Falling for My Brother's Best Friend

CHAPTER FOUR

Alec.

Christmas is supposed to be a magical time, gathered around the tree with family, sharing gifts, and enjoying each other’s company. For many, it’s the only time of year they receive everything they ask for. But for me, it has never been like that. The movies and TV shows portray a reality that just doesn’t exist for me.

Everyone seems so happy sitting around the table, wearing Christmas hats as they eat and laugh about the good old times. I’ve never experienced that with my family. Instead, my holidays have been filled with drunken arguments between my mother and father, my brother throwing fits when he doesn’t get what he wants, and me feeling miserable. That’s why I haven’t spent a Christmas with them since I was a child.

The only time I’ve ever felt truly welcome during the holidays is with the Taylor family. They treat me as one of their own, and that is something I cherish more than they know—even if I come off as a Scrooge this time of year. However, whatever relationship we had may have just been ruined by the way Jackson is looking at me.

Should I have said what I did to his sister? I probably should have kept my mouth shut, but she started it. I was going to be civil and polite for a change.

People call me an asshole, but it's something I already know. However, if she hadn’t said what she did, I wouldn’t have reacted the way I did. Still, it doesn’t make what I said right.

Her face when I said it—the tears in her eyes when she looked at me—has never happened before. She has never cried over things I've said, she has always taken it on the chin. This time, though, it really hurt her. “Obviously it did, asshole. Her husband, whom she loves, cheated on her, for f**k's sake, and you made it so much worse.”

The table is quiet, the only sound coming from the two kids' forks hitting their plates as they scoop up some mashed potatoes, unaware of the tension in the room.

As I turn my gaze to the door, ready to get up and find her, Jackson beats me to it. Pushing his chair away from the table, he goes after his little sister, his eyes glaring at me. I know he wants to punch me, and I would let him if he tried. I deserve it, and I know that.

Placing my fork down, I hear Stacey sigh. “She needs all the support she can get, Al.”

She thinks I don’t know that. Of course, I do. A divorce isn't easy. I haven’t experienced one myself, but I've seen a friend go through it, and let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

My muscles tense as I begin to rub the back of my neck. “I know, I know. I’m sorry; it just slipped out before I could stop myself.” It’s a lie, and I can tell she sees right through my excuse by the way she looks at me.

She shakes her head in disappointment. “I knew you could be difficult with her sometimes, but I didn’t think you would stoop so low as to make her feel worse than she already did. It should be Riley hearing your apology, not me.”

Keeping eye contact with her, I reassure her, “When Jack is done, I will go see her.”

“Not if you’re just going to upset her again, Alec. She doesn’t need this. She has a lot to deal with, and she doesn’t need,” she points her long, manicured finger at me, “you making it worse.”

“Look,” I say, raising my hands in surrender, “I’m not going to say anything I shouldn’t. I’ll just apologize and see if there’s anything I can do to help. I have a friend who can be her lawyer if she wants.”

She taps her lip, seemingly considering my words before responding, “Okay, say you’re sorry. But if she doesn’t want your help, then leave. And if I hear one word from her, I’m kicking you out of my damn house, and you can spend Christmas in the gutter.”

Gutter? I have my own home. I’m only here because I don’t want to be alone this year. I could have maybe found a woman to spend it with or drunk myself to sleep until New Year’s, but I’m sick of that. Besides, I have work to do, and being here will help me avoid going into a drunken coma.

“I promise you I won’t overstep and I won’t upset her. You have my word.”

She nods and leans back in her chair, her arms folded across her chest. In a tone a mother would take with her child, she says, “Go then.”

I want to roll my eyes, but I know it wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I stand to my full height and give a salute before stepping into the hall. As I slowly take the stairs one at a time, I hear voices coming from one of the rooms. Pausing to listen, I feel my heart sink even further as I overhear their conversation.

“What did I do to deserve this? I did everything for him, Jack—everything! And I still wasn’t enough. I should have listened to Mom when she tried to warn me, but I thought she was just being too protective.”

There's a sniffle, and I feel like kicking myself. Why would any man cheat on a woman like her? He’s a fool. Anyone would be lucky to have her in their life; sleeping next to her every night and waking up to her smiling face would be a blessing to a real man. But he was never a real man—nothing but a piece of garbage.

“Rye, one day you will find someone who will treat you the way you treat them. Don’t let one bad experience taint your view of the future. You will be happy again, I promise. You will find the man of your dreams. But for now, focus on yourself and remember, your family is here for you, no matter what.”

I shouldn’t be listening to this. I should leave and let them speak in private; it’s none of my business. Turning around, I head back down the stairs, but just as I reach the front door, ready to walk out, I’m stopped.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Jackson. “I’m going to leave. I messed up, and I’m sorry. I’ll see you on New Year’s.”

“I don’t think so. You aren’t getting out of this that easily. If you want to fix this, get upstairs; then you’re going to help me.”

Help him with what? He never asks me for help. But not wanting to argue, I slowly shut the door and make my way back up the stairs.

“Second room to the right,” he instructs.

I roll my eyes. I know where it is; I’m not stupid. I use the one guest room while the other is always unoccupied.

“Don’t say anything you shouldn’t say,” I whisper to myself as I raise my fist and knock twice.

Her voice is low, a tinge of emotion still lingering as she says, “I said I would be—”

She freezes, her voice cutting off as she opens the door and sees me standing on the other side. I know she wasn’t expecting me, and I can tell she wants to be alone. But I’m going to suggest a few things for her first.

“Can I come in, little mouse?” Why do I always call her that, even after all this time?

Her big eyes stare back at me, and I’m not sure if she’s trying to figure out whether I’m going to be a jerk or not. Deciding on the latter, she opens the door wider for me to walk inside.

The room is similar to mine, just a little more feminine, with a few flowers and candles scattered around. I notice none of her clothes are unpacked since her suitcase is still by the door. She must not have had time to do it yet.

“I like your hair better like this.”

She looks at me, her eyes wide with surprise. “You what?”

I’ve never felt embarrassed in my life—except for now. Of all the things I could say to break the tension, I choose that.

I grab a piece of her hair and let the soft strand slide through my fingers. “Your curls.”

Her cheeks, which are always red, turn even darker. Inside, I’m smiling, enjoying her reaction, while on the outside, I keep a straight face.

“I have a lot of heat damage, so I want to give it a break for a while.”

She wouldn’t have to do that if she made her own choices. Nodding my head, I let it fall and walk toward the bed, patting the spot next to me.

“Look, Rye, I’m sorry for what I said. I’m an asshole, and you know how I can be sometimes. But I will never bring up anything that will hurt you again. You have my word.”

She sighs, her back slumping as she places her head in her hand. “It’s fine, Alec. Besides, it shouldn’t have come as a shock to me—not after what I walked in on yesterday.”

Without thinking, I place my hand on her back, moving it in slow circles to soothe her. “I want to help you. I have a friend; he’s a lawyer. I can get him over here for you.”

She shakes her head, her voice sounding defeated. “I can’t afford a lawyer. I have a little money saved, but it’s for Christmas. I was going to ask Louis, but he’s retired now.”

“I’ve got it. Don’t worry. It’s the least I can do. Please let me help lift some of the weight off your shoulders.”

She turns her head to look at my face, her brows furrowing. “Why would you help me?”

Is she joking? She’s just as much my family as her brother. “Give me an hour to call him, and then you can figure everything out. He may even be able to get this done sooner for you—as long as that prick signs the papers, that is.”

She starts to panic; I can tell by her eyes and the way her hands shake. “But what if he doesn’t? Will it take months or years? I don’t want to be married to him any longer.”

Grabbing her face, I say, “Shhh, if he doesn’t want to, we make him. It’s simple. Don’t worry, everything will go according to plan. Trust me.”

If he doesn’t want to sign, I’ll get on the damn plane myself and make the motherfucker do it. This is his fault for not keeping his d**k in his pants; the least he can do is give her the freedom to be with someone who will actually love her. love her.