My Best Friend's Brother(15)

I held her gaze for what seemed like hours. She openly admitted  something I didn't have to pull from her. A weakness she had. A  vulnerability she only showed when she was alone, in the dark, in her  room.


"And I'm guessing you did what you did last night simply to get back at me," she said.


"You'd be right, yes."


"So, now that we both have hopped off the petty train, let's try  answering some questions that aren't bullshit questions. How does that  sound?" she asked.


"What non-bullshit question would you like answered?"


"What's the real reason why you won't try to fix things with your mom?"


I sat there for a long time as our drinks were finally set in front of  us. My gaze drifted over her body. Along the smooth frame she held as  she sat back into the wooden booth. The way her eyes were kind but held a  dagger-laced stare that would threaten to bludgeon me open if I  answered her with a lie. She was testing me, giving me one last chance  to prove I wasn't like all those other men.


And even though I had no idea why, I didn't want to be like all those  other men in her life. I might bounce from woman to woman, but I sure as  hell treated her with respect when she was with me.         

     



 


Mostly.


"Because if I attempt to rekindle things with my mother, then to me it  seems like I'm somehow putting a stamp of approval on what she did. Like  me fixing things with her is me telling her that I approved of her  leaving. And I didn't. I still don't, and I never will. I'll never  forgive her or be okay with her abandoning my father and me."


"You mentioned she had a family after she left," she said. "And that her daughter tries to convince you to fix things with her."


"Yep," I said.


"I think you should. If not to have a relationship with your mom, then  to have a relationship with her. I don't have any siblings. My parents  were it, and they blew it. I haven't talked to them, and even if I  wanted to, I have no idea where they are now. I don't even know if  they're alive. I'd kill to have a sibling, someone in this world I could  call family."


"Don't you have any cousins or something?" I asked.


"I come from a long fucking line of ‘only-children' families. No aunts,  no uncles, no cousins, and no grandparents. It's just me. All the time.  And it's fucking lonely. And if I knew I had a sibling running around  out there somewhere, I'd tolerate anything they threw at me to have them  in my life."


I could see tears threatening to brew behind her eyes. She was teetering  on the edge of strength and vulnerability. I could see her arms  shaking, no doubt from the force she was applying to her hands. She was  probably gripping them or balling them up. Possibly wringing them in her  lap.


Either way, she was trying to appear strong while simultaneously trying  not to slap me for spoiling something she wanted so desperately.


Family.


"If it makes you feel any better, I do try sometimes," I said.


"Try what?" she asked.


"To have a relationship with my sister. Well, half-sister. We tried to  get together for dinner a few nights ago, but things didn't work out."


"What happened?" I asked.


"You want the truth? I psyched myself last minute and didn't show up."


"You stood her up?"


"Not my best form, I can assure you. But I just don't know. She pushes  it so much, and I-I don't know how I feel about it yet. Having a  relationship with her. Opening that door that could lead to my mother."


"What's your sister's name?" she asked.


I could see this moment of dread floating around in her eyes. Her mind  was spinning with something, but I didn't know what. I had a feeling my  answering this question would have consequences.


"Emma. Why?" I asked.


I watched her freeze as our food was sat down in front of us. I took a  massive gulp of my water, hoping I was reading too much into things. My  eyes danced along her panicked face, trying to figure out what the hell  I'd done wrong now.


"What did you say her name was? Sorry, I got distracted by the food. Takes a lot of calories to keep these curves," she said.


"I bet it does," I said, grinning. "I enjoy a woman who isn't afraid to eat. Emma. My sister's name is Emma."


"I'm sorry. I've got to go," she said.


And there it was. The moment I knew was coming. I had no idea what I'd  said, but I wasn't letting her leave without explaining herself. I  needed to know what the hell I was fucking up now. I needed to know why  the hell I couldn't get my footing with this woman.


"What? Our food just got here. Wait. Wait a second. Sarah."


"I'm sorry," she said breathlessly.


I took my wallet out of my pocket and tossed some money down onto the  table. I tried to run after her, catch her out in the parking lot, but  damn, that woman was fast. Even with her thick thighs and those fucking  heels, she was already out of my vision as I stepped out in front of the  restaurant. People were already taking out their phones and asking for  pictures, wanting autographs and comments and shit like that.


But all I was doing was scanning the parking lot, trying to figure out where the hell Sarah had gone.


I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket as I pulled it out. It was a  message from Sarah, and I opened it up immediately. I went inside and  sat back down in the booth, my eyes scanning over the message as I shook  my head and sighed.


Things aren't going to work out. Do not contact me anymore.


What the ever blessed fuck was going on?





Chapter 13


Sarah


I took an Uber back to work and tried to clear my head. I couldn't  believe it. Mason Baker was my best friend's brother. From the moment he  told me he'd stood up his sister for that dinner, I felt a bubble of  trepidation bounce around my stomach. I'd listen to Emma talk for years  about how she wanted to rekindle her relationship with him. How she  wanted to get to know him. Love him. Embrace him despite their parent's  estranged relationship. I'd held Emma while she cried over this man.  Over the phone calls he wouldn't take and the dinners he'd cancel last  minute.         

     



 


But never had he stood her up until that dinner, and I could see the anger and heartbreak it planted in my best friend.


I'd never felt so confident about walking away from a man in my entire  life. Had I started to like him a bit? Sure. He understood this fame  bullshit and need to stay away from the cameras. He was a hell of a  beast in the sack and knew how to wield his cock, but it wasn't worth it  at this point. Not only was he my best friend's brother, he was the  brother who was hurting the heart and soul of my best friend. He was  bringing her pain. He was the reason she came crying to me some nights,  and I wasn't about to condone any of that shit.


A man like that was bound to cheat on me anyway. Between his playboy  attitude and his blatant disregard for his family's feelings, whether he  wanted a family or not, a man like that would only bring trouble for  me. There's no way we could be together, and at this point, I wanted  nothing to do with him anyway.


And the scandals! Yikes. I'd probably become another one of them. I  didn't even want to go into those. The pregnant women coming out of  nowhere and the sexual harassment lawsuits. What the fuck had I been  thinking?


My own heartbreak had I continued with him would've been my own damn fault.


The Uber driver pulled up to my work, and I made sure to tip her well. I  walked back into the studio with my head high, though my stomach was  growling from the lack of food. I'd gorged on sweet tea but didn't place  a damn bit of that food in my mouth. The moment I came around the  corner and saw Emma, I froze.


That is until I saw her holding bags of food.


"I bring good tidings of great joy," she said, smiling.


"You're the best," I said as I embraced her.


"Wanna go eat in your dressing room?"


"Yes, please. I had a disastrous lunch hour, and I could use some pity food," I said.


"Uh-oh. What happened?"


"Oh, I went out to lunch with that guy," I said.


"Ah, the mysterious guy whose name you won't give up. What happened?" she asked.


"We broke it off."


"Why? Who is he? Did he hurt you? I'll beat his ass if-"


"Settle down, Hondo. Put those guns away. We just didn't click. I was  falling right into the trap you said I would, only this time I caught  it."


"Girl, good for you. Does this mean you'll tell me who he is?" she asked.


"It's not important. Plus, I don't want to ruin his image with anyone.  I'd like to think he'd give me the benefit of the doubt as well."


"Well, as nosy as I am, I can respect that," she said. "I'm sorry you guys didn't click."


"No, you're not."


"You're right. I'm not. You shouldn't be jumping into another dating scenario right now, and I'm glad you're not," she said.