Page 28 of Summer with a Brother's Best Friend
“Talk,” he says pointedly at me.
“I almost murdered my brother, but I can’t because he loves you,” I admit with a huff as I look at Marigold.
“Pretty sure I would’ve helped you bury his body.”
Logan motions at his clothes. “These are not ‘let’s commit felonies’ clothes.”
“And he hasn’t said he loves me.”
I snort and then turn and take Marigold’s hand. “Take it from the girl who suppressed her feelings for her brother’s best friend and then was sneaking around with him all summer.” We exchange a grin before sobering. “I want you to be happy, and if my brother is the one who does that,”—I swallow hard—“you need to fight for him. He’s not always easy to love, but he’s a good man.”
“And hot,” Logan says and we chuckle. “Ready?” I know he’s not just asking her, but Iamready. I’m ready to rebuild my relationship with my brother, I’m ready to start my life with Isaac, and I’m ready to finally let myself be happy in Love Beach.
Nodding, we follow the path back out into the parking lot where Isaac and Maddox are still engaged in a heated conversation.
But it’s not about us—it’s about him and Marigold, and my heart swells as my brother finally realizes his girl is behind him.
It’s the rawest moment I’ve ever witnessed—Maddox pouring his heart out and giving in to his own happily ever after.
My smile grows as I wrap myself around Isaac and smirk. “Do you get it now, Maddox?” Waving between our respective partners, I add, “She’s my friend, he’s yours; pretty easy to blur that line.”
We laugh and talk about what’s to come—what we can look forward to. I tell him more about my job at the high school and my struggle with our mother’s constant criticism. Maddox seems surprised by the latter, but now’s not the time to do a deep dive on twenty plus years of failed expectations.
“I needed something more than just being your sister, and I needed to follow my dreams. Nursing school was never part of that.”
My brother nods, taking it all in, and I’m thankful to finally share my feelings with him.
It’s only belatedly that I realize my parents have arrived, my mother taking the opportunity to remind us that the party will be starting soon.
And are you sure everything is ready?
I nod, my father offering encouraging words for my mother and us. But my mother has never left well enough alone, and like she can’t help herself, she has to have the last word. Specifically, how she can’t believe I’m still complaining about nursing not being my calling andwe know your little teaching job is important to you.
Isaac’s hand reaches for mine as Logan pops up to usher everyone into the hall.
It’s a blessing and a curse we were interrupted, because I don’t have the energy to fight with her today.
So while we follow everyone inside, I repeat the mantra I started the day with.
Only a few more hours and then I’m free.
20
ISAAC
“Baby, you need to relax,” I murmur to Reece, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as I draw little circles on the small of her back.
“Coat closet.” Vienna coughs dramatically and I can’t even roll my eyes because it gets Reece to crack a smile.
“I wish,” Reece says dreamily, like being partially naked surrounded by cleaning supplies would be better than this. Honestly, she’s probably right.
Today has been exhausting, and most of it hasn’t even been about me. The standoff with Maddox in the parking lot had been a shit show and not how I wanted him to find out about me and his sister.
But it was also cathartic too.
For all of us.
We’d all made mistakes, but they didn’t have to define where we went from here.
