Page 36 of That Time I Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend

“Kasey!” My mother bursts from the Slaters’ house, waving my phone in the air. “Judy Witherspoon fromThe Chronicleis calling!”

ChapterFourteen

BEAU

Kasey’s eyes go wide, and a knife slashes through my guts. “Take the call,” I tell her. Without a word, she sprints to her mom to grab her phone. Above me, the air fills with the pops and whistles of a few latecomer fireworks. People all over Abieville are still celebrating independence, but I don’t want to be set free. Forget the 4thof July. Forget life without Kasey.

Freedom is overrated.

I watch as Kasey makes her way over to the side of our house, the phone cupped to her ear. Right now this Judy Witherspoon person is probably offering her the job she’s been hoping to get for years. Scratch that. For her whole life. My shoulders slump.

Timing is everything, Beau. And as always, your timing is garbage.

The rest of the Grahams and my family file out of the house and gather around me. We shuffle our feet, shift our weight. Yeah. The moment’s pretty awkward. Everyone’s already figured out how I feel about Kasey. Now we’re standing around, thinking the same thing: that a future with Kasey will be impossible if she takes this job in California.

My work consists entirely of freelance gigs. How could we even build a relationship living thousands of miles apart? Not to mention, the assignments I take are unpredictable—in location and duration.

Within minutes, Kasey reappears around the corner, trudging slowly, her head hanging low. My heart leaps into my throat. Whoa. She didn’t get hired? Any newspaper would be lucky to have her. Judy Witherspoon must be the world’s biggest fool.

Wait. Hold up there, my friend. Who’s the real fool here?

Me.

I let Kasey Graham get away first, years ago. Instead of acknowledging her beauty, intelligence, and strength, I made her doubt herself. I knew how special she was, and I watched her go. No, I practically pushed her away with both hands. Not literally. But all those years of pranking and teasing with Brady were worse than a shove. I took the things Kasey wanted most, when all I really wanted was her. Correction:Isher.

But I’m done making that mistake.

Kasey joins our circle, squeezing in between my mom and me. She sniffles and rubs at her nose. Oh, man. My stomach knives are back and sharper than ever. I didn’t want Kasey to go, but I didn’t want her hurting either. I hate seeing her sad, even if her tears mean a silver lining for me.

Correction: Forus.

Still, I feel terrible, and I’m not alone. Everyone bends their heads at sympathetic angles. Kasey’s mom speaks up first. “I’m so sorry, dear. Keep your chin up. There will be other jobs. Other newspapers.”

My mother goes next, placing a hand on Kasey’s shoulder. “Oh yes, sweetie. This is so true. I remember when Beau was just starting out, and he got turned down for a few shoots. My, my. He was so disappointed. It just about broke my heart, I must admit.” She cranes her neck past Kasey to see me. “But just look at him now.” Her tone brightens. “My award-winning son. So in demand. People clamor to book him for their projects months in advance. In fact his next assignment is with a Pulitzer-Prize winner!”

“What?” Kasey’s head jerks up, and she turns to me. “You didn’t tell me that.”

My mom casts a shy glance my way. “Oh, you know my boy. He’s always been so humble. Beau never likes to brag.”

Brady smirks. “That doesn’t sound like the Beau I know.”

I shake my head. “Thanks, man. Love you too.” I could give Brady a hard time for taking a shot at me now, but the guy’s just trying to lighten the mood for his sister’s sake. So I give him a pass. Then I turn to Kasey. “It’s okay, Kase. I’ve been doing some thinking.”

She sniffs again. “About what?”

“The future. Our future.” I know she’s crushed, so I try to sound as gentle and supportive as I can. “Why don’t you tag along with me on my next assignment? I’ve got plenty of pull with the team, and who knows? Something could crop up for you on the road. Most of the photographers I’ve worked with can’t write copy to save their lives. We could use someone who’s good with words.”

“What a wonderful idea!” Mrs. Graham says. “My Kasey is absolutely excellent with words. She always has been. Even as a little girl—just three years old—she pretended to write. She could barely hold a crayon in her little fist, but she’d tell me she was making a book.Making a book!It was the cutest thing.” She looks at Kasey, then swipes at her own eyes. I can’t tell if she’s crying or laughing, but I know she’s definitely still talking. “Yes, when it comes to words, my girl is the very best.” She shifts her focus to the whole group. “She gets that from me, you know.”

Mr. Graham takes his wife’s hand. “She sure does, Elaine.” He pulls her toward him and wraps an arm around her. “But let’s leave Kasey to talk to Beau now. All of us. I’m guessing she’s gotten enough of a pep talk from us old folks tonight.”

“Good idea, Phil,” my dad says. “And we can still have those cookies, right?” After some quiet grumbling and a few pats on Kasey’s shoulder, everyone heads back into the house. Soon Kasey and I are alone again, standing at the railing overlooking the lake. She looks up at me and sighs. Long and loud. From deep down inside.

“Hey.” I reach for her hand. The moon lights her face. “How are you holding up?” She says nothing, just shakes her head. I give her fingers a squeeze. “I hope I didn’t sound like too much of a caveman back there.Me Man. Take care of Woman.” I try on a chuckle, but a single tear rolls down Kasey’s face. That’s the exact opposite of what I wanted.

“Beau.” Her voice is thick with emotion. “I don’t need a pity job.”

“Believe me, I know that. And I don’t go in for that macho stuff either, so I’m sorry if that’s the impression I gave. But I’m not sorry about wanting to take care of you, Kasey.”

---