Page 44 of Never Kiss Your Brother's Best Friend

We sit in silence for what seems like hours. I hope he’s not expecting me to take the lead here, because that’s not going to happen.

“And?” Peter finally prompts.

“And what? I’m not sure what you want me to say.”

He leans back in his chair, taking some time before he talks again.

“We’ve talked about this Sterling.”

I jumped in suddenly. “Yeah, like twenty years ago.”

He chuckles. “You’ve got me there. But I still feel the same way I did back then. You being involved with Emma is not a good idea, even less of a good idea than it was in high school.”

“What does that mean?” I’m a little annoyed by his comment.

“Come on Sterling, I think you know.”

“No, I don’t. Enlighten me.” The blood is suddenly pumping through my body at the direction this conversation has taken. My head is the first to notice, and I press him despite my discomfort because I need to know what he’s talking about.

“Celia.”

“What does Celia have to do with Emma?”

He shifts in his chair, then leans forward, looking me directly in the eyes. “She has everything to do with Emma. You were destroyed after that relationship ended. You’ve never been the same. You completely shut down. You haven’t dated anyone since.”

“So?”

“So, I don’t want Emma to be the first person you decide to jump back into a relationship with. That type of baggage is hard to get over.”

I shake my head. I can’t believe this. I stand and pace the porch for a few minutes. There are some things I want to say, but I’ll do much better expressing them if I take some time first. I’ve got one shot at this. What I say next is too important to mess up.

When I’m as ready as I’m going to get, I take my seat again, pulling my rocking chair directly in front of his. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to talk now and not have you say anything until I’m completely finished, all right?”

Peter nods his head in agreement.

“You’re right. Celia did break me. And yes, I didn’t think I’d ever want to date anyone again. Not that Emma and I are dating just yet, by the way. It was one kiss."

Well two actually, but I'm not going to go there right now. "Plus, she’s kind of been avoiding me since.”

I see Peter gulp. Yep, he definitely said something to her.

“Emma wasn’t just a silly high school crush. There has always been more to our relationship than you knew.”

Peter opens his mouth to chime in, then closes it to let me continue.

“I don’t mean that we were ever more than friends. But we spent a lot of time together when you weren’t around, confided in each other, really connected. That connection has never gone away. As soon as we saw each other again it was there. I know you want to ask. It was mostly when you were at baseball practice.”

He seems satisfied with my explanation.

“I can understand you being nervous about Emma and me getting into a relationship. I don’t even know for sure that she wants one right now. But if she does, I would like your blessing. I will do everything in my power to make her happy. She makes me want to open up again, to take a chance. There’s no one I’d rather do that with than her.”

I’m on a roll now.

“You know I’m not a mushy guy, so let me just end with this. Your sister is special, and you know it, but so do I. I’ve always known it. There are things I still need to work on, but I’m willing to do anything I need to for her. We are good for each other, but I don’t want to ruin my friendship with you either.”

Peter stands, and I stand with him. He claps his hands on my shoulders. “Ok, that’s enough. I don’t need you making me all teary-eyed. I get it. I can see you’re different now by the way you talk about her. If she really means that much to you, you have my blessing.”

I feel all the tension release in my body. “Whew. Thanks, man. That blessing may be all for nothing, though. I think the kiss spooked her. She’s kind of been ghosting me the last few days.”

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