Page 79 of Forever Love

He looks from me to Braden. “Not the best point.”

Looking sincere, Braden says, “Your friendship matters. It’s your foundation. Our friendship is why Maia and I held onto something that was wrong for as long as we did. Imagine what that bond, that strength, can do in therightrelationship.” But then Braden looks at me. “Of course, maybe Nick and I aren’t the ones to talk, both of us having kids in high school. Clearly, we do things out of order.”

Vince groans and slides his head into his hands, running both of them across his face. “Not yet. Just—not yet.”

I struggle to keep my smile at bay. “I might believe that if you didn’t look exactly like you did the day you told me you had no feelings for her when you wereobviouslyin love with her. A week later and you were together.”

Braden smirks and says, “That’s not a lot of time to pull off a wedding.” The corners of his mouth are pulled up to his ears, but I can see the pain in his eyes. He and Maia might be moving forward, but I’m sure it’s not easy to think about her getting married. My brother also looks panicked. For both their sakes and Trevor’s, I decide to let it go.

“Fine. We’ll drop it,” I say dramatically. “For now.”

“Finally,” Trevor yells from the other room. “Can we get on to pizza, wings, and video games, please?”

“Hell, yes.” Vince grabs his phone to call Rosetti’s.

“You okay?” I ask Braden.

“Given the weight of the conversations Maia and I had today, it’s weird to think of them getting married, but it’s inevitable, I think. Fuck, I never thought I’d say that. Or feel happy for them.” He laughs. “Is this what being a grown up is?”

“Did you seriously just say that? You have a kid.”

He pauses and looks at me. “But we both know I haven’t been acting like it. I’m working on it now.”

I give his back a smack. “Thank God. I was getting tired of you being an asshole.” Then I walk into the next room as he glares at me.

Finally, back to normal,I think.

Almost.

“Hey, Trev, any girls on the horizon for you?”

Trevor grimaces at me, then leans over and slugs me. “Fuck you.”

Vince and Braden both laugh loudly.

Nowwe’re back to normal.

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