Page 38 of My Brother's Best Friends

“Excuse me,” a woman says.

She stands in front of the mirror, adjusting her makeup. The room has no stalls, just a toilet and a sink. Thank goodness I didn’t walk in on her while she was doing her business.

“I’m so sorry,” I say. “I didn’t know anyone was in here—I should’ve knocked.”

“It’s okay,” she says. “I’m almost done.”

I tug off my gloves, hands trembling. With nowhere else to perch, I lower the lid and sink onto the toilet.

The woman turns around to face me. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” I nod. “I’m about to do something crazy, and I don’t know if I’m up for it. On one hand, it could be incredible; on the other, it might change everything in ways I’m not ready for.”

“That sounds… pretty intense,” the woman replies.

I let out a nervous laugh. “Sorry for dumping all of that on you.”

She shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. I think we’ve all dealt with something similar at one point in our lives. Strangers can sometimes lend a good ear…”

That’s a fair point. And I don’t have to disclose all the dirty details. I just need to paint a clear enough picture. “There’s this… guy I like.”

“Promising start,” she says, half-smiling. “Friends-to-lovers situation?”

“More or less. I’ve known him since I was a kid. He and my brother are best friends. We haven’t seen each other in ages—until today.”

“He’s still close with your brother?”

“They’re business partners, and my brother can be ridiculously protective,” I admit, remembering the dates he sabotaged in high school. And that’s only the beginning.

“You’re worried, then. What does the guy—the one you’re into—say?”

“Oh, he’s into me, too—and then some.” I can’t help but smile.

“What stops you, then? Just your brother?”

“It’s a tad more complicated than that. I don’t know why I’m having second thoughts now. We were getting so hot and heavy earlier…”

“Is he cool?” she wonders. “Does he come with any baggage?”

“He’s amazing. Smart. Successful. Handsome as hell. Funny. Chivalrous. He’s like three men rolled into one.” It’s as close as I can get to the truth with this lady. “I’m not sure about the baggage, though. From what he’s told me, he hasn’t had that many relationships over the years.”

“And do you trust him?” she continues.

“Yes,” I say with a nod. “I actually do. I must sound crazy, huh?”

“No.It sounds like the two of you dove in a bit too fast, and now you’re wondering if you should pump the brakes. That’s what would be on my mind, anyway,” the woman says.

“So you think I should go for it?” I ask.

“Ask yourself what you really have to lose. Are you dealing purely with physical attraction? Or is there more to it? Is there more to it for the both of you, or just for him? Or just for you? Because if it’s just a sex thing, I say go for it and regret it later. If you want more, then yes, go slow. It’s pretty straightforward…”

Looking at the bigger picture—and remembering Oscar’s doubts about building a relationship among four—I decide I can keep things strictly physical. We’ve only just reunited. There’s no way for us to know where this might lead.

Where it might not lead.

Why build up expectations like this? Oscar wants to go slow, but he’s deeply attracted, too. I can see it in his eyes, I can hear it in his voice. Kellan and Alex are practically simmering just beneath the surface, and I know that the minute we’re left to our own devices, we will finish what we started in that hot tub.

“Just go for it, then, and worry about the consequences later,” I say.

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