Page 4 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

“I promise.” A huge smile crossed my face. The high from the success of our movie and all the other offers I was getting consumed me with an excitement that made me giddy. “Nathan is Mr. Right Now, not Mr. Right. I know that, Fi.”

The grin on my face falls. My sister knew me so well.

An ache pings my heart as an image of Duncan holding Scarlett in his arms at Fi’s funeral flashes. His layers of softness hidden deeply under the gruff exterior he shows to the world have always been endearing.

The intense longing I felt at that moment to be held in his arms terrified me.

The grief that filled me at Fi’s sudden loss and the acute need to be comforted by Duncan had me running toward Nathan instead of from him. Everything I knew was forgotten in a moment of desperation.

“Sean’s team has been calling too,” Caroline’s voice pauses my trip down memory lane. “They told me the plan was to lay low. Sean, however, is taking the opportunity to go home and visit family.”

“Sounds like Sean. He would be the person to make lemonade out of lemons.” A soft chuckle falls from my lips as I think about my happy-go-lucky co-star making the best of any situation. “I feel bad he’s caught up in all of this. But that’s fame for you.”

The early reviews forWeb Of Lovecame out at the same time news of my breakup did. Because of our chemistry, Sean is being blamed for the things ending with Nathan.

“I really did think Nathan would let this go easily. It’s not like we didn’t know this was more about us being a power couple than actually being in love.” Saying the truth out loud is freeing. A heaviness lifts from my chest for the first time in a long time. Nathan had been a crutch for so long, longer than I ever meant him to be. “I didn’t realize how much of an ego he truly had.”

“I think it’s more about a bruised ego,” Caroline jeers. “With everything being said about the chemistry between you and Sean, everyone is speculating.”

She’s right. Nathan hates to be one-upped. I’m sure that’s how this feels to him. The timing of things gives everyone fuel for gossip.

“What do you think you’re doing, Ava?” Nathan growled. His eyes were hard, disgust filling his voice as he stared at my hand holding out the three-carat engagement ring. “Do you know how bad this is going to make me look? All the reviews are talking about the chemistry between you and Sean. This is going to hurt the release of my new movie!”

“Silly of me to think he would handle this maturely.” I scoff. Of course, he’d only think of himself. “Please promise me you won’t tell him where I’m headed.”

“Of course not!” Disbelief fills her voice at me even insinuating that she would do something like that. “In order to do that, which I never would, I’d need to know where you’re going. Since you didn’t tell me, I have no information to reveal.”

Her statement reminds me that I didn’t tell anyone where I was going; I just packed a bag and hopped into the car. Once on the road, I called David to tell him I was visiting.

“You know Scarlett and I will be thrilled to have you here, but this is sudden. Is everything okay?” David’s voice was filled with worry. “And why are you driving instead of flying?”

“I ended things with Nathan.” The words fell from my lips for the first time.

“Yes!” David yells. “Uhh..I mean, I’m so sorry, A. Are you okay?”

A small smile creased my face at his reaction. “The news isn’t out yet, but he’s not handling it well. I think being out of the spotlight for a bit will be a good idea, which means driving rather than flying.”

“Well, with that ego, I wouldn’t expect anything else.” Shock filled me. David had never said anything negative about Nathan. “I know why you stayed with him, A, but I’m so grateful you’ve come to your senses.”

I snorted. “Tell me how you really feel!”

“I think I’ll let Scarlett tell you howshereally feels.” He chuckles.

The thought that my eight-year-old niece had thoughts about my ex made me laugh out loud.

“I’ll be staying with David and Scarlett,” I tell Caroline.

“Of course,” she replies. “That’s your safe place.”

Running to my sister and my best friend, David, has always been what I’ve done whenever I needed support.

The tightness is back in my chest, knowing Fiona won’t be there this time when I arrive, but David and Scarlett will be. It’s been too long since I’ve seen the two of them in person; I’ve missed them. This visit should’ve happened a long time ago.

My goddaughter is growing up fast, and I’m missing it. Whenever a picture of her shows up on social media, I swear she’s grown. Our video chats are satisfying but never enough.

The last picture of her I saw was with David and Duncan and her latest missing tooth.

Her long auburn hair flowed down her back, and her smile was huge as the brothers pointed out her missing canine.

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