Page 67 of Knocked Up by my Best Friend's Brothers

At least, if push comes to shove, I know whom to call if I need help.

I just don’t know if there will be enough of our relationship left to salvage once this entire ordeal is over.

21

Christa

“How’d you sleep?” Teagan asks as soon as we sit down in the Hawthorne company cafeteria the next morning.

“Surprisingly, like a log,” I reply.

“Do you feel better?”

“Yes. I guess it is easier when the truth is out.”

I let a heavy sigh roll from my chest as I look at my best friend and recognize the genuine concern in her hazel eyes. My hunger gets the better of me and I get to work on a ham and cheese panini, washing it down with freshly squeezed orange juice.

“I’m not sorry we argued about my brothers,” Teagan says, adding sugar to her coffee. “I believe I was well within my rights to be upset.”

“And I’m not going to contradict you,” I reply. “You’re right. I broke the code.”

“Oh, screw the code. I mean, yes, that pissed me off, too. But the fact that you didn’t tell me about it pissed me off a lot more.”

I nod slowly. “Again, I totally get it. And I am sorry. If there’s anything I can do to earn your forgiveness, just tell me. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Christa, you never lost me. You never will. I think I forgave you as soon as I walked out of the building that night. I can still remember the thought process. It’s your life, it’s your body, and your heart at stake. All I can do is support you and make sure those three don’t hurt you.”

I give her a worried look. “Is there something I should know about your brothers?”

“No,” she says sharply. “My brothers are good men. They’re the best men I’ve ever met, besides Tony, of course.”

“How are things with Tony?”

“They’re fine. We talked everything through and made up.”

“That’s good. I suppose every relationship has its ups and downs.”

“And so will yours. You get that, right?”

“I’m aware,” I tell her. “My past has been a dent in our relationship from the very beginning. I assume you know about—”

“Perry-Sage and the Mancinis? Yeah, they filled me in. Nathan said you gave him permission to share.”

“You’re family, Tee. And you are at risk. Every moment you spend in my company puts you at risk.”

“And you are underestimating us. I think you spent too much time in LA and forgot how we Portland goons deal with people who want to hurt us,” she shoots back. “You’re the closest thingI’ll ever have to a sister. Don’t think for a second that I’d sit idly by and let someone hurt you.”

“I hurt people, too.”

“Let’s not get into the fifty shades of morality of the work you did for Perry-Sage. I told my brothers the same thing last night after Nathan came back from dropping you off. They did terrible things in the military. They were doing their jobs, too.”

“You talked about me?” I’m blushing now.

“Oh, I gave Cassius an earful. I think he got it.” She laughs lightly.

“How so?”

“He’s always been the righteous type, but sometimes he forgets he’s human, that we’re all human. Usually, I don’t need much to remind him. Last night was no exception either. He means well, Christa. And he is head over heels with you, that much I’ll admit. The three of them are whipped.”

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