In Love with My Brother's Best Friend: Complete Box Set (22 page)

I
fell into my bed and was done for the rest of the day. The outside
world would have to wait. I never even bothered changing clothes. My
eyes closed the second my head hit that pillow. I was done with
everyone and everything. I thought I would be happy to be home, but I
wasn't. It didn't do anything to help the feelings running through
me. That fucker got exactly what he wanted. I was questioning
everything about him and that night so long ago. He was damn good in
more ways than one.

The
pounding in my head wouldn't stop. I opened my eyes, but the pounding
continued. When I rolled out of bed and made my way to the door, I
noticed light coming through my living room window. It hadn't been
that long since I'd fallen asleep, I thought. The pounding started
again. I threw my door opened.

“
What
is so damn important?” I yelled.

When
my eyes landed on Chris' face, I instantly felt bad for yelling. He
looked like he was about to lose it. I swear the man was worried
about something. His keys were in his hand just about to enter the
lock.

“
What's
wrong?” I asked with concern.

“
What's
wrong?” he repeated, as he walked right by me. “I've been
calling you since yesterday. Your phone goes straight to your message
every single time. I tried not to come by. I wanted to give you time,
but you freaked me the fuck out. What have you been doing? You're
wearing the same damn clothes you were wearing yesterday. You have to
be at work in four hours.”

“
No,
I don't,” I said confused.

“
Yes,
you do,” he said sarcastically. “I think you're losing
it, Tina.”

“
I
couldn't have slept that long,” I said more to myself than to
him.

I
hurried to my room, grabbed my phone, and turned it on to hear beep
after beep after beep.

“
Shit,”
I whispered.

“
See,”
he said, as he walked into my room and threw himself down on my bed.

Chris
treated my apartment like his own. I did the same thing to him, so I
could never complain. We'd exchanged keys but were only supposed to
enter if it was an emergency.

“
I
fell asleep right after Jackson messaged me yesterday,” I said.

“
Wait,”
he said in a shocked tone. “What?”

I
told him about our short exchange. He couldn't believe Jackson got my
number from my brother's phone.

“
I
think he's really into you, Tina,” he said.

“
No
way,” I said, as I shook my head over and over. “It's the
same thing all over again. I thought he was interested and slept with
him. If I hadn't been gone, he would have been. You'll see. He'll go
away before you know it.”

“
I'm
telling you, woman,” he said. “I paid attention this
weekend. That man isn't going anywhere. He's a fine looking one at
that. Not sure how you got him.”

Chris
burst out laughing, and I jumped on him and held him down.

“
Enough
out of you,” I said.

He
rolled me off of him, and I hit the floor with a thud. We both
laughed until I finally found my way back to my phone.

Jackson:
It wasn't like that. I need to talk to you. I thought we would have
time in the morning. If I had known you were going to run, I'd have
tied your ass up and made you listen to what I had to say. I'm not
going away, Tiny. You better get used to it.

Jackson:
I see how you want to play this. You have no idea who you're up
against here.

Jackson:
I'm not going to be stupid enough to let you go a second time. It's
not going to happen. I'm going to show you every single day that you
belong with me. I meant what I said last night, Tiny.

I
moved my phone to show Chris the messages, and he laughed.

“
I
feel sorry for any guy that comes your way. I have a feeling
Jackson's not going to let it happen. That dude had a punch. My face
still hurts. I'm still not sure I made the right decision. Maybe if
I'd have hit him back, he'd know I wouldn't let him mess with you.”

“
That
wouldn't stop him, Chris. He won't last long. I'll be his best
friend's little sister, and he'll back off real quick. He'll be off
getting laid someplace else in no time. That's what he does,” I
said.

I
typed out a quick message.

Me:
You know Tim's going on that vacation. I don't know why you'd spend
your hard earned money on his ass. If he's so mad, he shouldn't be
going. Have you talked to my mom?

When
I backed out of his messages, I saw some from my brother.

Tim:
How could you leave without saying goodbye? I thought you were coming
to mom and dad's house for lunch. We aren't done discussing this
situation.

Tim:
Answer me, Tina. I'm not stressing out on my honeymoon.

Both
of those men were going to drive me crazy, I thought as I typed.

Me:
I called mom and told her I was going home early. I didn't want to
see you. What happened between me and Jackson ten years ago is none
of your business. Have fun on the trip your best friend had to work
for. Oh wait, he's not your friend anymore, but he's still good
enough to take money from.

Chris
waited in my living room while I showered and got ready for work. I
just sat down to watch a show and eat a frozen pizza with Chris when
the messages started coming through.

Tim:
That's bullshit. Do not act like I use him. You don't know shit about
Jackson. Stay the fuck away from him. Do you hear me, Tina? I better
not find out you two hook up again.

Me:
I'm old enough to make my own choices. You're right, I don't know
anything about him anymore. If I want to get to know him, I will.
That is not for you to decide. I don't think you deserve to be his
friend anyway. Enjoy your vacation. He's been your best friend
forever. You better fix it with him. Do you hear me?

Jackson:
No, I haven't been able to face your mom. You didn't see the look on
her face. You know her opinion matters more to me than anyone. Tim
should go. He never thought I was good enough for you. I went against
the only thing he asked of me. I totally understand why he's mad. You
weren't supposed to know about the vacation. I like doing things for
the people I care about.

Me:
What about you? You need to do things for you. You should save that
money for your future. What happens when you find your Mrs. Right?
You need to be able to take care of her. I'm so sorry I said
something at the reception. It was wrong. I was just so upset about
you and Chris. It came out without me even realizing it. My mom will
still love you, Jackson. I talked to her yesterday before I came
home. She sounded sad about it all.

Jackson:
I'll be fine. I'm not sure about the whole marriage thing. I had to
see my parents before I went home. That was the same as always. Ten
years hasn't changed that. Don't be sorry. It needed to be said. I've
been carrying that around forever. It actually feels good to have it
out there. I definitely have regrets. Your mom has always been there
for me. Tim doesn't know I see her all the time.

There
was the Jackson I knew so well.

Me:
Who knows, maybe you'll meet someone and marry them after a few weeks
too. Then you can forget all about your regrets of that horrible
night. I won't be there to screw it up again. You're safe there.
Bridget seemed to like you. Maybe you should give her a chance. I
have to go to work.

I
threw the phone down on the table in front of my couch, and Chris
looked over at me.

“
Nothing,”
I said.

I
heard the beep and shook my head. Then I heard a second beep.

“
We
need to get to work,” I said, as I stood up, grabbed my phone,
turned off the television, and grabbed the rest of my stuff.

I
thought about Jackson my entire shift. Chris watched me the whole
time. He was such a great friend. I knew he'd have his daughter the
following weekend, so I'd be alone. It was going to be my time to
relax and do nothing. I planned to turn off my phone and get lost in
a couple of new books I'd wanted to read. I just had to get through
the week first.

When
I got home that night, my feet ached. Chris was going out with some
guy friends of his, so I knew he wouldn't come looking for me. I
turned on the hot water and filled my tub with bubbles. Then I
grabbed my e-reader. Curiosity finally got the best of me, and I
grabbed my phone on the way back to the tub. I had always loved
taking baths. I remembered how I used to say I was going to own a tub
that could fit four people. It was going to be one my whole body
could go under in. There would be jets everywhere. I don't know what
it was about them, but I could take a bath every night and soak for
hours at a time. I stepped in and let my body relax in the bubbles
with my head back. It was so damn far away from being a tub I could
go under with my entire body in, but it was still extremely relaxing.

I
turned my phone on, not being able to wait anymore to see what
Jackson's response was.

Jackson:
Fuck, Tiny. That is not what I meant. I do have regrets about that
night, but it's not what you think. I regret leaving in the middle of
night. I regret running from my feelings to save your brother's. I
regret not being there the next morning. Bridget's not my type. There
is no way I would move that fast with someone after two weeks.

I
read that text over and over. He was good. That fucker had me
thinking everything I'd thought about that night for ten years was
wrong. Could he really have ever cared about me? I doubt it. I was
Tim's sister. That was all I'd ever be. I was Tiny, and he was
Jackie. Then I checked the text from my brother.

Tim:
Stay away from him!

I
let my head fall back against the tub and closed my eyes. What if I
was able to go with my heart? What if I didn't have to listen to what
everyone else told me to do? If I could have been with only one guy
all that time, who would it have been? Without my brother or Jackson
pushing them away that is. The more I thought about it, the clearer
it became. Jackson was the only one I'd ever really liked. When he
was away at college, it was still him I wanted to talk to. None of
those guys they chased away ever mattered. I had to wonder if my
brother saw more than I did when it came to Jackson. Why had he been
so sure Jackson needed to stay away from me? I lifted my head and
smiled.

Me:
What feelings were those, Jackie?

I
laughed as I hit send. It was like I could see the freaked out look
on his face on the other side of the phone. It wasn't long before the
beep came and his response appeared. I was the freaked out one then.

Jackson:
My feelings for you, Tiny.

I
was still staring at the phone when it beeped again.

Jackson:
After everything I've done with my life, he still doesn't think I'm
good enough for you. He's probably right, but that's not going to
stop me anymore. I've liked you since your thirteenth birthday, Tiny.
I'm so damn tired of denying it.

Me:
I doubt that, Jackie. You had girls falling at your feet and a new
one on your arm each week. Even after you left for college, they
talked like it was a prize to have dated you. I got so sick of
hearing about it.

Jackson:
Are you exaggerating, Tiny? Maybe you were just jealous. Did you want
me for yourself?

Me:
What if I did?

It
took a minute for him to respond.

Jackson:
If you did, why didn't you tell me?

Me:
If I had kissed you that night, you would have made fun of me for
months. There was no way I would have ever given you that control
over me.