Page 171 of Steeling Her
“It’s a sick contract, you worked hard, man. You deserve it. I finally get to play with you again!” TJ interjects the awkward conversation with a compliment, brightening it up. Everyone smiles at him and I communicate a silent thank you for sticking by me, one that he notices.
“Okay, enough about football!” My sister waves off the conversation, removing it from the table. If I didn’t know any better, I would think she’s about to start talking about her vacation with TJ in the Bahamas.
I swiped through all of the photos as soon as I walked in the door yesterday. As we all listen tentatively to my sister describe the crystal clear waters, the gleaming white yacht they rented out for the day, the views of the ocean during their dinners, and the countless excursions they went on, including feeding the pigs and iguanas, something I’ve only dreamed of doing. As she rattles on about the shark tank in the aquarium, I focus on the fidgeting fingers of the woman sitting next to me. She’s really grown up to be a beautiful woman and I can’t help but admire her still, even if I can only see her in my peripheral vision.
My heart is thrashing against my chest, rattling around inside for some liberty. I can hear my veins pulsating in my ears. My fingers are itching to touch her, and she’s only inches away from me. Just one touch can get me hooked again.
She’s like a drug, and I’m having withdrawal symptoms.
Then I let it slip. “You look beautiful,” I tell her in a hushed tone while I face my sister as I watch her being animated across the table. I’m not listening to a word she says. I switch my eyes around to meet her stare once she presents it to me. I block everything out and focus only on her, this beautiful woman who has grown up. I can’t believe it’s her.
With a shaky smile, she murmurs her reply coyly, “Thanks.” Hearing her voice, my stomach clenches with excitement. I swallow her words as I watch her eyes search mine. That look that I’ve missed dearly is as beautiful as before. I know she still feels the connection between us. She has to. It’s still alive between us.
I’m still in love with her and have never had the drive to move on from her.
I couldn’t.
The sound of my sister’s voice pulls me back to the present. I listen to find out why the hell we’re all here. “So, TJ and I went to the Bahamas”—Really,I think to myself.I didn’t notice—“as you all know, and we went swimming with the sharks, pigs, stingrays, did the tours of the Cays around the main island, and went scuba diving. But . . .” She pauses and flicks her attention from us to my best friend, who is grinning down at her like a whipped son of a bitch. She shuffles her seat to move closer to her boyfriend and silently communicates something. “But the best part of the whole trip, I went as Haley Jackson,” she beams at us. We all gawp at her, perplexed as hell.
Um, you came back as Haley Jackson, too, moron.
“But came home as the future Mrs. Haley Anderson!” My mouth drops open she shows her hand.
He proposed to her?Haley’s hand shoots up like lightning from underneath the table to show the girls the ring he had bought her. Holy fuck, my sister is getting married before I am.
Shit. Shit . . .
I don’t even know what to say, I’m gobsmacked. I’m so happy for the both of them, but there’s a part of me that’s upset about the whole thing.
Stop being selfish, suck it up,I reprimand myself.It’s not about you. This has been a long time coming.
I hear a screech from what I thought was a cat. Turns out, it was Danielle, which jerks me out of my thoughts. Shielding my ears from the shock, both girls jump out of their seats and rush over to my sister as they embrace each other eagerly. I and the two other men laugh at them as they bounce with joy in each other’s arms.
As I raise up to my feet, I take my best friend’s hand and shake it as I stare at him in total shock. I shake my head in disbelief as a budding smile takes form on my face. This is unbelievable.
The very first wedding of the family.
“I don’t know what to say, man.” I tug him in to give him a tight hug—an official “welcome to my crazy family” hug.
“Is it congratulations or condolences? It depends on what way you look at it,” he jokes, and I roar out a laugh with him.
“Jesus, TJ, you proposed to her? Are you crazy!” I chuckle over his shoulder as we draw back away from each other, both wearing beaming smiles on our faces. “Fuck! You’re getting married!” I place my hands on my hips and stare at my best friend who I have known for forever in total and absolute shock.
“Yup! I am! And I can’t fucking wait!” He slides his hands down his face with that cheesy looking grin on his lips. The shock has not worn off because all we do is stare at one another, opening and closing our mouths, and ticking our heads from side to side shaking it in disbelief.
“Congrats, man,” Chris interrupts and hugs TJ too. TJ thanks him as the three of us laugh at the fact that he’s the first one to get tied down with a ball and chain. “You’re a lucky man, TJ. She’s a keeper. You did yourself proud with her,” Chris compliments my sister and his relationship with her. Sheisa keeper, she’s a Jackson and she always will be. She might have the Anderson name, but she will always be a Jackson at heart.
“Thanks, Chris!” TJ slaps his shoulder as the manly way to thank him.
“Hi! Congratulations!” Carter decides to join us after she realizes that it isn’t just my sister who is getting married.
My sister is marrying my best friend.
Holy fucking shit.
This is actually happening right now.
“I’m so happy for you both, this is incredible,” she mumbles into his chest as she squeezes him one last time. TJ takes her hug with open arms and grins down at her as everyone comes together for this unreal milestone in their life.
