Page 9 of Smitten With My Brother's Best Friend
Maverick nods, his expression understanding.
“I think the reason it was so hard was that I didn’t want to start all over. I’ve invested three years of my life with Terry, andit’s scary to think of him not being there anymore. The change is going to be hard.”
“You’ll be fine,” Mav says assuredly.
“How can you be so sure?” I ask.
“Because you always seem to bounce back. I’ve known you for most of your life, and nothing ever seems to bring you down. You shrug everything off and come out stronger.”
Wow.
I never thought I would ever hear Maverick Kessler praise me like that. It’s nice.
“You’ve always been like that. Even after I publicly rejected you, you pretended it didn’t bother you. You’re great at that.”
I stiffen. He just had to mention that.
“This conversation was going well until you mentioned that.”
“I just want us to put it behind us.”
“It doesn’t work that way. You seem to have forgotten, so I’m just going to refresh your memory. You were 17. I was 13. It was a barbecue party in your mom’s backyard. Everyone we knew was there. One of my friends put this idea in my head that I should write a letter to you confessing my feelings. Everyone knew I had this huge crush on you. So I wrote the damn letter. I poured my heart out. I handed it to you in front of everyone, which was a big mistake. It took you exactly two minutes to read it, and when you finished, you looked at me and smirked. Then you handed the letter to my brother. I was still standing in front of you. I asked what you thought about it and what was your reply?” I ask.
Maverick shifts uncomfortably, and it barely registers that we’ve reached my house. He parks in front of the house but doesn’t look at me, avoiding my eyes. He doesn’t speak for several seconds.
“I said, ‘that’s cute, Tay. But it’s never going to happen,” he answers finally.
“Exactly. Everyone heard you. They all had front-row seats to my public humiliation.”
“In my defense, Adam was the one that made copies of your letter and shared it with all our friends.”
“The both of you were dicks! I forgave Adam because he’s my brother, but I can’t forgive you. I know you and everyone else thought it was just a childish crush, but I can still remember how genuine my feelings were. And how humiliated I was. You said I bounce back easily, but you have no idea how hard it was for me and how much I cried behind closed doors.”
“Taylor…” he starts.
“No,” I interrupt. “I don’t care, and I don’t need any apologies from you. I’m over it. I’m over you and that silly crush, and I’ve had years to get over it. I’m going to leave for New York soon, and you’ll be here in Aster Falls. Working. Doing what you do best. That’s all you seem to care about anyway. You’re my brother’s best friend, and that’s all you’ll ever be.”
I probably imagine it, but I think I see a flash of hurt in his expression. I don’t give him a chance to defend himself or apologize. I step out of the car and slam the door.
“Wait,” Maverick says, his voice low and cold.
I turn to him.
“Relay this to your ex-boyfriend. If I ever see him around you again, he’s dead.”
And with those weird words, he drives off. Today has been an emotional rollercoaster. Not only did I break up with my boyfriend of three years. I also bared my heart and soul to Maverick. I had kept everything I said inside me for so long, it was bound to come out eventually. Surprisingly, I feel better. Maybe now that I’ve said my mind, I can move on. I can stop thinking about him and wondering, what if? Maverick is complicated, and I would very much like my life to be easy.
“Hey, Tay. Was that Maverick’s car out there?” My brother asks, coming to meet me in the hallway.
“Yeah, he drove me home,” I say quietly.
Adam studies me. Taking note of my flushed cheeks and the unshed tears in my eyes. I hadn’t realized that my conversation with Maverick affected me that badly.
“What happened?” he asks.
He looks so concerned I end up spilling everything about Terry. He’s even more furious than Maverick by the time I’m done.
“Did Maverick break his nose?” Adam asks.
