Page 3 of My Brother's Best Men
Of course. I’m not the only one flying into town this early.
Great, he’s probably chatting with Uncle Bob and Aunt Susan or something. Wonderful.
I could just leave. Ask my Uber to take me to a hotel or something, but the thought of being alone right now doesn’t sit well with me. I think it would actually make me feel worse. I’m not sure entering a house full of relatives is a good idea, but it’s better than being left alone with my thoughts in a mountain hotel in the middle of nowhere.
I get out of the Uber, and the driver retrieves my bag as I punch in his tip. My heart pounds in my chest as I drag my suitcase up the sidewalk, tugging my duffel over my shoulder. I drag my luggage up over the two steps to his porch and stand in front of the door, solid like a block of ice, as I try to muster the courage to knock.
It’s just Sam, Soph. You can do this.
And because I swear our twin bond is a magic all its own, that’s the moment he opens the door.
“Sophie!” he says, his smile bright and warm. “Hey!”
“Sam.” I breathe his name like it’s truly an answered prayer. His green eyes sparkle, and he motions for me to come in as he swings the door open. There’s no hesitation. No question. He’s justhappy.To see me. And that makes me want to launch myself into his arms and hug him all the more, but I know if I do that, I’ll start bawling, and I definitely don’t want to bawl with a crowd watching me.
“Come on in,” he says. “Mind the mess, the guys are here.”
The guys.
My heart stops as we turn a corner, from the foyer into the living room, and I see them.
The guys. My brother’s best friends.
Benjamin—aka Benny—Anderson, Matthew Peters, and…
As my gaze lands onhim,my heartbeat thuds so loud in my chest I think everyone in the room can surely hear it.
Elijah Brecker.
My once best friend…
Elijah’s gaze catches mine first, and I have to look away.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Princess Sophie,” Benny says cockily, drawing a beer bottle to his lips. The last time I saw him was at my graduation party, before I left for college, and he definitely looked different. He was thinner, for one. His arms weren’t so muscular, and they definitely weren’t covered in tattoos. He still has those piercing blue eyes that I remember, but his features are definitely rougher.
Moreman.
I swallow harshly, because just looking at Benny brings back memories I don’t want to think about, especially in my brother’s living room while I’m still reeling from what happened with Keaton.
“Benny,” I manage to say as I clutch the handle of my suitcase.
“Shit, what has it been? Twelve years?” Matthew asks, his chocolate-brown eyes lighting up with interest as he leans back on the couch next to Benny.
Benny smacks him upside the head. “Fucking idiot, you haven’t even had a ten-year reunion yet, man.”
Matthew curses, rubbing the back of his head. “Oh, right. I guess that’s true.”
Matthew was a couple grades behind us, but like Raegan, he grew up across the street from us, so he was always around.
I offer Matthew a small smile, but I can feel Elijah’s eyes on me, burning a hole into me where I stand. I don’t meet his gaze. I can’t. I’ll be too tempted to letthosememories overtake me, and right now I can’t deal with that.
“Ten years,” Elijah says smoothly. “Senior year. For us.”
My brother comes back from the kitchen, offering me a beer. “Twelve for Benny.”
Matthew lets out a heavy sigh. “See, I was right. Twelve years foryou.”
“Shut the fuck up, Matty,” Benny bites out.
