He folded his hands and put this annoyingly fake smile on. “Where do I even begin? Let’s start with our first kiss. Do you remember it?”
I shook my head and acted like it was petty to be bringing up, especially in such a nice place. “Are we seriously talking about the day before my parents died?”
“Yeah, Katy. We are.” He shook his head. “My dear brother waited for me to walk away before trying to get more action.”
“We were twelve, Branch. Are you seriously telling me that you’re holding a grudge over something that happened that long ago?”
“You’re damn right I am. If you knew half of what he’s done, you wouldn’t be sitting there defending him.”
That’s when it hit me. Branch still thought I didn’t know about Brooks coming into my room. He thought that if I found out I’d hate Brooks. Instead, it made me feel closer to him. I couldn’t explain it, but it was impossible for me to hate that I’d been with him. “Listen, no matter how bad you think he is, he’s still family. Nobody is perfect.”
He finished off his glass of wine and slammed it down so hard I thought the glass was going to break. “Do you know what you want?”
I shrugged. I wasn’t even hungry anymore. “Just order for me. I’m sure you know what’s best,” I said, sarcastically.
Branch ordered and tried to change the subject, although I had tuned him out even before our next round of wine was poured. In his defense, I could see why he felt betrayed. Branch wasn’t exactly innocent himself. He’d threatened Brooks about me when we were kids and Brooks, being the considerate brother, stepped aside.
After dinner, we drove home in silence. I didn’t have a nice thing that I could say to him, and I think he knew it. We went to bed angry, which was something I promised I would never do.
That next morning I explained everything to Melissa. Well, most of it. Since I’d left out all of the negative things about Brooks, she was on my side. Had she known about Brooks doing the switch-a-roo thing she’d probably have a different opinion.
“I don’t get it, Katy. You’re marrying him. What’s the big deal? I never saw Branch as being a jealous kind of guy. You two are so happy together.”
“He isn’t jealous in general. It’s only when it has to do with Brooks.”
She shook her head and laughed. “Girl, I wish I had the man problems that you have.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s true. Anyway, maybe after you’re wed Branch will finally settle down.”
“Just help me get through things until then. I’m going to need the support.”
She laughed and put her arm around me. “I’ve got your back, chick. Nobody’s going to ruin your day, I promise.”
I wish that I could believe her, but a feeling in the pit of my stomach wouldn’t go away. With less than a month to go, I worried more than ever if I was doing the right thing, and if I wasn’t, would I be able to walk away from both of them, to keep our family together?
Chapter 8
December 21st 2010
I woke up next to Branch wide-eyed and smiling at me. “Good morning, beautiful.”
After yawning and giving my arms a stretch I fell into his chest. “Good morning to you.”
He rubbed my back as he spoke. “You ready to get up and head to the hotel, where we’ll be married tomorrow?”
I leaned up and kissed him. “Yes.”
We’d been getting along better after our date night from Hell weeks ago. As long as we didn’t talk about his brother, everything was fine with the world. Our sex life sucked, but considering the stress we were under, I felt it to be normal.
While getting ready, I silently thought about seeing him again after so long. I’d missed him so much, but didn’t want to offend Branch the night before our wedding. We just needed to get through the rehearsal dinner and wake up and get married. It was going to be easy enough.
Branch and I had much to discuss on our way to the city, like what time people were arriving and where I needed him to be. I’d also booked everyone’s room in advance, putting me and Melissa on a separate floor than him and his brother. After all, it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride, so we were spending the night apart.
My jitters weren’t really apparent anymore, as I just wanted to be married so we could finally stop living on edge. Once Branch knew that I’d committed my life to him, he’d be able to settle down and let Brooks back into our life.
I wasn’t asking to spend every moment with him, but seeing him every few months would have been nice.
We’d arrived at the hotel before anyone else, and I couldn’t help but watch the sliding glass doors for Brooks to enter. It had been so long, and even though I knew Branch was going to be mad, I wanted to at least say hello.