Page 2 of Brodie

“You’re right.” I feel a single stupid tear trailing down mycheek. “It does matter because you’re supposed to be my best friend.” I turnthe handle, push the door in only enough to get inside, then shut it behind meand lock it.

“Reese.” Kirk pounds on the wood.

Ignoring him, I kick off my slippers and crawl into bed,trying to wrap my head around what just happened and how I feel about it.

I’ve known Kirk since we were four, and we have been bestfriends ever since. Or at least we were nothing more than best friends untilabout two months ago when he told me his feelings for me had changed and askedme to be his girlfriend. To say I was surprised when he told me how he feltwould be an understatement. He dated a lot—a lot, a lot—and I was not his type.All his previous girlfriends were cheerleaders and sorority girls.

And all those women made sense since he’s the quarterbackfor the University of Minnesota, where we go to school. He’s so good that he’salready been scouted to go pro. While I’m getting my degree in marine biologywith plans to attend veterinary school when I’m finished. I’ve been his nerdycounterpart throughout our lives, and he’s loved me anyway.

A sob I can’t control climbs up the back of my throat, and Icry, not because I just lost my boyfriend, but because I know I just lost mybest friend. Nothing between us will ever be the same. I cry until I can’tanymore, then lay there wide awake, trying to figure out what I’m going to do.When the sun comes up, I pick up my cell phone, ignoring all the messages onthe screen from Kirk, and make a phone call.

Chapter 1

Reese

With the balcony doors open, I look out at the ocean andbreathe in the sea breeze. Three months ago, I would never have imagined thatthis would be the view I’d be waking up to every day. Then everything happenedwith Kirk and Melissa, and I knew staying in Minnesota wasn’t an option. If I’mhonest, I knew that long before all the drama.

Since our parents started dating, Melissa and I have hadissues, but I always chalked it up to all the differences in our personalities.I’m more of a bookworm, and she’s more Barbie. I like to stay home. She likesto spend her days shopping and her nights partying. None of that would havemattered if my mom hadn’t had us move in with Richard and Melissa after Richardproposed. Or it wouldn’t have mattered if I weren’t stuck living in Melissa’sdad’s house while going to college, her in her second year, and me in my fourthand on the verge of graduating.

The morning I caught Melissa and Kirk together, I called myaunt Ileana—my dad’s sister—who lives in Florida, and asked if I could staywith her while I figured things out. Thankfully, she agreed immediately. AfterI talked to her, I called my mom to let her know I would be moving. To say shewas upset would be an understatement, especially when I refused to give her areason why.

I just couldn’t bring myself to tell her that Kirk andMelissa were sleeping together behind my back, not when she’s loved Kirk for aslong as I have.

I also didn’t want to potentially cause any problems betweenher and Richard by telling her what his daughter did. Not that it was allMelissa’s fault. I mean, Kirk could have—and should have—said no. Ifhe had wanted to be with Melissa, he could have been honest with me.

It would have been weird, but his betrayal wouldn’t haveblindsided me.

After talking to my aunt and Mom, I spoke to the collegecounselor to see what I needed to do to transfer schools. He basically told methat even though he understood my desire to move, something I made clear was adire situation, it wasn’t smart. I only had two months before I graduated, andI might not be able to do that if I decided to transfer.

After that conversation, I knew that even if it sucked, Ineeded to stay put. Which sucked more since I had already told my mom I wasmoving, and my aunt and I had made plans for me to get down to her.

The good thing was that one of my friends had a roomavailable in the small condo her parents had bought for her and offered it tome.

After sorting out a place to stay, I called my aunt back,told her my new plan, and lived with Hellen for two months as I finishedschool, ignored Kirk, avoided—or mostly avoided—my mom, and totally avoided herfiancé and his daughter. Then, as soon as I got my walking papers, I got in mycar and drove to Florida. I didn’t even take the time to walk across the stagebefore I left.

So, I’ve been here for a month, have sent off my applicationto get into the marine veterinary program at the University of Miami, and willhopefully find out soon if I’ll be attending school in the fall. In themeantime, I’m working at the aquarium, which I love.

Even though my heart still hurts because I lost my bestfriend, and I hate the new rift between my mom and me because I can’t tell herthe truth about what happened—and she feels like I abandoned her for noreason—I get to wake up to the gorgeous view out the balcony doors in mybedroom every day and work with all the sea life I’ve been fascinated withsince I was little. I also get the joy of being around my aunt, who didn’t havekids of her own but loves me like I’m hers. She has since I was little, and shegave me even more love when my dad—her twin brother—passed away when I was onlytwo.

With that thought, I toss back the blanket covering me andwalk to the bathroom. My aunt’s condo in Miami is stunning and seriouslyspacious. It has three bedrooms, three and a half baths, an office, kitchen,dining room, and two huge balconies—one off the kitchen and living room, andthe other off two of the three bedrooms.

My aunt did very well for herself, just like my dad hadbefore he passed away in a car accident. When she was eighteen, my aunt leftSacramento, where she and my dad had grown up with my grandparents and moved toLos Angeles with aspirations of becoming a movie star. She never made it to thebig screen, but for twenty-six years, she was on one of those daytime TV showswith all the drama and love triangles. And she had a leading role until theshow was canceled when she was in her forties. Now, she does some modeling hereand there, which isn’t a surprise since she’s gorgeous.

After brushing my teeth, I leave my bedroom and go to thekitchen, the smell of strong coffee permeating the air. Going right to the pot,I pour myself a cup, dump in some sugar and cream, then grab a bowl for cereal.

“Good morning, my beautiful girl,” Aunt Ileana greets. HerSpanish accent isn’t very thick but it is still noticeable as she drifts intothe kitchen, the brightly colored dress she’s wearing floating around herframe. Like always, she looks like she’s ready to step onto the set to performa scene. Her dark hair is perfectly curled, and her makeup is done toperfection.

“Morning, tu tiá.” I smile as she stops to kiss meon the cheek, probably leaving her red lipstick behind. “Are you excited foryour trip?” I ask, dumping cereal into my bowl as she walks over to pourherself a cup of coffee.

“I’m packed.” Her smile is sad. “Are you sure you can’t comewith us? It’s not too late.”

“I need to work,” I remind her—and myself, because taggingalong with her to Paris, Rome, and London while she works and travels for twomonths would be magical. And I know from traveling with her in the past that Iwould have zero regrets.

“Next time,” she says.

“Yes, hopefully,” I agree. “Plus, someone needs to be hereto keep Mickey company.” I glance over at her fat white cat as he saunters intothe kitchen, taking in the black at his ears and on the top of his head.

“He would be okay with James and Tony downstairs.” Shesmiles at him when he falls to his bottom next to his empty wet-food dish,likely having eaten earlier this morning. “So,”—her eyes meet mine—“what areyou going to do while I’m gone?”

---