. There was no reason for her to feel that way. She had long, beautiful dark hair. I don't know why she had up in a ponytail. It always looked so nice down around her shoulders. She was wearing jeans, but they were very nice and on the dressy side. The shirt she was wearing wasn't tight. It didn't cling to her. It was the opposite actually. It flowed from her body and looked perfect.
I couldn't help but look over at the asshole standing next to her. He didn't look anything like I would have pictured for her. She was quiet and shy. The guy looked like he was probably outgoing and cocky. He was muscular and dressed nice. I would give him that. He just looked, I don't know, not Tina's type. I knew I would be keeping an eye on that fucker. He needed to be on his best behavior or he wouldn't know what hit him.
When Tina's eyes moved down, I realized my hand was still on Bridget's back from when she tripped. Her eyes stopped and lingered there. Why, I wondered? She was so flustered and didn't think I noticed. It had been a long time, but I'd known her pretty darn well for nine years before she took off.
So many emotions crossed her face in those few minutes we stood there. I wasn't sure exactly what they were, but I could have sworn I saw sadness and disgust on her features. She definitely looked more grown up than she had when I saw her last, but so much was still the same. Her eyes were big, dark, and beautiful. The way she looked at me when our eyes connected was the same as that night so long ago. There was something there. I didn't care who was standing
next to her, I couldn't help but want to know what she was really thinking and feeling. She was fighting herself every second we stood there, and I wished I knew why.
Then it all changed. The quiet girl I knew was gone. Her lips curved into a smile and her voice was happy and loud as she introduced that punk as her boyfriend. I would have been just fine without hearing that word come from her lips. Those lips that were once red and plump from me kissing them. Her words were directed only at me. She was letting me know that I meant nothing to her. It took all I had not to grab the back of her neck and claim her mouth. I felt my hands shaking and wasn't sure how long I could go on before I lost it and did just that.
When he put his hand out to shake mine, I wanted to smack the shit out of him. I wanted to pull her away from his side. Then I looked over at Tim. I couldn't do it, and it was driving me crazy. Whoever the guy was, he didn't deserve her. It didn't matter who he was or what he did, he wasn't good enough for her. It took everything in me to extend my hand and shake his.
“You too,” I said in the deepest, roughest voice I could find.
It was going to be the longest weekend of my life.
Chapter 2
Tina
There was no way I was going to look up to see the look on Chris' face. He was going to kill me. I couldn't help it. I had to do something, and that had flown out of my mouth before I could stop it.
“Tina,” Tim said, as he grabbed me and pulled me into his arms.
I didn't miss the fact that he had pulled me away from Chris.
“Did you say boyfriend?” he asked sternly. “Why have I not heard this before now?”
“You don't know everything about my life, Tim,” I said, as I hugged him back.
My mom and dad were there in seconds. She was already crying, as she pulled me from my brother into her own arms.
“I can't believe my baby's home,” she said.
I felt bad instantly for staying away from them for so long and couldn't stop the few tears that ran from my eyes. It was my fault she was crying. My mom released me and turned to Chris.
“Who is this handsome man?” she asked, as she pulled him into a hug. “How did you manage to get my baby girl?”
Chris let out a laugh and hugged her back. I pulled him free and wrapped my arm around his lower back. My brother looked him up and down before extending his hand to Chris. He shook Chris' hand roughly, and I smiled.
“How did the two of you meet?” Tim asked in his always deep big brother voice.
He had his shoulders pulled back and was standing tall, even though Chris was much larger than him. There was no smile on his face at all.
“We work together at the restaurant. He's also a teacher. Knock your crap off. Did I get all fifty questions on Renee when I met her?” I asked.
“It's different,” he said. “You're my little sister.”
“Younger by ten minutes. I think it's time you got over that. The whole big brother thing doesn't work anymore. I'm not a little girl. I'm a grown woman. I've been with way more than just him since I left here,” I said with a loud laugh.
I heard Jackson take a deep breath and grumble something under his breath. My brother looked at me. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was open. Better get used to the new me, I thought to myself. I looked up at Chris. He had a huge smile on his face. Then I looked at my brother.
“Is that shocked look on your face because your little sister hasn't been a hermit all her life, or is it that I said that in front of Chris?” I asked. “We've been very good friends for over five years. He knows more about me than he probably wants to.”
“What the heck happened to you?” Tim asked.
“I woke up and realized that the person I was wasn't good enough, so I made some changes,” I said.
I watched Jackson's jaw tighten and his chest puff out.
“Don't we have something to rehearse for?” I asked.
I grabbed Chris by the hand and started to pull him along with me down the aisle. He leaned down close to my ear.
“We will be discussing this, woman. You owe me huge after what I'm about to go through,” he whispered, as he reached down and grabbed my butt.
I let out a laugh, as I looked up at him, puckered my lips, and got him right on the cheek.
“You can sit here while we rehearse, honey,” I said. “It won't be too long.”
“Anything for you, dear,” he said.
I knew I was going to pay big for what I had done.
Chapter 3
Tina
Everyone else that was in the wedding walked to the front of the church. I walked behind them and happened to be right behind Jackson. There was no way I could help but look at his ass. It was tight and looked perfect in those pants. I swear those pants were made just for him. It was like they held onto his ass perfectly. I was starting to see a pattern in the way I looked at asses. I'd heard men say they were a breast man or an ass man. I guess I was an ass woman.
I heard Chris clear his throat. When I looked back at him, he narrowed his eyes at me. Busted, I thought. I let out a laugh that had everyone turning to look at me.
“Sorry,” I said.
When we got to the front, I noticed the woman that Jackson was touching standing there with us. Renee began introducing the other girls in the wedding party to me. When she introduced Jackson's woman as Bridget, the maid of honor and her best friend, it took all I had not to puke everywhere. I looked between Jackson and my brother and pulled out the Tina I had become.
“How sweet are you guys,” I said without thinking. “Best friends dating best friends. Isn't that just the cutest thing I've ever seen?”
A huge smile spread across Bridget's face and she giggled. When Jackson's eyes shot over at me, I could see his nostrils flare. He quickly narrowed his eyes. That seemed to be happening to me a lot since I'd walked in those doors.
“I just met Bridget a little bit ago. It was while we were all passing time while we waited for you to arrive considerably late, Tiny,” he said sarcastically.
Who the heck did he think he was? I felt my blood beginning to boil. That punk wasn't going to get away with scolding me for being late.
“There wasn't much I could do since there was no plane at the gate. If there had been, I would have flown it myself just so I could be on time, Jackie,” I said, being sure to say Jackie as harshly as possible. “I'm so sorry if I wasted any of your precious time. I'm sure you have so much to do. If I knew it was going to bother you so much, I would have gone to the hotel so I didn't have to come here looking like this. That would have made the crap you're giving me worth it.”
Everyone stood silent for a moment, even Jackson. His eyes were wide, as he stared at me. That's right, buddy, I thought. I'm not the pushover I used to be. Better get used to the new me, I thought, as I looked right back at him with a stern look. Come on, punk. I dare you, my eyes challenged.
“I told her we were waiting for her,” my brother said, as he looked over at Jackson.
Tim had always been protective of me, even when it came to his best friend. He made no exceptions for anyone. I knew I should feel good about that, but there were so many times it wasn't helpful when we were in school. He interfered way more than he should have.
“Back to rehearsal,” I said with a smile. “I'm tired, and I can't wait to get some sleep.”
“We have dinner after this,” my mom interrupted.
“I'm not sure I'm going,” I said.
“Yes you are,” my mom said in her bossy little tone. “You've made it so hard to see you. There is no way you are missing dinner. I will drag you there myself if I need to.”
I looked up to see Jackson with a smile on his face and stuck my tongue out at him. It only made him smile even more. He was enjoying the fact that my mom was telling me how it was going to be.
That was the moment it hit me. How had I missed it? I had been so wrapped up in being jealous and pissed that I hadn't even registered what he had said. H
e wasn't with Bridget. They had just met. He had come to the wedding alone.
I looked over my shoulder at Chris who was looking down and playing on his phone. Then I looked back to Jackson who still had that smile plastered on his face and hoped I hadn't made a huge mistake.
Chapter 4
Jackson
Who the hell did she think she was getting snotty with me? She was lucky we were surrounded by her family. If not, I would have taken her over my knee and shown her she wasn't going to treat me like that. Nobody treated me that way. I definitely wasn't used to women speaking to me like that. Most women did exactly as I said and took any kind of shit I gave them. Tiny was really pissing me off. I was the one making the rules in my life. I didn't take shit from anyone, and she wasn't going to be the exception to that rule.
Where was the girl I grew up with? What the heck happened to her? She was loud and cocky, hooking up, joking around, and talking back. Who was she, I wondered?
I was pulled from my thoughts when Bridget grabbed my hand.
“You need to be over here, Jackson,” she said in a soft whisper.
That was how women treated me. They were sweet and kissed my ass.
“Yeah, Jackie,” Tiny snapped. “Quit holding everything up.”
I looked over at her and snarled. There was no helping it. It was taking everything I had not to stomp over, throw her over my shoulder, take her someplace private, and demand an explanation of who she thought she was and where the hell my Tiny had gone.
“Really?” she asked with a laugh.
“Enough, Tina,” Tim snapped out at her. “We need to get moving.”
Funny how that worked, she was giving me shit. He yelled at her, and I wanted to get in his face and tell him not to speak to her that way. Nothing was making sense anymore. It never did when she was around. She was messing with my head and turning my world upside down and had only been back for minutes.
In Love with My Brother's Best Friend: Complete Box Set Page 5