Page 52 of Wrapped Around My Heart
Not that he needs to hear that. Instead, I work on defusing the situation.
“From the second I got with Ari, everyone else…didn’t matter. If you saw me flirting, chances are that I was actually hyping up one of the guys.” I shake my head. “I get being upset. I do. You’re my best friend and I never wanted to lie to you or anything. But when a girl like Arianna asks you to keep your mouth shut…you listen.”
He finally chuckles at that, understanding just what I mean about his sister.
“I’m not upset…” He runs a hand through his messy, red curls, tugging on them while he goes on. “I mean, yes, I am, but it’s mostly because I thought we were all closer. I thought you guys trusted me enough to know I wouldn’t…”
“Act like a dick?” I finish for him with a quirked eyebrow.
Landon curses under his breath, hanging his head so his chin rests on his chest. I sigh, stepping up beside him and nudging him gently.
“I mean this as nicely as I can. None of this is about you. It’s about Arianna. It’s about what she wants and needs, not about if we trusted you or not. It’s not that we didn’t think we couldn’t come to you. We didn’t tell you because we were focusing on doing what was right for us and our relationship as we went along. Up until she got pregnant, what we had was nobody’s concern but ours. You’re my best friend, man, but Arianna is my priority. So is the baby.”
His breath hitches at my words, but I’m not finished.
“I never stood a chance when it came to her. We were always going to end up here. Come on, dude, you know her. How could you expect anyone to meet her and not become completely enamored by her? Can you really be mad at me for seeing her and wanting more?”
Landon’s shoulders drop as if my words physically hit a mark to make him see it from where I’m standing. When he finally looks at me, I don’t bother trying to smile or lighten the mood. Instead, I let him see everything I’m feeling. This time, when his eyes widen again, it’s at the realization I came to a while ago.
“You love her.”
It’s not a question, and I don’t bother trying to deny it.
“Without a doubt.”
He watches me for a beat longer before glancing back over his shoulder toward the house. He sucks in a deep breath, face crestfallen as he faces forward once more.
“Shit,” he grumbles.
“Yup.”
“I fucked that up.”
“Yup,” I say again because there’s no point trying to sweep it under the rug.
“It’s weird. I’ve always been happy for her, without hesitation or questioning her decisions. If she made an announcement, I would immediately clap for her. She never needed me to be aprotective big bro. She just wanted me in her corner as much as she’s been in mine.” He pauses, knocking a rock into the water. “This time, though, it’s like I could see how badly she wanted me to be happy for her, but I just couldn’t. Not because I’m not happy for her, but because I was overwhelmed with…I don’t even know what.”
“Jealousy? Anger?” I slap his shoulder, jostling him as I finally crack a joke. “Oo maybe this is what women mean when they saymen ruin everything!”
That gets a small laugh from him, and I finally give in to the urge to throw an arm over his shoulder.
“You realize you owe her an apology, right?” I ask, needing to hear him say that he’s going to make it right with his sister.
“I know,” Landon says. “I just…need time.”
My arm falls from him, that earlier disappointment rearing back at full force. He scrubs a hand over his face.
“It’s selfish. I know it is. All I keep thinking about, though, is that neither of you felt that you could come to me. I’m replaying all these different times that we were all together and wondering what I did to put a wall between us. Something I did made you feel like I wasn’t a safe place and would turn you guys away.”
“Which is exactly what you’re doing.” I point out.
“No, I’m?—”
“Telling me that you need space to process the fact that your sister is going through the biggest change of her life. You’re choosing to focus on an insecurity rather than celebrate a monumental moment, one you won’t get to redo. You’re taking your hurt feelings out on her at a time when she needs support more than ever before.” Shaking my head, I back away. “I’m not saying your feelings aren’t valid, but using your insecurity as a defense is sad. Arianna didn’t want her brother to know that she was using his best friend as a fuck buddy. Until this year, I didn’t want to admit that I fell head over heels for my best friend’ssister. We had our reasons for keeping things private, and when it became relevant to include you, we did.”
I start walking away, needing to put distance between us before I follow through on my earlier threat to push him into the bay. Pausing at the deck, I speak just loud enough for him to hear.
“You’re right about one thing, though. You are being selfish. Something I didn’t think was even possible. And if you don’t get your head out of your ass quickly, you’re going to damage the relationship you have with your sister permanently.”
