Page 13 of Marrying My Brother's Best Friend

Trevor scoffs, and the pained look in his eyes intensifies before he shakes his head.

“That’s not what we meant, Trevor,” I whisper as he enters into the office fully and shuts the door.

“I need this, Gracie. No matter what you two think of me…I need to make sure I get my spot back on my team and play in the finals. This is about my career and not what anyone thinks about me. I don’t believe in love, yes…I think it’s a foolish concept made up by high school kids and it never lasts. But everyone else seems to think otherwise and I can’t control what they think, but I can control my fate in the club.”

Trevor closes the distance between us, and his nearness makes me forget my brother is in the room. I inhale the whiff of his scent and tremble because of it.

“It’s not going to work,” I murmur, holding my breath because of the dizziness climbing through me.

“But what would it hurt to try?” He looks at me solemnly, and I kind of feel pity for him. I mean, if he’s this desperate to change how people see him, then it means he really needs me, right?

He touches my arm, and I sigh before shifting out of his reach a little. “This could be your chance to leave Golden Bay, Gracie. There’s a whole new world outside of this town, and you could explore all of that—I could show you all of that if you give this a chance. You’d meet lots of new people, publishers, celebrities … People who can make your dreams come true, Gracie.”

It's not just his words that draw me in. It’s his soft tone and the sweetness of his scent lingering around me.

Jace interrupts us now putting his hand on Trevor’s arm to stop him from coming closer to me.

“Back away, Trevor,” Jace warns in a sterner tone. “I mean it this time.”

Trevor only shakes his head as he moves away, then walks to the door. “Think about it, Gracie. This is your decision, not his.”

When he finally walks away, I let out the pent-up breath I didn’t realize I held and nearly sank to the ground because of my weak knees.

I’ve always been content here in Golden Bay, but I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit that I’ve wondered what the rest of the world was like. Reading books opens my mind to the prospects of a different life.

One away from this small town, in some large city bustling with like minds and talents.

I’ve dreamed of one day finding my way in the world, regardless of whatever town it might be. Publishing my own books, traveling the world, and writing more. These are dreams I’ve shared with Trevor in the past.

He knows my passion.

“Gracie…”

“I need to think about this for myself,” I say to Jace before he gets the chance to discourage me again. “This has to be my choice, Jace, not yours.”

Jace’s grim look is enough to worsen the tight knots already digging into my guts. “Trevor’s hurt you once, Gracie, and I watched you withdraw into a shell, not willing to risk your heart with anyone for a long time. If you do this…Play this game with him, then you risk getting hurt all over again. I forgave him once before…I don’t think I can do that again.”

When Jace finally leaves the office, too, I sink to the ground and burrow my face into my hands. What do I do?

***

Trevor’s house has always been the biggest in Golden Bay. Back in high school, a lot of us referred to it as ‘The White House’ because of its aristocratic design and the majestic view of the beach it had.

I didn’t expect Trevor to move back in there when he returned to town. The house had been empty long before he left Golden Bay to follow his passion for basketball.

He is sitting on the front porch with a can of soda when I arrive, and he shakes his head while staring at his phone’s screen. Trevor doesn’t notice my presence as I walk up to his porch. The wind ruffles my hair and makes me struggle to keep my strands in place with both hands.

Each time I stroll down this beach path, I enjoy the crispy scent in the air and how it trickles down my lungs, leaving a relaxed sensation creeping up my nerves.

I clear my throat to get Trevor’s attention when he still doesn’t raise his head to look at me. There’s a deep frown furrowed into his face when he finally does, and he murmurs my name with ease.

“Three months,” I say to him, folding my hands across my chest. I had time to think about Trevor’s proposal and even though it’s a crazy one, this is my one chance to experience the world outside of Golden Bay for myself.

“You’re saying yes?” he asks, his eyes lighting up as he stands and bursts into a light chuckle.

“Three months and it’s over. We make it like a clean break, with no drama in the media or whatever. We can say I dumped you if that helps.”

He chuckles, and the sound draws a smile to my lips.

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