Page 37 of Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend

“No problem.” She shrugs and drinks from her bottle. “Any excuse to be in the forest, and I’m in.”

“Oh, yeah? So, I could have been just anyone here with you, then?”

“Yup. Pretty much.” Rita play punches my arm.

“Ow. That hurt.” I flinch and rub the spot where Rita hit me.

“The punch or that you could have been just anyone sharing my tent?”

“Both, Rita!” Mock shocked. “Honestly, you can be so insensitive sometimes.” Rita passes me her water bottle. “I’m mostly hurt that you hold me in such low regard.”

I tip some water into my mouth. It’s not as cool and refreshing as I had hoped, but I’m thirsty so I drink some more.

“Ah, Brodie Kent. To me, you’re just my brother’s best friend. Just a guy. I guess I’m that one woman in the world who you have no effect on. I am immune to that thing you do with your eyebrows.”

“What thing?”

“You know. It’s your signature look. You’re doing it now” Rita laughs. “When you’re saying something deep or sincere, your eyebrows slant up in the middle.” Rita leans over and demonstrates by reaching up to gently push my eyebrows. “It is super cute, by the way, and probably irresistible to women.” Rita drops her hands. “But not me. I’m immune.” She snatches back her water bottle.

“Ah. Good to know,” I say smiling at Rita, feeling our connection grow stronger.

There’s a pause as I look away. I clear my throat and let out a long sigh. “I’ve been thinking. You’re right.” Rita tilts her head to listen. “I need to be present at the inquiry. I can’t hide out on the mountain. I’d love to… but…”

“People will think that you’re guilty if you’re not there.”

“Exactly.”

We’re quiet, both listening to the waterfall, the trees, the insects, and the birds.

“Rita.”

“Brodie.”

“Do you really believe that I slept with the senator’s daughter?” I gaze in the direction of the waterfall and notice tiny droplets that collect on the fern leaves growing in between mossy rocks. The droplets run down to the pointed leaf tips, causing the leaf to bend, sending drops splashing into the pool.

“Actually, in my heart. No.” Rita breathes and stretches out her legs. “I think you wouldn’t have come back to Oak River if you had done something that bad.” I turn to look at her as she continues. “If you were really trying to hide or get right away from an uncomfortable situation that you had created, you would have probably gone far away. To Europe maybe. Somewhere no one knows you.” She pulls in her feet and hugs her knees into her chest. “But you came here.” Rita looks thoughtful and kind. “And, um, so, I believe you. I think you came to Oak River because…” Rita looks away, then changes her tone to something more upbeat. “Brodie. You are a big star in the public eye, and that makes you vulnerable to crackpot nut-heads. This senator’s daughter. What’s her name?”

“Nancy.”

“Nancy. She probably misinterpreted something you said or did. She’s upset about something. Maybe it’s not even about you. Or she has her own agenda for causing trouble. Maybe she wants to get back at her old man for something. I don’t know. Some people are just plain crazy. And that’s all.” Rita looks into my eyes. I can see she finally believes me. My shoulders relax and a wave of relief washes over me. “You need to protect yourself from people who don’t love you.”

I reach for Rita’s hand and hold it in mine. She curls her fingers into my palm. We sit quietly listening to nature buzzing and twittering happily around us. The real world is very far away. Rita leans her head against my shoulder. I breathe in the scent of her hair which still smells deliciously of woodsmoke. We stay like this for a very long time.

Chapter 19

Rita

It’s hard to leave the beautiful waterfall and break the moment with Brodie. We sit together quietly. He is holding my hand. It’s so peaceful and the moment is so precious, I’m on the point of telling him how much he means to me. But, somehow, it’s not the right time. We’re closer now, but I’m still very much in the friend zone: his best friend’s kid sister. Buddy. Chum. Close family friend.

“Let’s get going, huh?” I sit upright and retrieve my hand.

“I suppose. I mean, we can’t stay here forever…” Brodie throws me one of his cheeky looks. “Or can we?”

“No.” I laugh. “You have to get back to clear up the mess you’re in. And I need to…” A pause weighs heavy.

“What do you need to do?”

“Move on…” I say, standing up. “I think I can do that now.”

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