Page 24 of My Brother's Best Men
When I chased Sophie down at the dinner, kissing wasn’t what I was thinking about. I only wanted to see if she was okay, because it was clear she was upset. I knew she was upset when she came storming through Sam’s door like a bat out of hell, when she was evading his questions. And Benny, the bastard that he is, spent the night over at Sam’s and didn’t even attempt to ask her ifeverything was okay. Didn’t even attempt to try and make her feel better or?—
I shift in my seat, not sure if I reallywantBenny to do any of those things with Sophie. That’smyjob, but I also feel like he should have tried anyway, because I couldn’t. Realistically, I could have driven his ass home, but he and Sam were way too invested in whatever game they were playing and I know better than to come between those two when they’re like that, so I left. I figured Sam or Raegan could give him a ride if need be.
I didnotexpect him to not come home. To stay there, with Sophie just down the damn hall…
“You’re quiet this morning,” Matt says, breaking into my thoughts.
“Tired,” I say, and it’s not a complete lie. I am tired. Tired of pretending I haven’t been in love with my friend’s sister for nearly the last decade. Tired of having to be the one in control all the time and make sure Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Tattoos are on their best behavior and staying on task.
“Uh-huh, sure,” Matt says. His enthusiasm at the tender hour of four am should be studied in a lab. Maybe it’s because he’s a few years younger than the rest of us, but I swear he has more energy than a damn squirrel on cocaine.
“It’s the ADHD, Eli, I can’t help it.”His words reverberate in my brain, and I try not to bite at him, knowing that some parts of his behavior he really can’t help.
And contrary to popular belief, I don’t like to piss people off. I like it when everything is harmonious, in sync. Not that my life was some perfect version of Pleasantville or anything before Sophie dropped back into my orbit, but still.
Thatkiss…
It’s got me all sorts of fucked up right now, and I know it.
And maybetheyknow something too, but I’m thankful Benny isn’t the type to press me on my problems or what’s bothering me.
My mind wanders as I watch the blurring landscape and streetlights out the window, back to Sophie and the moment I just…kissed her. Without a second thought.
It was like the earth’s gravitational pull had shifted, landing instead in the center of one Sophie Martin. And I was but a mere asteroid, lost in her aura of energy. I didn’t think twice about kissing her, and the moment I did, something inside of me switched, like a lever had been pulled and unlocked something I didn’t know existed.
She tasted sweet like sugar, bitter like wine. But mostly, she tastedperfect.And though she startled, likely from my sudden impulsive outburst, she relented quickly, easing up and parting her lips as if to invite my tongue into her mouth.
I realized then and there I’d made a grave mistake.
Because no other woman would ever taste this good. Now that I’ve tasted perfection, it’s going to be hard as hell to kiss anyone else ever again. Because no one could ever beher.
“Earth to Eli,” Benny says, pulling me from my stupor.
“Huh?” I ask as Benny turns down a long, winding road. One look at the radio and I note that we’ve been in the car for forty-five minutes. Forty-five minutes of complete and utter dissociating on my part.
Was he talking to me? I realize I must have zoned out to the point I didn’t even hear either of them, which is not like me, and not to mention, we’realmostat the airport…
Where did the time go?
“I said, your sour mood wouldn’t have anything to do with Princess Sophie, would it?” he presses.
I shake my head, figuring it’s best to hide the truth. I don’t have to divulge the details to him, after all.
Matt speaks up. “Probably has to do with that kiss, right?”
My entire body freezes with panic at his words.
No, there’s no way. I could have sworn he came outsideaftershe’d broken apart from me…
“What kiss?” Benny asks, and it’s like slow motion as we pull into the entrance of the airport, heading toward long-term parking.
I must say, Benny was right. We made decent timing, considering this place is an hour away and we’re headed toward parking already and it hasn’t evenbeenan hour…
The tension in the car thickens, and I swear if looks could murder a man, Benny’s glare would end my life. I flush with heat underneath his stare. I’ve known Benny Anderson for years and I’veneverseen him look at anyone the way he’s looking at me right now.
Benny is an asshole, but he’s not a violent asshole. Sure, he’s gotten into his fair share of fights, but never with any of us. Though the way he’s looking at me, I can feel the threat.
Instinctively, I say, “I can explain…”
