Page 23 of Falling for my Brother's Best Friend

Eight

Liam

Savannah reacted exactly as I assumed. She’s uncomfortable that I’m here and that I’ll be standing witness as she climbs into another man’s car. She’ll be thinking for the entire night about how pissed off she is at me. I should probably feel bad for potentially ruining her night, but somehow I can’t find it in me.

I slide my palms over one another, jumping off the porch of the Whitmores’ house and shaking my head. This house will never be complete, but I gotta hand it to Wyatt. He’s determined to do it himself.

Wyatt and the tent delivery guys are spreading out the tent when I reach the backyard. The view of the lake behind their house distracts me. It’s clear and blue and I’m a little pissed I didn’t find this piece of property when I built my house years ago. Not that I don’t love the seclusion I have, but the lake here reminds me a little of one on the Bailey family property, where we used to hang out growing up.

“Sorry,” Wyatt mumbles as I jump in to help secure one of the poles.

“For what?”

He shoots me a look like I should know. I do know. Everyone in this town seems to think there’s some hidden relationship between Savannah and me. But the truth is, I think I’m infatuated with a woman who may no longer exist.

“It’s fine. I’m good. Let’s just get this tent up.”

He nods, burying his head in the work of getting a tent up to celebrate his recent marriage to the love of his life. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m jealous to some degree.

When we finish the tent, I tear off my shirt because it’s drenched in sweat. I wipe the sweat dripping off my forehead and head out to see how the chicken coop I helped Wyatt build is holding up. Watching the chickens wander around with no clear direction, I debate whether I should leave.

Why am I still here? I should’ve run away the minute the tent was up. Let her stay in denial and go on a date with some guy who has no idea who she really is. But a small amount of hope still lives inside me and flares to life every time we find ourselves at a crossroad.

“Here you go.” Wyatt hands me a water.

I slide my hand down the condensation before running the coolness over my forehead. “Thanks.”

“Savannah’s date just pulled up.”

I nod. ‘Stay here.Just fucking stay out here. Don’t bother with it,’ I say to myself for the umpteenth time, but sometimes I’m not good at listening to my inner warnings. That’s how I ended up in jail with Rome and Denver for pranking the school on senior day. It was a shitty idea from the start, but hey, it was fun.

“Good decision to stay out here.”

Wyatt’s words spur me into action.

“Would you?” I ask.

He’s quiet for a minute. Wyatt and I shoot the shit all the time. It’s probably why he picked me over any of the Bailey boys to be his best man. I probably shouldn’t involve him in this, but he’s not blood-related to Savannah.

“I’m not sure what you and Savannah are, so I don’t know what to say,” he says.

I down half the bottle of water. “That’s a bullshit answer.”

“It was kind of a bullshit question.”

I cock my head and question him from the corner of my eye. But the guy is right. What the hell am I doing? I don’t accept defeat this easily. I pat his back and head toward the house. “Thanks.”

It’s not until the chill of the air conditioning hits my skin that I remember I’m shirtless. By then I’m standing in their kitchen, Brooklyn’s wide eyes taking me in. Some guy in khakis and a polo shirt is looking at me with a quizzical expression.

“Um…” Brooklyn’s essential oil bottle slips from her hands, but she grabs it before it shatters on the floor. “Lose your shirt?”

I hold it up.

“Maybe put it on?” she says, but I’m way too busy throwing mental daggers at the guy standing with his hands in his pockets because I know who he is.

Out of all the men Juno could’ve picked, this douchebag is the one she thinks is the right fit for her sister?

“Liam Kelly?” Brent Jacobs looks me up and down. “Still doing your own tattoos?”

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