Page 15 of Before We Were Us

I take this as my opportunity to join Brynn, still smiling from the interaction.

“I’d say you passed.” She bites at her lip to contain her laughter.

“I didn’t even say anything.”

“Nah.” She wrinkles her nose. “Marco is more of the physical portion of the friends test. Though I already knew you’d pass, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t blinded by the eyes and mouth.”

“The eyes and mouth?”

“Yeah.” She lifts her coffee, taking a sip. “They’re both very nice.” She glances at my mouth and then back up to my eyes.

My heart rate spikes, and I want nothing more than to stand up, round this table and pull her to me. But somehow kissing her senseless in the middle of the cafe on what is technically only our second date seems excessive. After all, I don't want to scare her away.

ten

. . .

Brynnlee

“She’s pregnant.” Sebastian leans back in his desk chair, the smile on his face bigger than I’ve ever known him to smile. “We found out last night.”

“Wow.” To see my brother in this light is new. Yes, he practically glows when he talks of his fiancée, but this is an entirely new kind of joy. Ciara is good for him, more than good, she loves my brother unconditionally even with his faults. She balances him out, keeps his demons at bay. She’s his voice of reason, his conscience, they are perfect for each other.

“She’s worried about not fitting in her dress, but honestly I’m pretty sure two more months isn't gonna change much.”

The wedding is actually just shy of two months away.

“She’s also worried people will think that we planned the wedding only because she’s knocked up.”

“Oh please.” That’s ridiculous. “Anyone who knows the two of you, knows without a doubt that this engagement has been on for close to a year. If people want to assume, to hell with them. I’m gonna be an aunt,” I squeal happily, clapping my hands with excitement. “I hope it's a girl,” I confess, lots of pink and frills. Cha-ching is already dancing in my head as I imagine all the things I can buy and spoil her with.

I love babies, I’m just not so sure I want any of my own. Maybe that will change one day, but being twenty-four, still enjoying my freedom has a lot to do with it.

“Mom says you went on a date last night.” My smile falters at my brother's words. You’d think he is my father with his need to micromanage my personal life. “Anyone I know?”

I think back to the one and only time my brother had a run in with the cops. “He’s a detective,” I offer confidently and my brother's mood shifts instantly. He’s scowling like I just told him I was dating a drug lord. “A homicide detective actually.”

Seb continues to hold my stare, which only annoys me more.

“Ever been accused of murder?” I know it's a low dig, but nothing irks me more than when he acts like he has control over me and my choices.

“Didn’t you already get fucked over by a cop once before?” he tosses back and together we simply stare at the other. How such a happy conversation shifted so quickly I will never know. But it's how we are, two stubborn people raised by an even more stubborn man.

“Not all of us are lucky enough to meet the person we’ll spend the rest of our lives with by being rear ended.” The minute the words fall from my lips I realize how they sound. A smile tugs at the corner of his lips and I can’t help but do the same.

“Not sure that will be the story Ciara will want to tell our children when they ask how we met.”

“Why? I think it's perfect.” I shrug. “I can picture Ciara now, all innocent and shy like. Your daddy was in a hurry to get to a meeting and instead of taking his time, he came in hard and fast from behind and rammed me.”

“You’re an idiot.” He chuckles and the earlier tension quickly fades. “I’ll be sure to tell her that’s the exact wording she should use.”

“What's so funny?” My father fills the doorway of Seb’s office, leaning against the doorframe.

“Oh we were just talking about how your son rammed Ciara.” His brows lift and I hear Sebastian snicker. “In traffic, Dad.” I stand and make a sound of fake disgust. “Geesh, where is your mind at? I’m telling Mom.” I nudge him as I walk by and he stutters, then as I walk down the hallway I hear my brother burst out laughing.

Making it to my own office, that is now butted up with Taylor’s, I find her chatting it up. Listening to her problem solve with one of our many employees makes me proud. She’s really taking this job by the horns.

Closing my office door behind me, I wake my screen by shaking my mouse and my email comes alive. My phone beeps and I lift it seeing an unread message I hadn’t expected.

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