Page 5 of Protected By my Brothers Best Friend

I nod. “Yeah, that’d be nice. Is it about the shop? Do you need help with the redesign or something? The guy who did the design should’ve known the building codes ahead of time. Who did you hire?”

She smiles and looks away. “I agree, but none of this is about permits, Cooper.”

“So, tell me. What is it?”

“If I tell what’s wrong with me, things won’t be the same anymore. Trust me.” There’s a flutter in her voice as she speaks, and while I want to believe she’s about to profess her undying love for me, I reckon that’s me projecting.

“I’m not gonna judge you, Iris. Whatever it is. I’ll listen.”

She drags in a deep breath and paces back and forth in front of me.

Jesus. Whatever this is, it’s bad. I wonder if she’s gotten herself into some kind of trouble.

“No matter what’s wrong, we’ll figure it out.”

Her tone is ragged as she says, “Promise me you won’t run when I tell you.”

“Okay,” I swallow hard, “I promise.”

The scent of wildflowers breezes in front of me as she kneads her hands together. Finally, she stops. “I’ve, ugh, I can’t say it. I don’t know why I can’t say it.”

“What? What can’t you say?” My tone is rough. I can feel my anxiety rising as I think of how I can fix anything she needs.

She looks up at me, innocent and sweet. Whatever she did, I have to get her out of it.

“I’m in love with you, Cooper. I’ve been in love with you for… fuck… as long as I can remember.” A tear rolls off her cheek. “That girl down there… and you… and this weekend… and I wanted to tell you this weekend how I felt, but now she’s here and this… and us… and we’re like never going to work because you’re old and I’m young… and Bryan… and this… and us… and I don’t know.” She collapses onto the bed and covers her face, sounds muffling through her hands. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

My heart is warmer than it’s ever been. I kneel down next to her. “How long have you felt this way?”

She speaks through her hands, her face still covered, “Too long. It’s so embarrassing. You can leave now. Enjoy your day.”

I can’t help but smile. I’m not sure I’ve ever smiled this widely. “I’m not leaving.” I reach up and move her hands away from her face. She’s so fucking sweet. “I feel the same way. I have for so long. That’s why I pulled away from you. I couldn’t—”

The door to her bedroom opens and Bryan is standing like a boomerang waiting to be thrown again, and I’m on my knees next to Iris, holding her hand. I can’t imagine how this looks.

His brows narrow. “What’s going on? Is everyone okay?”

Iris stands and wipes the tears from her face. “Yeah, sorry. Cooper was helping me. I…” She’s searching for a reason. I know that, but I wonder if Bryan picks up on it.

“I was just telling her I could help with the shop design to get everything up to code. You should’ve called me. Everyone knows I’d do anything for you guys.”

“Yeah, but you’re so busy with everything.”

“Never too busy for family.”

Family. I said it. I said… family. Now I want to vomit!

Bryan glances toward Iris, then toward me, and I wonder if maybe he’s onto us, but his exhaustion works in our favor.

“Yeah, help her out. You’ve got all kinds of talent. But focus on all of that later, though. Alaina is wondering where you went.”

Alaina. Shit!

“I’ll be right down.” I blow out a sigh and wait for the weight of his frame to hit the steps.

“You should go,” Iris whispers, looking up at me.

Every emotion I’ve bottled for years comes to the surface as I whisper, “I think about you all the time, Iris. Hell, you had an ice cream cone at the lake last summer. Do you remember? The one with the sprinkles? Well, you had more of them on your chest than you did the cone. I’ve had the image of you covered in sprinkles, licking that cone stuck in my brain for a year now.”

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