Page 8 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

“Turner is engaged.”

I pause, half bent over, poised to kick off my shoes. Turner is engaged. No parts of that sentence make sense to me. How the hell can he be engaged? We broke up barely four months ago.

“Sweetie, did you hear me? Are you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” I say, not sure what else to say about the bomb she just dropped on me with no warning. Then again, I suppose that’s why she’s asking if I’ve been on social media. Turner always likes to post damn near religiously when something comes up. It’s one of the things we used to argue about the most. I guess now it doesn’t matter. He can post about anything andeverything now with no one to ask him to stop. “That’s great for him.”

“Oh, honey.” Mom’s voice is thick with pity, and in that moment, I hate it. I hate him and everyone associated with him. “I hadn’t wanted you to find out on your own. Is Jax there? I can be on the first flight-”

“Mom, no. It’s fine,” I say, cutting her off. The last thing I need is her flying in to hold a pity party for me. I’d done that enough when the breakup just happened. This is supposed to be a fresh start, a time for me to really think about what I want for my life going forward. “I’m fine. Really. You don’t need to come.”

“But sweetheart…” She trails off, and I can hear some shuffling over the line. When my dad’s voice comes through, I sigh softly, wondering if I’m about to get a one-two parental punch.

“Hey there, bean. You hangin’ alright?”

“Same as ever, Dad,” I reply, trying to push some enthusiasm into my voice. “Tell Mom she doesn’t need to get on a plane. I really am okay.”

He chuckles. “I know you are, kid. You always were tough as nails when you wanted to be. I’ll handle your mother. Now, how’s work going?”

I feel more comfortable talking about things that aren’t related to Turner and am happy enough to finish the conversation and move on. But once the knowledge is there, I can’t escape it. With a put-upon sigh, I pull out my laptop and power it up.

I’ll just take a quick peek and be done with it. The little pep talk only helps so much. I’ve been frugal about logging into my social media for the past few months. But now that I know this, muscle memory has me clicking to his page.

Turner looks the same as always. I don’t know why I’m thinking he would have drastically changed in the four months we’ve been separated. Maybe it’s wishful thinking that he’s now some grotesque shell of the man he used to be, but no. He is still the specimen of blond male perfection. Only now, he has a matching golden girl on his arm. They look like a couple that just stepped out of a Home & Gardens magazine. Not a hair is out of place, and she is dolled up in that way he always tried to convince me to be.

I look down at my t-shirt and shorts, feeling somehow less than, just based on clothing alone. Growing up being on the curvier side has been rough, but college was an awakening of sorts when it came to appreciating the hips and dips I’m blessed with.

Still, there’s something insidious about seeing what is probably a picture filtered to hell and back that makes you doubt your worth. It’s a hard feeling to shake, and by the time Jax and Aiden make it home, I’ve nearly worked myself up in a tizzy. Ever the observant one, Jax gets straight to the point.

As he settles beside me on the couch, I feel a rush of gratitude. He’s always been my rock, even when we were kids bickering over the last cookie. Now, as adults, that bond has only grown stronger. I lean into him, drawing comfort from his solid presence.

“Mom said she called you today.”

I sigh at his knowing tone. “I’m fine.”

“Not what I asked,” Jax says before turning to the television. I’m not sure what I’m watching. I turned it on just to have background noise.

“So, you know too. You found out about Turner.”

He nods, not even trying to deny it. “Didn’t think you’d wanted to know, otherwise I would have told you as soon as I saw it. She’s pretty, I guess, in that artificially made up kind of way.”

My lips quirk up. “If this is you trying to make me smile, you can stop. I’m not upset.”

“Not upset about what?” Aiden asks as he comes to sit down on my other side. The warmth from his body seeps into me, and I unconsciously lean his way before catching myself and straightening back up.

“Nothing.”

“Seriously, sis. It’s fine if you’re upset. And you know Mom just wants to help. It’s just that her form of helping is hovering,” Jax says. I nod in reluctant agreement.

I know our mom means well, but sometimes it’s all a bit too much. When I want to sink into my hurt and just let it carry me for a moment, she is always there to pull me out. It’s helpful in the end but also overbearing.

“I know, but you know how she can be. I really don’t think I can handle a repeat of her last attempts to help right now.” I can feel Aiden’s gaze on the side of my face, and when I glance over, I confirm he is looking steadily at me.

“What the fuck are you guys talking about? None of this shit is making sense.”

I blink slowly before turning to look at Jax. Has he not told Aiden why I moved in with him? Regardless, despite my reluctance to post on social media, I have somewhat kept up with it over the years. I don’t post as regularly as some, but the evolution and eventual end of my relationship with Turner wouldn’t have been hard to spot for anyone paying even the slightest attention.

I know Aiden has a profile. I’ve looked over it now and then in the past. It just further reinforces that even though I have at least tried to keep up with his life, he hasn’t paid the slightest bit of attention to me after that one night. Something inside of me clenches, but I push it aside. I can only handle emotions when dealing with one guy. Plus, it doesn’t matter that Aiden doesn’t pay any attention to me after that night. It’s what I wanted.

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