Reading Online Novel

My Brother's Best Friend(13)



“Chris,” Devin sighed. “He’s right. Your parents would have been so proud of you.”

“I didn’t go to Yale, like I was supposed to. I haven’t even graduated college yet! My sister hates me, and I still feel like half a person. How could anyone be proud of that?”

Devin reached out and grabbed my hand. “Christy, you’ve managed to keep this family together by sacrificing something you really wanted. You don’t think your parents would be proud of that? Do you remember when you were in ninth grade and you had that performance of Robin Hood?”

“Yeah, you gave me flowers at the dress rehearsal instead of the actual performance.”

Devin chuckled. “Yeah, and then you gave your flowers to Emily later at her elementary orchestra play. She was the only one who didn’t get flowers, so you gave her yours, saying they were from all of us. Do you remember that?”

I nodded.

“Do you remember what your mom whispered to you?”

I nodded again, tears coming to my eyes. “She said she was proud of me.”

“And she would be proud of you now. So don’t think just because you didn’t go to Yale and you’re not graduating yet they wouldn’t be proud. Because of what you gave up, you were able to keep your family together. Chris, they would be proud and happy to see the sacrifices you’ve made, even more to see how selfless you are. They would be so proud. I mean, I’m proud of you, Mitch is proud of you, so you can bet your parents would be proud too. And even if it doesn’t look like it, deep down, Emily is grateful for everything you’ve done.”

I looked up at Devin and hugged him tightly. “Thanks, Dev.” It was all I could say. But he knew I was grateful to him. I pulled away then wiped the tears from my eyes and stood up. “We still have leftover pizza in the fridge, if that’s okay for dinner?”

“Sure, CJ. You want to finish watching Season 5 later?” he asked.

“Sounds good. Get unpacked and then we can head downstairs,” I said, walking to the door. “One more thing, would you really give me an honest answer to any question I ask you?”

Devin laughed and stood up. “Yeah, Chris, any question.”





Chapter Four





I woke up in my room the next morning, which was weird, because I completely remembered falling asleep on the couch last night after we started watching Lost. We had eaten dinner and were almost done with Season 5. I was determined to finish it, but my eyes started getting heavy and I know I fell asleep. Yet somehow I woke up in my room nicely snuggled in my covers.

When I asked Devin about it, he just shrugged his shoulders and pushed a plate of pancakes at me. “Eat up, Sherlock.” he said. “You’re coming to work with me today.”

“But today is Sunday!” I complained, stacking two pancakes on my plate. “Sunday was made so people could laze around all day and do nothing but watch TV and eat.”

“So you’d rather sit around the house by yourself being a lazy pig than come to the studio with me and see what I do?”

I stiffened my back and looked up at him and smiled sweetly. “I would rather be a lonely lazy pig than go with you to your stinky cramped studio office.”

Devin smiled that smile, the same smile that made all the women around him swoon, then picked up his silverware. “Too bad, you’re coming, whether you want to or not.”

I wanted to throw the plate of pancakes at his face and it must have shown because Devin pulled the plate of pancakes toward him, out of my reach.

I glared at him then huffed, “Fine.”

Embarrassed heat raced through me, because I knew he wanted me to come with him, not because he enjoyed my company, but because he was afraid to leave me alone after what happened last night. I wished I could tell him to go to hell, but I was actually still a little freaked out myself and didn’t want to be alone.

He didn’t say anything after that and neither did I until we had both finished.

“I’ll clean up while you get ready,” he said, looking me over. I didn’t think I looked that bad. I was wearing the same pajama pants I had on from last night and my hair in a ponytail. I mean, sure I wouldn’t normally go out in this ensemble, but he didn’t have to assume it. In hindsight, I really wished I had gone upstairs to change and maybe put on some makeup, but no, I remained where I stood.

“I’m ready to go. I just have to grab my bag.”

Devin looked like he was trying hard to keep from smiling. He cleared his throat. “You are really ready to go?”

I looked down at the bright yellow ducks on my aquamarine flannel pants and matching solid blue tank top and nodded. “Yep.”