Page 33 of Mistletoe Mistake
Brandon rolls his eyes and teases her before she makes an excuse and leaves us alone, mouthing “Sorry” to me behind his back.
“Here.” Brandon thrusts a beer at me and makes his way over to the chairs on the other side of the deck. I follow and take a seat next to him.
“You guys just get back?” I hadn’t seen him when I did a lap of the house.
“Yeah, not long ago. You back in your apartment?”
“Moved back today. I should get the name of the plumber for you, they left the bathroom looking better than before they were there.”
“Huh. That’s good.”
“You okay?” I run a hand through my hair nervously. “You seem distracted.”
He laughs. “Yeah, I’m good, man. Really good.” He takes a slug of his beer and looks at me. “Amy’s pregnant.”
“Shit, that’s… that’s amazing. Congratulations.” I tap my bottle against his.
“She wanted to tell her folks first, so that’s what we were doing this week. We’re telling Mom, Dad, and Holly tonight after the party, but I wanted to tell you first.” He shifts in his seat, so he’s facing me. “You’re like my brother, Nick. I know I don’t do the emotional shit often, but I’m glad you moved in next door all those years ago. I’m glad you got your shit together—I’mproudof you for getting your shit together—and mostly I’m glad you’re going to be around to watch my kid grow up.”
He claps me on the back and stands up. “It’s fucking freezing out here, I’m heading back inside. Listen, don’t mention the baby to anyone, okay? Not even Amy. She wants to be at every announcement and she’ll kill me if she finds out I told you without her.” He runs a critical eye over me. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I choke out. “You go inside, I’ll find you, I just want to finish my drink out here.”
He shrugs and heads in, leaving me alone.
What the fuck am I doing?
Brandon has been like my brother since we were eight years old. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have opened their home to me and treated me like a third child. And I repay that by fucking their daughter and sister?
Not fucking. You love her, asshole.
But does that matter? If I really love her, would I let her risk her relationship with her brother? She’s going to be an auntie, for Christ’s sake.
I might be prepared to risk my relationship with Brandon, but what sort of asshole would I be to risk hers?
13
Holly
“Thanks for looking after the house while we were gone.” Amy wraps me up in a warm hug. I swear my sister-in-law gives the best hugs. “I hope it wasn’t too weird with Nick there.”
“No, it was fine. It was kind of nice spending some time with him.”
“Was it? Huh.” She nods her head thoughtfully.
“What?”
“No, nothing,” she exclaims. “I thought it might be—” Our across-the-street-neighbor calls her name, cutting her off. “Shit, I’m sorry, I need to talk to her for a second. I’ll be back, okay?”
Nodding, I head for the kitchen feeling a bit peckish. I am almost there when a hand grabs me from behind, yanking me into the formal dining room, that has been closed off to guests.
“Nick! What the hell,” I demand before noticing how shaken he looks. “What’s wrong?”
He pulls me into a hug, wrapping his arms around me in the way I have come to love. Making me feel safe.
Making me feelloved.
He shatters that security in an instant.
