Her Best Men: A Brother's Best Friends Reverse Harem

by Rye Hart

  Just after seven, I stepped inside the only bar in Ennis. Josh was already there waiting for me, sitting at the bar when I walked inside. He fiddled with his pint glass as I slid onto the barstool next to him.

  “You’re late,” Josh said.

  “Five minutes,” I said. “Lighten up, man.”

  “I’m just pissy about this weekend,” Josh said with a sigh. “That fucking conference.”

  “It couldn’t have been that bad,” I said.

  “It was worse,” he snapped. “You have no idea how cocky those doctors can be. Most of them have no idea what the hell they’re talking about half the time. And yet, they all think they’re geniuses.”

  “Never would have guessed.”

  I tried to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Josh had just described himself, and he didn’t even realize it. Luckily, he was too deep in his own complaints to notice my tone.

  “Anyway,” he said after he had finished ranting about the conference. “What’s new with you? Work’s been insane, huh?”

  “You have no idea.” I sighed. “I finally closed the Harrington account, though.”

  “No shit?” Josh asked. “That’s awesome!”

  “Thanks.” I grinned and took a sip of my drink. “It’s been a long time coming.”

  “I know,” Josh said. “You’ve been talking about the Harringtons for like two years now.”

  “Longer than that,” I said. “I’m just glad it’s finally for real. Marcy got the signed contracts late on Friday night, so everything’s in place now.”

  “Then this is a celebration!” Josh said. He waved down the bartender and ordered us another round.

  I smiled and happily accepted the drink. Josh could grate on my last nerve, but he really was a decent brother. He wasn’t always the best at reading my moods, but he was supportive when it mattered.

  We talked for a few more hours and continued drinking. Josh didn’t have to be back in Dallas until the next day, so he decided to just crash at my place. We took a cab home, leaving both our cars at the bar.

  When we pulled up to my house, I remembered Julie’s reaction from the day before. I smiled to myself and pulled out my phone. I typed a quick text and sent it off before I could think better of it.

  “Who’s that?” Josh asked.

  I snapped my head up to see that he was staring down at my phone. He couldn’t see the name on the screen, but his interest was obviously piqued.

  “Just some girl I met,” I said evasively.

  “And you’re drunk texting her?” Josh laughed. “Bad move, man.”

  “Nah,” I said. “It’s not like that. She’s…” I trailed off. I didn’t know how to talk to Josh about Julie. More than that, I didn’t really want to.

  “What?” Josh pressed. “Different? Special?”

  “Both,” I said firmly. “She’s both.”

  “Damn,” Josh said, letting out a low whistle. “Never thought I’d hear you get defensive about a girl.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “She’s really something. Honestly, I can’t stop thinking about her.”

  “I want to meet her,” Josh said. He slapped my shoulder in a very older-brotherly way, but my insides froze solid. The last thing I wanted was for Josh and Julie to meet.

  “Not yet,” I said. “I don’t know how serious things are yet.”

  “Well,” Josh said. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  CHAPTER 11

  JULIE

  My nerves were fried by the time I fell into bed on Monday night. The Skype interview went well. My potential boss, Meghan, asked all the right questions, and I gave my best answers. When we said goodbye, I felt confident. As the day dragged on, that confidence faded to nothing. I was left in a puddle of anxiety with no way to calm myself.

  The job wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t my dream job by any standards, but it was exactly what I needed right now. The ability to write from home, to maintain an online presence even while living in Ennis, was the best I could possibly hope for. I hated the idea that I might not get the job. As I laid in bed on Monday night, I told myself to relax.

  “Whatever happens, happens,” I whispered as I rolled onto my side and squeezed my eyes shut.

  Not two minutes later, my phone buzzed beside me. I frowned and grabbed it. Who would be texting me so late at night?

  Michael’s name flashed across the screen, accompanied by an unread message notification. I smiled and opened the text.

  “Hey you,” it said. “Just thinking about you. Hope your interview went well.”

  Warmth fluttered through my chest. I grinned and laid my phone back down. It was too late to respond. I knew if I did, I’d never get to sleep.

  Still, Michael stayed in my thoughts as I drifted off. He occupied all my dreams that night, making me wake up the next morning in a much lighter mood. I was still smiling when the sun rose. I still couldn’t believe he’d had this effect on me. I hadn’t been single for that long and here I was, hooking up with someone new. No, it was more than hooking up, wasn’t it? I got out of bed and tried to keep myself busy before I drove myself nuts.

  The morning seemed to never end. Meghan said she’d call today, but she didn’t say when. I dreaded the idea of waiting by the phone all day. Instead, I jumped in the shower, made myself some breakfast, got dressed, and went for a walk. I was halfway to the town square when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

  My stomach dropped when I saw Meghan’s number on the screen.

  “Holy shit,” I said to myself. I shook my head roughly before I answered. “Hello? This is Julie Black.”

  “Julie!” Meghan said with enthusiasm. “I’m so glad I caught you this morning.”

  “Meghan,” I said. “It’s great to hear from you.”

  “Well,” Meghan said. “I have good news. The job is yours if you still want it.”

  “Of course!” I said, excitement dripping from my voice. “That’s amazing!”

  “I loved talking to you yesterday,” Meghan said. “And the team all really enjoyed your samples. You’re the perfect writer for us, and I can’t wait to see the stories you come up with!”

  “Thank you so much,” I said. “I really appreciate this opportunity.”

  “It’s our pleasure,” Meghan said. “So, I’ll send over your first assignment later today. We’ll need it emailed to our editors by next Monday at the latest, okay?”

  “Perfect,” I said without hesitation.

  “Great,” Meghan said. “Talk later.”

  “Thanks again!”

  We hung up, and I felt lighter than air. Not only did I get the job, but by the end of the day, I’d have my first assignment. Words couldn’t describe how happy I was.

  Changing course, I headed back to my house. I suddenly had no desire to take a walk around town or grab a cup of coffee at the café. I just wanted to get home and wait for my assignment to come through. My fingers were practically itching to start typing.

  On the way back, I called Andrea to tell her the good news.

  She squealed into the phone. “You got it?”

  “I freaking got it!” I screamed, not caring that there were other people on the street. “I can’t believe it!”

  “I’m on my way,” Andrea said.

  “What?” I blinked. “What are you talking about?”

  “We have to celebrate!” Andrea said. “And I have the day off. So, I’m coming to town. I’ll see you in an hour.”

  Andrea didn’t wait for my response. She just hung up and left me shaking my head in disbelief. Of course, Andrea was going to drive to Ennis. Why wouldn’t she?

  She pulled into my driveway just over an hour later. I grinned as I threw open the door and greeted her with a hug.

  “I brought sustenance,” Andrea said, holding up a bottle of champagne.

  “Should we really be day drinking?” I asked skeptically. “We’re not in college anymore.”

  “It’s not day drinking if it’s a celebration,” Andrea said,
her tone serious. “Now, where are your glasses?”

  I led the way to the kitchen and grabbed two glasses from my top cabinet. We settled on the couch, sipping our champagne and catching up.

  I told Andrea all about the job and how excited I was. I thought about mentioning Michael, but I wasn’t sure how well she would take that news. After all, I moved to Ennis to get over my last relationship. Did I really want to admit that I’d already started another one? If that’s even what it was.

  Luckily, the subject never came up. After I finished telling Andrea all about the new job, she grew quiet and introspective, two things Andrea was not.

  “What’s up with you?” I asked, nudging her leg with my foot. “Drunk already?”

  “No.” She shook her head and sighed. “There’s something I should really tell you.”

  “Okay.” I sat up straighter. “What is it?”

  “I ran into Joshua the other day,” Andrea said. She spoke quickly, spitting the words out before she could change her mind. “At that Starbucks by the hospital. I was there for… Well, it doesn’t really matter. I stopped in to grab some coffee and, boom, there he was.”

  “Did you talk to him?” I asked.

  Andrea nodded. “He asked about you.”

  My stomach did a flip, but it was weaker than I expected. Hearing Joshua’s name used to send me into a spiraling depression. I hated thinking about him. Talking about him had felt like a unique form of torture. Now, it didn’t seem to bother me as much.

  “What did you tell him?” I asked.

  “Just that you moved,” Andrea said with a shrug. “I said you were doing great, but that you left Dallas.”

  “And?” I pressed.

  “He was shocked,” Andrea said. “I guess he really had no idea.”

  “I told you.” I laughed softly. “He’s not really the type to check Facebook religiously.”

  “Still,” Andrea said. “You’d think he would have by now.”

  “Nah.” I shook my head. “Residency is too time-consuming, remember?”

  “Whatever.” Andrea rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I just thought you should know.”

  “Did you tell him where I moved?” I asked nervously. The last thing I needed was for Joshua to suddenly have a change of heart and show up at my doorstep.

  “God, no,” Andrea said. “Why the hell would I do that?”

  “Just making sure,” I said. “Thanks for telling me.”

  Andrea watched me closely as I took another sip of my champagne. I couldn’t have described my mood if I wanted to. I’d been so happy just moments before, and now, I was still happy but reserved. There was something about hearing Joshua’s name, something about knowing he had asked about me, that made me uncomfortable.

  “You okay?” Andrea asked.

  “Just…” I began. “I don’t know. It’s strange.”

  “What is?” Andrea asked.

  “I don’t feel sad anymore,” I said. “Before, when someone would mention him, I’d feel this weight on my chest. My eyes would burn, and I would want to cry.”

  “And now?”

  “It’s a different feeling.” I shrugged. “Less intense.”

  “You’re getting over him,” Andrea said wisely. “That’s a good thing.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” I smiled, and Andrea nodded encouragingly.

  We spent the rest of the day talking about anything but Joshua. My mind turned back to Michael and, by the time Andrea left, I couldn’t stop myself from calling him.

  “Julie,” he said when he answered. “I was wondering when I’d hear from you. How was the interview?”

  “It was amazing,” I said. “I got the job.”

  “Congratulations!” Michael said. “That’s fantastic!”

  “Thank you.” I beamed into the phone.

  “Tomorrow,” he said simply. “You free?”

  “I am,” I said.

  “Great. We’ll celebrate then.”

  CHAPTER 12

  MICHAEL

  Julie wore a short, tight black dress. She came to the door with her hair curled and her eyes alive with excitement. I tried my best to keep my eyes on her face, but it was impossible. That dress hugged every single curve, and my willpower just wasn’t strong enough. I looked her up and down, my eyes lingering on her bare legs and black high heels.

  “Like what you see?” she asked, her voice low and suggestive.

  I looked back up at her face. Her eyes were dark and full of that same, familiar hunger. I grinned and stepped forward. My hand slid around her waist, and I pulled her in for a kiss.

  I groaned against her soft lips. When we pulled apart, I sighed deeply. “You look incredible.”

  “Thank you.” Julie smiled and dipped her hips to the side, showing off her dress even more.

  I laughed and held out my arm for her. She took it, and we hurried toward my car. Once inside, I cranked the engine and pointed us out of town.

  “Where are we going?” Julie asked.

  “Into the city,” I said. “This is a celebration, after all. A fancy restaurant is in order.”

  “I don’t need fancy,” Julie said, laughing gently.

  “Which is exactly why you deserve it,” I said.

  Julie smiled as if she were surprised. From the look on her face, she wasn’t used to being spoiled. I wasn’t normally the type to go over the top for a woman but, with Julie, I couldn’t help myself.

  We arrived at the restaurant, and I had the valet park the car. I picked a French bistro for dinner. It was a place I’d been to often, and I knew Julie would love it.

  “You really didn’t have to do all this,” Julie said after I ordered us a bottle of champagne. “It’s just a job.”

  “I wanted to.” I shrugged, and Julie frowned. I searched her face. She was obviously upset. I wondered if I’d made a mistake. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “What?” Julie’s eyes snapped up to meet mine. She softened immediately. “No, no. Not at all.”

  “Then, what is it?” I reached across the table to take her hand.

  “It’s nothing,” she said. “I just… I know you’re used to this. Going to dinner at fancy restaurants. Spending your money without much thought.”

  I laughed. “Ouch.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I don’t mean that as an insult. But I’m not used to things like this. My family is much simpler. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to treat me this way. I’m fine with diners and cafes. I don’t need a lot.”

  “I don’t feel like I have to,” I said. “I just want to.”

  Julie considered me for a few seconds. I knew she was trying to determine whether I was serious or not.

  “Look,” I said. “I know we joke around a lot. Banter and flirting are great, but we’ve never had a really serious conversation before.”

  “No.” Julie shook her head. “I guess we haven’t.”

  “So,” I said, leaning back in my chair and spreading my arms wide. “Ask me anything.”

  “What?” Julie laughed nervously.

  “Anything you want to know,” I said. “I’m serious.”

  Julie hesitated for barely a second, then a wicked smile crossed her face as she leaned forward. I knew she was going to have fun with this.

  “How many women have you slept with?” she asked boldly.

  “I don’t keep a running tally.” I laughed. “Same question.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “Oh, come on,” I said, laughing again. “You didn’t think this was a one-way street, did you?”

  “I haven’t slept with any women,” she said playfully.

  I rolled my eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  “Three,” she said simply. “Including you.”

  I nodded and gestured for her to continue with her questions.

  “When was your last serious relationship?” she asked.

  I sighed. I knew this question was coming, but that didn�
�t mean I was ready for it. My last relationship wasn’t something I enjoyed talking about. Still, I promised Julie she could ask whatever she wanted.

  “Four years ago,” I said. “Her name was Amy.”

  “What happened?” Julie asked.

  “Well…” I sighed. “It’s a long story.”

  “Good thing we have four courses to get through,” Julie said with a grin.

  I shook my head and chuckled. Julie kept me on my toes more than anyone ever had. Just a simple conversation felt like I was being challenged in the best way.

  “We dated for a long time,” I said. “On and off for three years. But about four years ago now, we ended things for good after I found out she was cheating on me.”

  “Oh.” Julie’s eyes widened. “Wow. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m over it.” I shrugged. “At the time, it was devastating, to say the least. I really loved her, but when I saw that she was using my credit card to buy things for her boy toy, I knew it was time to cut bait and run.”

  “She used your card?” Julie asked, shock filling her voice.

  I nodded. “Classy, huh?”

  “What a bitch.” Julie shook her head.

  I laughed and nodded in agreement. “I didn’t realize it at the time,” I said. “But she was always wrong for me.”

  “I can understand that,” Julie said. A dark look crossed her face.

  “Your ex?” I asked.

  “Yeah.” Julie nodded and grabbed her champagne glass. She took a long sip and looked away. As much as I wanted to hear her story, I didn’t want to force anything.

  “You don’t have to talk about it,” I said. “It’s okay.”

  “Fair is fair, right?” she asked lightly.

  I smiled. “I guess so.”

  “We were together for two years,” she said simply. “Two years, and I thought I was in love. Really, truly, deeply in love. The kind of love that actually means something.”

  “I know the feeling,” I said kindly.

  “But,” she said. “He finished medical school and started his residency. Apparently, I didn’t fit into his plan after that. He dumped me because he was too busy for a relationship.”