Page 161 of Forever Then

He just baited me with the opportunity to set things right and I don’t intend to waste it. “Drew, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Bro, I’m getting married tomorrow. Can it wait?”

I snicker before saying, “No. It’s really important.”

He turns to face me. “Ok, then. Shoot.”

I take ina deep breath.

He mutters a curse under his breath, stifling an eye roll. “Such a drama queen, Vining. Get to the point already.”

My chin falls to my chest and I fight a smile. When I look back up, my best friend pins me with a self-assured grin that says he’s enjoying this way too much. “Fine,” I concede. “I’m in love with your sister and I want to?—”

“You bastard,” he says flatly, completely deadpan.

I hit him with an exasperated glare and continue as though he said nothing at all. “I want to ask her out.”

“She’s too young for you,” he says.

“She’s an adult,” I volley.

“You’re a man-whore,” he volleys back.

“Takes one to know one.”

“I changed.”

“So have I.”

“She’s my sister.”

“She’s the love of my life.”

Eyes narrowed, he pins his arms over his chest. “And if I say no? If I say choosing her means you’ll lose me as a friend?”

“If Reagan were my sister and I made you choose, what would you say?”

He makes an egregious buzzer sound like we’re on an episode of Family Feud. “No cheating. I asked you first.”

I point a critical finger at him, only half serious when I say, “Cheating or exposing a double standard?”

He squints again. I arch a brow. There’s a playfulness to our banter, but the serious undertone remains.

“Ask me again,” I say.

“Me or her, Vining?”

“I choose her.”

“Good answer,” he says before holding up two fingers to the bartender.

We sit in contented silence, gazes fixed on the television mounted behind the bar airing the latest Cubs game.

When our second round of drinks arrive, he brings the bottle tohis lips, but stops at the last second. He sweeps one menacing sidelong glance my way as he says, “If you hurt her again, I’ll kill you.”

This time, when he asks for my word, it’s a promise to never break Gretchen’s heart, to always make her happy. I offer the blood brother oath, but he insists that a handshake will do.

Also, I’m to never, under any circumstances—come hell, high water or act of God—talk to him about our sex life.

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