Page 63 of I'd Never Date my Brother's Best Friend

We drink in silence until Winnie’s phone rings. She signals to me that she has to take this call. I hear her promise the caller she’ll be there soon. When she hangs up, I narrow my eyes at her. “Winnie?”

“Yes?”

“Why do I feel like you used me as a placeholder while you waited for someone? Hmmm?” I tap a finger on my face and narrow my eyes at her.

Winnie laughs while shaking her head. “No, Jess. It was important that I saw you. It doesn’t hurt that you helped me fill the time before my next meeting.”

“Winnie,” I laugh. “Wow.”

“What?” She laughs with me. “I decided to try, okay? I didn’t think you would actually come.”

Well, if I weren’t so angry with Sean and needed an escape, I most likely wouldn’t have met up with Winnie. But I am and so I did.

“Anyway–” I take the last sip of my drink. “I’ll let you go and meet up with your…friend.”

We say our goodbyes, walk out of the diner together and head over to our cars. When I get in mine I put my hands on the steering wheel and take a deep breath. The last place I want to go is home. Right next door to Sean.

Chapter 24

Sean

My heart slams steadily in my chest as I run, my lungs expanding by the amount of air I have to inhale with every sprint. I’m stressing myself, and my legs hurt, but I don’t stop. I’d rather experience the ache in my bones than the one in my heart. I keep running, ignoring the roar in my ears as I tear down the street. I only stop when I’m near home, walking briskly up my porch and into my house.

Jessica’s car wasn’t here when I left and it’s not back yet. I can’t help but wonder where she went if she didn’t come straight home. I immediately wonder if she’s with Rick. Why do I even care?

I close the door behind me and head to the kitchen to grab a cold water bottle. As I chug down the water greedily, I answer the question. I care—a lot. I’d hate to find out that Jessica was spending more time with Rick.

I fling the empty bottle into the trash before sitting on the kitchen stool to rest my tired muscles. As my heart rate slows to a steady rhythm, I go over every exchange with Jessica, only to realize that entire conversation was my fault.

When I got there everything started off great. Jessica was more than courteous and excited to tell us about her date. I turned the story sour by nailing Rick to a cross and persecuting him. Jessica was correct; Rick did everything right. He brought her flowers, held the door open for her, treated her to a fancy date, and walked her to the door afterward—the perfect gentleman.

I wish I could point out something about him, something that would justify the feelings of hate I have for him right now. But there’s nothing. The truth is I don’t like Rick because I’m jealous of him. My feelings for Jessica might not be totally clear yet, but I’m pretty sure I don’t want any other man around her.

The amount of relief I have at the fact she didn’t kiss Rick after the date is disconcerting.

“Oh, heck. Sean!” I drop my head on the ceramic island, wincing when I do it harder than I meant. Pain sears through me and causes an ache to lodge there. I need someone to tell me I’m wrong. I need someone to look me in the eyes and call me out as being wrong for looking at my best friend’s sister and feeling anything deeper than sibling love for her. Calling me out won’t change how I feel, but I deserve it.

I pull myself from the stool and drag my tired body up the stairs straight into the shower. The cold water pummels my body, kneading my bones until I feel a little better physically. Once out of the shower I hear my phone ringing. It’s Jamie.

“Hey, Jamie. What’s up?”

“Uh, hey, man,” Jamie responds immediately. “You home?”

I want to lie and say no because I really just want to be alone right now, but Jamie always knows how to make me feel better. Plus, I want to make it up to Jessica, and Jamie would know how.

“Yeah, I’m home. What’s going on?”

“On my way,” Jamie hangs up the phone. I pull on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt before falling onto the bed, laying still so my head won’t ache so much.

Jamie walks in and I immediately smell food. I don’t realize how hungry I am until my stomach growls as Jamie lays the food out on the table. I put a hand on my stomach in surprise.

“Hungry?” Jamie smirks.

“Yes. I didn’t realize I haven’t eaten.” I devour it, all the while aware of Jamie’s gaze on mine.

“What?” I glance up at him.

He chews slowly and swallows before answering, “So I hear you and Jessica are over.”

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