Page 30 of Summer with a Brother's Best Friend
“That’s amazing.”
“What’s amazing is that you’re in love with a girl who looks like your best friend.” Vienna smirks and I bark out a laugh.
“Ouch.”
“I’ve been dying to use that one, and it’s taken forever for the right moment.”
“Well, I’m glad, because this will be a moment I cherish for the rest of my days,” I deadpan, and she does a dramatic hair flip that has me shaking my head.
“As you should.”
“Just you wait, Vienna. Some guy is gonna sweep you off your feet, and you’ll be just as dopey as the rest of us in love.”
She wrinkles her nose and scoffs. “Why would you say such horrible things to me?”
“What are y’all talking about?” Reece asks, coming over and wrapping her arm around my waist as she sags against my body.
“Just telling Vienna I can’t wait for her to fall in love and live happily ever after.”
Reece snorts and Vienna rolls her eyes. “You cankeepyour happily ever after. I’m perfectlyhappywith just right now.”
I open my mouth to speak when Logan’s voice rises above the rest.
“Can I have everyone’s attention? It’s time to cut the cake!”
21
REECE
“I’m proud of you,” Isaac whispers into my hair as we walk along the sand, our fingers intertwined, the breeze a gentle caress after a long day.
“Thank you for being here with me.”
Isaac pulls me to a stop and brushes a lock of hair behind my ear. “There’s nowhere else I want to be.”
His lips are soft but firm against mine, a kiss to seal a promise, rather than the fiery passion we’ve become accustomed to.
We’d lived a lifetime in the span of a few hours today. Maddox had defended me in a crowded room, and I’d never been more terrified or thankful for my brother than in that moment.
Our mother had been surprisingly shocked by what he said, and we’d had a moment on the stage where it felt like everything might be okay. She’d hugged me tight again before we left and promised that she’d do better—make up for the way she’d pushed her own aspirations on me instead of building me up like I deserved.
But I didn’t need all of that. I just wanted a clean slate so we could enjoy the present and future instead of dwelling in thepast. We already had a tentative date to play tennis next week to catch up, and then she surprised the hell out of me when she offered to help set up my classroom for the fall.
Maddox had snickered at that, and she’d volunteered him for all the heavy lifting.
I wasn’t mad about it.
We all healed a little today, forgiving the things we couldn’t change and making promises for all the things we had to look forward to.
“Mr. Nowak, it’s not dark enough out here for your wandering hands,” I murmur against his lips as he grips my ass through the cotton fabric of my dress.
“Can’t be helped, and besides,”—he pulls me tight against his body, his erection digging into my belly—“I thought you liked the thrill of people watching.”
“Almost watching. I like the idea that wecouldget caught—not actually getting caught.”
He chuckles and pulls away, taking my hand again as we head toward the car.
“Well, let’s get you home so I can get you out of that dress and coming all over my face.”
