Page 2 of The Making of Jonty Bloom
“Yeah.” Griff shrugged and flashed his lopsided grin.
Bastard.It was not winsome and cute, it was fucking annoying. What was there to smile about?
“It just…happened,” Griff said.
When? How? Why?Devan dug his nails into his thighs to keep himself focused, but his mouth still opened when he really didn’t want it to.
“I hope you’ll be very happy together.”I hope your teeth rot and your hair falls out. Both of you. At the very least.He sagged. He couldn’t even come up with imaginative torments.
“Devan, I know this is difficult.”
You think?“No, it’s fine. It’s life. One of those things.”No, it fucking isn’t. You betrayed me.“I assume everyone in the office knows?”
“I was excited. It’s the best…”
“Right.” His brother couldn’t keep his mouth shut or his cock in his trousers.
“Willyoubemybestman?” Griff blurted.
Devan was aware that his jaw had dropped. He looked down, actually expecting to see it on the floor. It took a moment before he could risk speaking. “Five months ago, I found the guy I was due to marry the following day, lying on our bed with another guy’s cock buried in his arse. Bad enough as that was, the other guy was not only my best man, but my brother. It was a bit of a shock.”Understatement of the century.
“Oneof your best men.”
For fuck’s sake!“I learned yesterday that it was not a one off as I was led to believe, but the pair of you have been in a relationship since then and that I appear to be the only one in the family who didn’t fucking know. I’m not feeling very brotherly towards you. So no, I’m not going to be your best man.”I’m not going to your fucking wedding, no matter how much you or our mother begs.
“Please, Devan. I know it’s a terrible thing to ask you to do, but I don’t want anyone else to do it. You’ve always been there for me, the guy I’ve relied on my whole life. I want you to still be there for me. Please. Forgive me. Forgive Ravi.”
It was then that Devan registered his brother had no idea how much he’d hurt him. Realisation of Griff’s…naiveté—stupidity—insensitivity…there was a bloody long list, flattened his anger.A terrible thing to ask me?He had no idea how terrible. And forgiveness? That wasn’t going to happen.
“I’m not going to be your best man,” he said quietly, aware the office grapevine was likely already in operation. “It’s one of the worst ideas you’ve ever had.”Top of that list was fucking my fiancé.
“As bad as trying to make a zipline from my bedroom to the garage?”
That’s not going to work, dragging up our childhood.
“I ended up with a broken arm.” Griff chuckled.
And because Griff could do no wrong, Devan got the blame. Had Griff remembered that?But you’ve broken my fucking heart.The breath caught in his throat alongside that ball of anger.
“Please,” Griffin whispered.
“No.” Devan picked up a random folder. “Was that all?”
“Think about it?”
“Hmm…yep, right, thought about it…no.”
“I love him. He loves me,” Griff whispered.
“That’s great. Have a nice day.” Devan didn’t look up until he heard the door close.
Have a nice day? Where did that fucking come from?He could almost feel his blood pressure soar, hear his teeth cracking.For Christ’s sake!His fists were clenched so hard, he had to make a concerted effort to unclench them. He’d ripped the edge of the folder.
This time when his mother called, he answered.
“Yes?”
“Devan! I’ve been trying to call you.”
