Page 22 of The Girl I Once Loved

Fuck him and fuck that.

“Nope.” The arrogant prick has the nerve to pop the p in the end as if pissing me off is just another pastime for him. “I’m merely having an honest conversation with my best friend. A friend who has been a brother to me.”

I turn around to face him as I crack another can open.

“That’s kind of an incestuous thing to say considering I used to date your sister in high school,” I goad, trying to lighten the mood, but to my bitter disgruntlement, Derrick is having none of it.

“She wasn’t the only one you dated,” he says, running his thumb over his beer can’s rim.

“True. I dated plenty of girls back in the day,” I affirm nonchalantly, leaning against the rail, intent on keeping a healthy distance between us.

“But you only ever loved one,” he deadpans.

This mother—

“I’m getting bored with this conversation, D,” I say with a bite. “Just say what you have to say and be done with it.”

“Very well,” he says, placing his can on the deck floor to look me dead in the eye. “No use beating around the bush. I’ll come right out and say it then.”

“About fucking time,” I grumble, taking a huge gulp of my beer since something tells me I’ll need the liquid courage just to hear him out.

“As you know, it’s taken me almost a decade to get the woman I love to agree to marry me. Ten fucking years, Noah.” He lets out an exhale before running his fingers through his dark hair. “Now I’ve been patient through all of it because Daisy deserves that from me and a whole lot more. She deserves someone who won’t bail on her at the first sign of trouble. She deserves someone who will love her for the free spirit woman that she is and cherish every little thing about her. Iamthat man, Noah. And I’ll prove to her time and time again that there is nothing I won’t do to ensure her happiness.”

“Again… I don’t hear a question in there, D,” I provoke with a flare to my nostrils, already sensing where he’s going with this.

“By the end of this summer, I will marry the love of my life, and nothing, and I meannothing, will fuck that up for me. Is that understood?” He cocks a menacing brow.

“Is this your way of telling me that you’re worried that somehow I’ll ruin your wedding day for you?” I ask with a chuckle. “I’d be more concerned about the flight risk that is your fianceé. Or do you honestly believe that Daisy won’t get cold feet and try to run away before the big day?”

“Oh, I’m counting on it,” he states with a confident grin. “But I also know my girl. No amount of cold feet will stop her from walking down the aisle and becoming my wife. Besides, I’m more than man enough to warm her up when she starts to get chilly. Don’t you worry about that.” He winks.

“Dude, that’s my sister you’re talking about,” I groan at his not-so-subtle innuendo. “I don’t need to hear that shit.”

“Yeah, well, payback is a bitch.” He grins, pleased with my disgusted scowl. But his cheerful mood quickly reverts back to the serious one he’s so intent to keep plastered to his face. “I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I’ve been clueless to the fact that the past few years have been hard on you. I know they have. But my empathy for your struggle will only go so far if you do anything to jeopardize my wedding. Daisy deserves to have the best fucking wedding Thatcher’s Bay has ever seen, and I’m not going to let anyone fuck it up for her. Not you. Not anyone.”

I bite the inside of my cheek and stare daggers at him.

“I wouldn’t do that to Daisy,” I mutter, my back molars grinding so hard I’m surprised they don’t break. “I love her too, asshole. I wouldn’t hurt her like that.”

Derrick glares at me for the longest time, but then relaxes when he sees I’m telling him the truth.

“Good. I’m glad to hear it,” he says, getting up from his seat. “Then I guess I only have one more thing to ask of you.”

“And what’s that?” I bark angrily.

But to my surprise, Derrick places his hands on my shoulders and smiles.

“That you be my best man.”

“What?” I blurt out at the astonishing request.

“You sound surprised.” He chuckles, giving my shoulders a comforting squeeze.

Maybe because a few seconds ago he looked like he’d have my balls if I did anything to tarnish his big day, but I keep that remark to myself.

“I wasn’t bullshitting when I said I considered you like a brother to me. Not only that, but you’ve been one to Daisy, too. You’re family, Noah. Not sure why me asking you to be my best man is such a surprise to you.”

“I don’t know, D. Wouldn’t you prefer to ask one of those Harvard assholes you call friends? I know your parents would.”

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