Page 13 of Something Borrowed
“I…” I want to argue. My head tells me I should in an attempt to protect my heart. But I can’t. “It can’t work. You live miles away and I’m here,” I say, deciding to focus on the logistics and not what my body desires.
“Stop worrying about what comes next. All of that can be sorted. Just focus on what you want. On what you need.” I nod, but it’s not enough “What do you want, Bryony?”
“You,” I whisper. “Always you.”
The most incredible smile spreads across his lips as he stares down at me. His face lowers and I panic that he’s about to make a scene. My eyes widen and thankfully it’s enough to make him see sense. So, instead, he tightens his arms around me and I lay my head on his shoulder as we continue swaying back and forth in time with the music.
Bryony
“Can I cut in?” a familiar voice says over my shoulder. Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to prepare for what’s to come.
I saw Vaughan the moment she walked in the room for the evening reception. After our conversation the other night at the bar, I knew she’d have questions, and I guess dancing with Freddie like I was will only allow her to ask even more.
Freddie stills, his arms tightening around me, and I let out a contented sigh. He doesn’t want to share me. The knowledge has warmth spreading through me.
Lifting my head from his shoulder, I turn and look into Vaughan’s smug blue eyes. She doesn’t need to open her mouth to say the words,I knew I was rightis written all over her face.
“It’s okay,” I whisper to Freddie and he reluctantly lets me go.
“So…he’s hot. Care to explain?”
Unfortunately, Freddie hears every word, and he’s laughing when he turns back to us, amusement shining in his eyes. He winks before heading towards the bar, and it has butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
Blowing out a slow breath, I turn back to Vaughan, whose eyebrows are raised as she waits.
“That’s Freddie. He’s Mac’s best man.”
“And…”
“And I’ve been in love with him since I was about sixteen. Okay?” I say in a rush, although I feel lighter having admitted it.
“I knew it. Let’s go and get a drink and you can tell me all about it.”
“Freddie, this is Vaughan. Vaughan, Freddie,” I say when we walk up to the bar and join Freddie with a few of his old school friends I recognize.
“It’s good to finally meet you,” Vaughan says, making Freddie’s eyes light up. I don’t point out that she’s only just found out about him because he looks too happy that I’ve spoken about him. “Please excuse us. We’ve got some gossip to catch up on.” With a glass of wine each, Vaughan drags me over to an empty table. Sitting down, she stares at me until I start talking.
“You were right. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“Yes and no. Mostly I wanted to see that smile on your face.”
My cheeks heat that my happiness is so obvious.
“So, I’m assuming Freddie is your brother’s best friend, seeing as he’s the best man. That is so hot. Please tell me Freddie was forbidden to touch you, yet you did it anyway.” Vaughan fans herself as she imagines what the situation could have been. “I always wanted an older brother so I could lust after his friends,” she muses.
“It isn’t all that much fun.”
“So, what happened? Does your brother know? Are you getting back together?” She throws each question at me before I’ve even had a chance to consider what the answer to the previous one might be.
Letting out a sigh, I tell her everything right from the very beginning.
“You’re going for it, right?” she asks once I’ve recapped the past ten years of my life into about ten minutes.
“I—”
“Don’t even think about saying no. You’ve already told me you’re in love with him, and in all the time we’ve been sitting here he hasn’t been able to take his eyes off you. Forget about all the other shit and just enjoy him. Fuck knows I would if I got the chance.”
“I can’t believe you’re encouraging me to do this, Ms. Forever Single.”
