Page 23 of Finally a Bride: Best Friend's Brother

“I forgive you.” There’s nothing more to say. What’s done is done and if the Army has taught me anything it’s that diplomacy goes a long way and fighting isn’t always the answer.

He stands and walks over. “Don’t miss your chance to tell her how you feel.”

I look at my watch. “Where do you think she is?”

“She’s at her apartment,” Mal’s voice comes from the doorway as she sips from a large mug of coffee, her eyes red, but she looks better.

“How are you?”

She shrugs. “Better, but not great.”

I walk over to her. “Can you give me her address?”

“She told me not to,” she says softly. “McCabe, you’re leaving. It’s not cheating, but you’re not showing up.”

She’s right. Maybe this was just meant to be one of those special nights.

Fuck that!

“Where does she live?”

“McCabe…” she tips her head.

“Mal, I love her. I can’t explain what happened, but it’s real. I don’t think I can live without her.”

“You’re sure?” She sets down her coffee on an end table.

“I’m sure.”

She hands me an already written on piece of paper. “1235 M Street #101. You can take my car.” She jingles the keys in my face but pulls them back when I go to snatch them. “But promise me… promise me that you’ll love her like she deserves to be loved.”

My heart beats strong. “I promise, Mal.” I grab the keys and kiss her cheek.

“Good luck, McCabe!” Mom calls out from the kitchen like she’s been listening the whole time.

I’m in my sister’s SUV and on the road before the GPS has figured the route.

Going to be the longest twelve minutes of my life.

I try not to break any laws, but I might have coasted through a couple of stop signs in her apartment complex.

I search for the number. I don’t see her Prius, but she could have a garage.

After jumping out, I run to her door and start knocking as I skid to a stop. “Ella! Ella!”

But there’s no answer.

Shit.

I pace back and forth. I text.

McCabe: Hey, she’s not here.

Mallory: I don’t know where she’d be. Sorry. She said she was going home.

McCabe: I’ll wait here for a while.

I slide down the wall and then it hits me. She said that she would clean up the hall.

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