Page 2 of Finally a Bride: Best Friend's Brother

“Oh, my God!” Mallory jumps to her feet and rushes across the room. “Oh, my… God!”

I continue to check the arrangements for water, as wilted flowers aren’t the look she’s going for. Plus, brides are known for melting down for no reason and outbursts happen on the regular, but when I turn around, my mouth drops open and my heart jumps into my throat.

McCabe?

This is a big reason for both of us to melt down.

McCabe

My sister jumps into my arms. I spin her like we used to do when she was five and I was ten, and her sobs tell me that everything I’ve been through the last two days was worth it.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, Mal.” I rub her back, but she continues blubbering and wailing something about the last piece of the puzzle and how could I not tell her I was coming. It’s a combo of thankfulness and being chewed out.

DNA from our parents.

I stop spinning and my eyes connect to one of the most eye-catching women I’ve seen, but of course, I’ve spent five years in the desert of Afghanistan and then ten in Germany, where the women are gorgeous, but my time was limited by the military’s demands, and with only two hours sleep in the last 48 hours, I’m not sure if I’m hallucinating or not at this point.

Auburn hair, the pinkest lips, and the softest toffee eyes I’ve ever seen stare back at me. She smiles sheepishly and I swear I remember that grin… but who is this girl?

“McCabe, how are you here? You said you couldn’t get away!” Mallory pounds on my chest, bringing my attention back to her.

“I know, but I begged, borrowed, and technically, I’m AWOL,” I say while setting her feet to the ground.

The room gasps, and the past slaps me in the face.

These people remember the old me.

They remember the kid who stole the mascot costume of the school in the next town over. Only to be made to return it and had to wear it at the next football game. Jokes on them. I had one of the best nights of my life, freed and untethered to behavioral norms. It was a fucking blast.

Also, the one who got suspended for taking down someone twice as big as me. The truth was I stopped him from attacking someone one-fourth his size in the locker room. The coaches just didn’t see that.

And I was the guy who was basically called the man-whore but actually, I left high school a virgin. That fact changed in basic training with a fellow female soldier who taught me more than I ever thought I’d learn from a woman, but I wasn’t the womanizer that everyone thought I was and never will be.

My bad boy persona was a mask for someone who wanted to be adventurous, who wanted to make a difference, and who didn’t care what anyone thought.

But of course, no one ever listened to the truth. They preferred the horrible me to the real me.

“I’m kidding everyone,” I say with a shake of my head.

The woman in the corner goes back to what she was doing with boxes of flowers and part of me wants to beeline to her, find out who she is, but I also know that there will be questions to be answered and people to reconnect. Including the two people who cross the room like we’re both magnets.

I try to stand at ease, but there’s just something about them that makes me return to attention. “Hey, Mom… Dad.”

“What the hell, McCabe?!”

“Nice to see you, too, Dad,” I mutter, trying to keep my emotions in check.

The fact that I’m a well-respected major in the U.S. Army seems long forgotten.

His jaw tightens. “We thought you couldn’t get time off. You should have?—”

“I did what I thought was right. You might disagree, but since I wasn’t sure my leave was going to be approved. It’s better I’m a surprise than a disappointment, which is normally what you think I am. Am I wrong?” I stare him down and he seems to take the info as it was meant.

Back off, Jack. Literally.

“Jack! Jack, I need you to go talk to the security about parking. The wedding consultant left.” My mother grabs his arm and tugs him backwards.

“We’ll talk later, Son.” My father walks away shaking his head. Even my presence is a disappointment to him.

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