Page 11 of Never Really Mine
“What do you mean?” I ask, though I know what he’s talking about.
“You’re obviously meant to be together. Obviously in love with each other. Why not make it official? I love Marley, like a sister of course, but fuck man, you are hurting her.”
Irritation flares in my chest. “Don’t you think I know that, Andrew?” I spit. I instantly regret it when his face falls. I sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. That was uncalled for.”
Andrew’s smirk returns. “You know I love riling you up man.”
I scoff. “Yeah, I know.”
“I don’t get it though. I’ve let it slide for as long as I have because I know it hurts you, but I’m not going to, not anymore. If it weren’t for Marley, who knows if I ever would have found my girl, and the thought of letting Josie go, and watching her live life, maybe with some other dude, makes me physically ill. I love her so much. So why are you purposefully doing this to yourself? Is it this other girl that none of us have met? Is she really that special if we’ve never met her?” He finishes his speech, taking another drink of his half empty beer.
Jason pipes in from across the circle. “He’s right, you know. How come we’ve never met your girlfriend?”
The irritation rises in me again, and I know that it’s not fair to them, they don’t know, but I can’t help but shut them out, shut everyone out. It’s easier than feeling right now, and I don’t have the capacity to deal with it. I need to change the subject, but I at least need to give them something so they get off my back.
“I’m only going to say this once, and then we are taking the focus off me. This weekend isn’t about me.” I glare at my brothers and Isaac. They nod eagerly.
I fidget with my fingers. “I don’t have a girlfriend. I did, for about six months, though I’m not sure you could even call her that. She was a distraction. I’ve been single since around thetime you and Josie got engaged, Andrew.” His eyes widen at my confession. “I've been told before that I’m not right for Marley, and I’m not about to go through that again. Got it?” I scan their faces, watching as one by one, nod.
Andrew’s eyes are glassy as he presses his hand to his chest. “Oh my god. If I wasn’t marrying the girl of my dreams tomorrow, this might be the best night of my life.” He pauses, scratching at his scruff. “No, scratch that, the night that Josie and I fu-”
“Annnnd, you’re done,” Isaac interrupts, taking the beer from his grasp.
Andrew bursts into laughter. “Just saying, this is awesome. Marley’s finally going to be my real sister, after all these years.”
I shake my head. “Don’t say things like that. I just said I don’t want to be told again that I’m not right for her. I can’t lose her.”
“You’re not going to,” Jason says. His face is serious, all traces of humor from earlier gone. “I won’t push this anymore, we’ve pushed it for years, but the two of you… It’s time for you to be together. It’s either that, or lose her to someone else.”
The thought alone makes me nauseous. Yeah, I’ve seen her with guys through the years, just like I’ve been with girls, but that was when I was fighting tooth and nail to deny my feelings. I’m done with that now, and if what she wants isn’t me, I’ll have to respect that.
I won’t like it, but I will do whatever I can to keep her in my life.
7
MARLEY
“Marley, can you help me with this?” Josie calls from the dressing room.
“Coming,” I call. My marigold yellow-colored dress swishes at my ankles as I make my way over to her. I knock on the wooden door once, then let myself into the small room. Josie’s facing the mirror, hands on her hips as she stares at her reflection. She’s wearing a lacy, low-cut white bra that makes her tits look fabulous. I helped her pick out her undergarments about a month ago, and we did a mini boudoir shoot in them. I’ve printed off the photos for her in a book that is currently en route to Andrew at this very moment.
“You look incredible,” I say. Her cheeks flush, freckles popping with the color.
“Thanks,” she replies. “I can’t get this to feel right.” She points to the back of her bra, and I immediately see the issue.
“Oh, you’re all twisted.” I slide my finger under the hem, unhooking the clasp and righting it. Once she’s all put back together, I rest my hands on her shoulders. “Feeling ready?” I ask.
Josie nods enthusiastically. She spins to face me. Tears well in her eyes and I point a finger at her. “Nope, no tears. Not today,” I say.
“But I’m happy,” she blubbers. “These are happy tears.”
I wrap my best friend into a tight hug, holding her close. I pull away, grabbing a few tissues from the side table and blotting under her eyes softly. “There, still perfect,” I say.
She smiles before her expression grows more serious. “I’m going to ask you this, because I knew something was not right when you walked into that room last night. What happened?”
Nope. I will not get all weepy and act like a tween who just got her heart ripped out of her chest today. “Nothing,” I try to say, but Josie narrows her eyes, her brows raising. She’s calling my bluff.
Stepping back, I slump into the soft couch. “You aren’t going to let me get off that easy, are you?”
