Page 54 of The Best Friend's Billionaire Brother
“Good! She deserves it.” Even as he said it, his chest constricted. He knew he’d been angry, but his sister didn’t use words like that just because.
“And this was my fault. I was the one who planned the whole thing. She’s loved you since she knew what the word meant. When was the first time it hit you that she wasn’t family or friend? Right after you saw her with Bandit?”
Wyatt set his hands on his hips, turned his back on her, and swore under his breath. That was true. He’d started seeing her different at the airport, but he’d never allowed himself to think of her as anything other than Carrie Anne’s best friend until Bandit was in the picture. He turned and faced his sister. “So what? She didn’t have to lie.”
Carrie Anne’s entire body sagged. “Wyatt, it was all my fault. If you’re going to hold on to hate for someone, it should be me.” She rubbed her arms. “Can we please talk in the barn? This wind has a bite.”
“Fine.”
They walked to the barn, and once they were both inside, he shut the door.
Carrie Anne walked to one of the stalls and leaned back against the gate. Silence stretched as the wind screeched outside and currents pushed loose hay across the dirt floor.
“If you’re going to talk, talk. Otherwise, I have things to do,” he said.
“Have you noticed she hasn’t been around?”
“She’s missed a few meals. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“A few? Try since after my bachelorette party three days ago. She hasn’t been out of her room. I’ve seen her once, and tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Wyatt, she’s in shreds. I think the only reason she’s still here is because she won’t leave me before the wedding.”
When he didn’t respond, she continued. “It was me. She didn’t want to go along with it, but I talked her into it. This whole thing is on me.”
He huffed. “Why would you do that?”
Carrie Anne took a few steps toward him. “Because you are the densest person I know, and I thought it would be a good idea to make you jealous. To be honest, I think it worked. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be this angry.”
“Then I’m mad at both of you.” He turned his back on her.
“I didn’t know what else to do. Something had to get your attention before it was too late.” Carrie Anne’s posture softened. “You’ve always gone to her when you were upset or troubled. You’ve always managed to put yourself next to her. Every camping trip we went on, there you were, with Gabby.”
“Because she’s was my friend.” Except, friends didn’t share hot kisses…three kisses. The first could be…explained away, maybe. But the others? Webster’s was devoid of words that could come close to how that felt.
Carrie Anne stared at him in disbelief. “And isn’t that what a relationship is supposed to be? To be best friends, loving each other until their last breath? Israel is my best friend. If I’m hurt, I find him. If I’m troubled, I find him. He’s the first person I want for everything.”
She took Wyatt by the shoulders and locked eyes with him. “You say right here and now that you don’t care for her that way, and I will walk away. I’ll let Gabby cry on my shoulder, tell her she can do better because that’s what a good friend does, and help her get over you.”
“I—”
“Be honest. With me. With yourself. If not for yourself, for Gabby. Whyareyou angry? If she’s just family, does it really matter?”
“I don’t like being lied to. Isn’t that reason enough?”
She walked around him and made him face her. “Now who’s the liar?”
“I’m not—”
“Really?
He walked to the upturned bucket and took a seat, raking his hand through his hair. “This entire time, guilt has been eating me alive because I was having feelings for another guy’s girl. That was a rotten thing to do. This isn’t me. I don’t go around stealing another man’s girlfriend.”
“Guilty about what?”
“I kissed her. Three times.” He looked up. “But she kissed me back every time. I was a horrible person because I’d kissed her, only to find out…it wasn’t true. I felt like a fool.”
“Did she tell you she was dating Bandit? Did those exact words fall from her lips?”
Wyatt shook his head. “No, but they were hanging all over each other.”
