Page 13 of My Brother's Best Men
I smirk at her. “Cut diagonal.”
She smiles back at me then winks at my brother. “With a forehead kiss.”
“You two are insane,” he says as he pulls out bread, cheese slices, and mayonnaise. My brother insists grilled cheeses are better made with mayo than butter, and I have to agree with him.
I watch as he fixes the sandwiches, grilling them with absolute perfection.
“Voilà,” he says as he flips one sandwich onto a plate, cuts it—diagonally—and serves it to Raegan with a kiss on her forehead. She smiles, so candidly, so perfectly. It’s sweet, but it also hurts to watch.
Because IwishI could have that, and I thought Idid.But I guess life doesn’t always work out the way you want.
Sam flips my sandwich onto a plate and tosses some pickles on the side before sliding it across the counter to me.
“Thanks,” I say as he offers me a genuine, soft look of understanding.
“Course. What are little brothers for?”
I can’t help the faint smile that stretches across my lips. Technically, I’m older by two minutes, which is why he always says he’s the “little brother,” despite us being twins. But sometimes I think my brother is older than I am. He’s got an older soul, and he’s always been the one who seems to have things together, while I…
I thought I was turning a leaf with Keaton, but I guess I was wrong.
But as I eat my sandwich, relishing in the warm, melty cheese and the perfectly crisp bread, I tell myself it doesn’t matter, because I’m going to turn a new leaf here, today. I’m going to do my best to put Keaton and his cheating ass behind me, and that starts with being present for my brother and Raegan, and going on this well-deserved vacation, which I’ve been looking forward to for months.
I smile, thanking Sam as I finish up my sandwich and head back to the guest room to check my phone, noting the string of messages in the group chat. In the daylight, the guest room looks bright and cheery and not at all dark and depressing like it did last night. I gather my clothes and take them to the laundry, focusing on the task at hand and keeping myself as busy as I can around the house.
I should call Mom and Dad and let them know I’m here, especially since I agreed to go to dinner, but a part of me is dreading that conversation, so I don’t. I can always pass it off as a surprise, even though my mother quite obviouslyhatessurprises.
I rationalize that it’s easier than the truth right now. I’m not sure yet how I want to tell her and Dad—and I know I’llhaveto at some point—about my failed engagement.
Thankfully, with everyone set to leave in a few days, and family flying in, things are crazy enough and I’m able to help Rae take care of some last-minute things, so she can relax. I get lost in the pickups, the phone calls, and for a little while I feel like my old self again. That is until four thirty rolls around and I realize I need to get ready for tonight’s dinner.
My anxiety kicks in, and I have to tell myself it’s just dinner. It’s not like it’s going to be an interrogation or anything.
Yeah, a dinner with Benny and the guys and your parents and the rest of the party and probably Uncle Bob and Aunt Susan…
I groan internally, pushing my fear aside for the moment as I pick out a dress—a hot pink Lily Pulitzer for Target I scored off a thrift app—and start getting ready.
It’s just dinner, and all I have to do is just…pretend everything is fine.
All I have to do is act natural.
Like my fiancé didn’t just cheat on me, like I didn’t just find myself out of a place to live, and like everything is going to be perfect for these next two weeks.
Fake it until you make it, right?
3
BENNY
“You’ve gotto be fucking kidding me,” I grumble as I pull into my driveway to find Matt standing in front of my garage, arms crossed, looking like a damn lost puppy. “Get the fuck out of my way, Matt, or I’ll run you over and I ain’t kidding.”
Matt sighs, holding his hands up. “I come in peace, I just?—”
“Then move the fuck outta my way,” I growl as he looks back and forth, stepping aside with a sigh so I can pull the truck up. I take my time getting out, because after the morning I’ve had—and the night, to be honest—I need all the time I can take to processherarrival.
I knew she was coming home, so IknewI’d see her, so it’s not like her arrival threw me completely for a loop or anything. Plus, I’ve seen photos of her, here and there over the years since she moved away, because Sam won’t shut up about his sister and all her successes.
I’m happy for Sophie, truly. If anyone deserves the finer things in life, it’s Princess Sophie, so I’m not sure why I feel so irritated.
