Page 58 of My Best Friend's Grump Brother

“I always get up at this hour—two kids, remember?” Claire sipped on her coffee mug and stared at me over the rim. “So how was it?”

I tilted my head to the side. “Are you really asking about sex with your brother?”

Claire’s face contorted into repulsion. “Oh right, ew. I don’t need to be hearing about my brother’s...yeah, so early in the morning or...ever.”

“Buuuuttt…if you must know he can do things with his tongue that you can never ima—…”

“Ew! Ew! Ew!” She walked off, but before she turned the corner, she looked over her shoulder. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to have hot morning sex with my husband.”

And then she was gone.

Amelia and I both laughed at our friend. I felt so light and free this morning. I knew that there was a harsh reality that awaited me in Chicago, but for now, I would take the small wins.

Amelia’s face was filled with understanding, “I have never seen you like this before.”

“It’s the sex.” I joked. I knew it was much more than that.

“No,” she shook her head, running her hand over her belly. “It’s more than that.”

It definitely was. Daniel Sinclair had given me all the feels and then some.

Was I scared out of my mind?

Yes.

But was I still going to take the plunge?

Absolutely.

He was worth it. We were worth it.

***

It was the day of the birthday party, and I knew it would be awkward going downstairs with everyone after what happened last night. While I did nothing wrong, I realized that Daniel and Xander had some making up to do.

I walked into the kitchen, where everyone greeted me. I kissed the kids on the head. “Where’s Uncle Danny?” Sammy asked Claire.

Claire handed me a cup of coffee and gave me a knowing look. “Uh, I’m sure he’ll be down here soon, honey.”

Xander was sitting at the table in the nook, staring out the window, lost in thought. Everyone else was chattering about the kids or the party later that day. I went to sit down next to Xander, and he smiled at me and said nothing for a moment.

“Hey girl,” he finally said.

“Hey, yourself.”

“You know I’m only looking out for you, right? You deserve someone who treats you with respect, and that asshole was doing just the opposite last night.”

I sighed and thought about how to approach this. I knew Xander cared for me. We had tried to have a relationship in the past, but it was really just sexual. We were just friends when it came down to it.

“Xander, he is a very complicated man, and I know he regrets everything that came out of his mouth that was directed at you and me last night. He was angry and pretty jealous, not to mention confused.”

“You could say that again.” He took a sip of his coffee and went back to looking at the lake.

“I know it’s hard to understand, but I know that he wants to be with me, and I know that the way he acted last night is not how he usually behaves. If it was, I would have given up a long time ago.”

Just then, Daniel walked into the kitchen. The room went silent.

“Uhh, good morning, everyone,” he said meekly while scratching the back of his head.

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