Page 38 of Falling for my Brother's Best Friend

“What exactly are you here to talk about then?” I ask.

“You and Savannah are toxic to one another,” Austin says before sipping his water. “We thought maybe you guys would work out whatever it is between you. We’d love for you to be our brother-in-law. Especially since we already see you as a brother. But after last night and based on what Denver’s told us… it’s probably best for everyone if you put her behind you.”

Rome and Denver nod.

“But…” The words die on my lips. My parents left me for Florida and the Baileys are the ones who have treated me like family most of my life. I can’t disobey their wishes. If they’re here like this, it’s because it matters.

“Sorry, man.” Denver pats me on the back as though I need consoling. “One of you will end up on Dateline for murdering the other if we don’t intervene.” He laughs.

I nod. “I like your sister.”

When I saw the pain on Savannah’s face after I lashed out, it was like the quick slice of a blade. Regret poured out of me, and now I’m questioning if it’s more than a night I need from her. If it is, I screwed myself royally.

The three of them look at one another as though they didn’t expect to hear me voice those words.

“Sometimes people aren’t good for one another. You’re laid-back and Savannah is high-strung. We thought you’d even her out, but you’re both bringing the worst out in each other.”

“That’s not totally true,” I murmur.

“You haven’t gone out with me in weeks,” Denver says. “Plus, the display at Lucky’s with that chick? Then you leave me to take her home so you can take care of Savannah?”

“So?”

“So that’s not you. You’re fun. Savannah’s not.”

“She was once.” And I keep trying to pull it out of her, but it’s hidden so far down that not even Google Maps can help me retrieve it.

But I keep those thoughts to myself. Looking at their skepticism, I can tell I see Savannah differently than they do.

“Listen, I don’t want to get into an argument. We tried to sit back and let this unfold, but now you’re both all over Buzz Wheel,” Austin says.

“On the upside, you have our thanks for taking the hot seat for a while.” Denver claps me on the back.

“We think you guys just need to admit that you’re not good for each other. If you both agree that nothing’s ever going to come of it, maybe you can be friends,” Austin says and downs some more water.

“Is this your polite way of telling me you’ll kick my ass if I date your sister?”

They all laugh and share a look between them.

“We’d never start a fight with you,” Austin says.

“You’re bigger than us,” Rome says.

“You’d kick our ass.” Denver laughs.

“But?” I wait for them to lay it out. Tell me what they want from me.

“We’d prefer for you and Savannah not to date. Yeah.” Austin leans back, crunching his now-empty plastic water bottle.

“Uncle Denver!” Calista yells from the other side of the door that leads into the house. Rome opens the door, and Calista waves Denver’s phone. “Uncle Denver, someone was calling your phone.”

Rome leans down and reads the screen. “‘Wednesday night girl.’ You actually put someone in as a contact under that?”

“Stop with the judgment, Daddy.” Denver takes the phone out of Calista’s hands.

“Who’s Wednesday night girl?” Calista asks.

“A friend,” he says.

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