Page 52 of My Brother's Best Men
Nothing has changed.
I tell myself it’s the truth, even though it feels like a lie. But Benny is right—we don’t have time to dwell. We have breakfast and plans and things to do to prepare for this wedding, and I want to get some time on the beach today too.
So I focus on the hot water, pretending it can cleanse me of my sins. That it can wash away the memory of Benny’s cockbrushing against me, that it can take away the memory of what he tastes like or how he sounds when he’s desperate to come.
I don’t think anything will ever be able to erase that, but for the sake of Sam and this wedding, I have to try and forget. So that’s exactly what I vow to do.
Thankfully, everyone is just ordering their meals by the time Benny and I get downstairs to breakfast. I don’t miss Matthew’s or Elijah’s gazes, though Elijah seems to be staring at Benny. Part of me feels like he knows somehow, but I know that’s silly. We passed out and then this morning, Benny never even answered his phone, so there’s no way he could have told Elijah about what happened.
Will he tell him?I wonder, feeling my blood chill. I don’t think Benny would be the type to kiss and tell, but then again…I don’t know. He threw Matthew’s virginity in his face to piss him off, so who’s to say he wouldn’t do the same to me or Elijah?
All the more reason to put what happened out of your mind.
“So, who’s coming to the dolphin swim today?” Raegan asks. “They just texted and they want a head count so…”
“I’m definitely down to swim with dolphins,” Matthew says. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“Me too!” Tiffany exclaims, rather loudly.
Matthew, being the sweetheart he is, smiles. “Cool. What about you, Eli?”
Elijah looks at me, twisting his lips. “Depends. Aren’t we supposed to have partners for the swim?”
Sam sips his orange juice. “Yeah, it’s pairs of two.”
“Oh! We can partner up with our wedding partners!” Lucy says with a smile.
“If the whole party goes, we can even get pictures!” Natalie says as she looks up from her phone.
Benny groans. “That’s dumb,” he says, and I shoot him a glare. Because he’s the best man, and I’m the maid of honor, so he’s my partner. Well, for the wedding.
“I think it sounds like fun,” I retort. “So I’m going. But if you want to be a party pooper, you can stay behind while the rest of us have fun.”
Elijah chuckles. “I’ll be your partner, Soph.”
Benny’s jaw tenses. “I bet you would love that, wouldn’t you, Eli?”
Elijah’s brow furrows. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“No, no, I got dibs on Sophie as my partner,” Matthew says, shooting a frown. “Sorry, Tiff. I promised Sophie the other day we’d be partners if she was still up for the dolphin thing.” He winks at me and I can’t help the smile on my face.
Leave it to Matthew to find a way for me to get out of this weird posturing thing between Elijah and Benny that seems to be happening lately. And maybe his admission does make me preen a little bit because it’s like a victory of its own against Tiffany.
“Yeah, that’s right,” I say.
“Cool, so just Matthew, Sophie, and Tiffany?” Raegan asks, looking to the rest of the group.
“We have a wine tour scheduled,” Dad says.
My mother nods. “You boys always have the option to come with us if you like,” she says, looking at Benny and Elijah.
“I think I’m good on wine right now,” Benny says. “Last night kicked my ass.”
Lucy and Natalie giggle as Elijah purses his lips. “Well, if Sophie and Matt are in, I’m in,” he finally says.
“Come on, Benny,” Sam presses. “It’ll be like the old days when we used to have our pool parties.”
“You didn’t have dolphins at your parties,” Benny snaps.
