Page 23 of Jilted
Chapter Twenty
B rett sat on the back porch of his parents’ house with his brother. Amy was inside with his mom, and his father was in the yard fighting to get the grill lit. Brett and Amy had arrived home late last night and crashed at her house.
Well, that wasn’t completely accurate. It was more like they barely got inside before they started tearing at each other’s clothes.
Then they made love until they collapsed from physical exhaustion.
All morning and most of the afternoon were spent sleeping, and then they made love some more before showering – together – and getting ready for dinner with his parents.
“So, how many days were you on that island before you started tapping that?” Craig asked, tilting his beer bottle toward the kitchen window where Amy could be seen.
Brett sighed. “Don’t start this again, Craig. I told you. Amy and I are just friends.” His heart raced.
The last thing he needed or wanted was for his brother to start prying.
Brett and Amy had agreed to keep their relationship a secret from his parents for the time being because he knew once they told his mother, she would have their wedding planned and their babies named before dinner was on the table.
And neither of them wanted to deal with that just yet.
They simply wanted to enjoy each other for a while longer.
In his mind, he was still on that island, and it was all about him and her.
He wasn’t ready to face reality, to have the real world barge in on them and steal them away from each other.
“I thought for sure you two would’ve hooked up.” Craig brought his beer to his lips and took a drink. “Not even one drunken night?”
“Nope.” Brett shook his head.
“Huh. Well, if you’re not going to make a move on Amy, then I will. She’s a catch, little bro.”
Brett glared at his brother. “You want Amy?” Over his dead fucking body would Craig ever get his hands on Amy.
“What man wouldn’t?”
Stay calm. Brett took a deep breath. He eyed his brother with disdain.
Was Craig being serious, or was he just trying to trick Brett into admitting there was something going on with Amy?
Either scenario was a real possibility. Then again, Amy and Craig had gotten close while Brett was away for the show.
It could be a real possibility that Craig liked her.
“Since when have you had a thing for Amy?” Brett asked.
Craig shrugged. “I’ve always thought she was hot, but while you were gone, I really got to know her. She’s cool. It wasn’t until I saw her at your wedding that I thought, ‘Wow, I could see myself with her.’ And then when you said there was nothing between the two of you...” He trailed off.
Brett inhaled deeply through his nose and exhaled slowly through his mouth. “Are you fucking with me right now?”
“No.” Craig laughed.
“You’re not her type.” Brett finished his beer and slammed it down on the table with more force than necessary.
“Maybe we should let her decide that.”
Brett clenched his hands into fists and then flexed them.
He would not let his brother goad him into saying anything.
He knew Amy loved him, and that she was his.
So, even if his brother did try to make a move on her, she would reject him.
But...the thought of his brother looking at Amy in that way, thinking of her like that. ..it made his blood boil.
“In fact, I think I’ll ask her out right now.” Craig stood.
Brett grabbed his arm and stood, getting in his face. “Amy is off limits to you.”
“And why’s that?” Craig smiled.
Brett narrowed his eyes at him and scowled.
“I knew it.” Craig poked Brett in the chest. “You two are hooking up, aren’t you?”
Brett hushed him. “Keep your voice down. We don’t want Mom to know just yet.”
Craig whistled. “So, tell me, how long did it take you?”
With a smile of pure male satisfaction, Brett said, “Two days.”
“Well, it’s about damn time.” Craig laughed.
Brett shook his head. “I mean it, Craig. She’s off limits, and I swear to God if you tell Mom, I will kill you.”
“Whoa, easy. I’m not gonna tell Mom anything.” Craig patted Brett on the back. “Seriously though, I’m glad you pulled your head out of your ass. You and Amy are good together.”
Brett couldn’t contain his smile. “I know.”
Now that he was agitated, there was only one thing that could calm him down. Too bad for him, he couldn’t walk up to Amy, pull her into his arms, and devour her lips like he wanted to. This dinner couldn’t be over soon enough.
“So, when are you two getting married?” Craig asked.
“We haven’t even talked about it,” Brett said, keeping his gaze on the kitchen window and Amy. “We’re just enjoying being together right now.”
“Don’t fuck this up, Brett.” Craig patted Brett on the shoulder.
No, Brett had no intentions of fucking things up with Amy. He’d never be able to live with himself if he did.
Amy stood idly by and watched as Brett’s mom prepared dinner. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Ginny chopped some more onions and tossed them into the homemade spaghetti sauce that was cooking on the stove. “You can help by telling me how Brett’s doing. That boy has never liked to talk to me about these types of things.”
Amy knew this was coming. She took a calming breath. “I assure you he’s doing fine. He’s realized that marrying Vanessa would’ve been a mistake.”
“Well, thank heavens for that.” Ginny wiped her hands on her apron and set the knife in the sink. “And how are you doing?”
Okay, that question threw Amy for a loop. She’d expected Ginny to ask about Brett and how he was doing. She did not expect her to ask about Amy. “Uh, I’m okay. Tired. That jet lag is a real killer.” She laughed nervously.
“I remember the flight to Japan that Dean and I took. It took me weeks to recuperate from that. Lots of rest.” Ginny smiled.
Amy nodded. That was easier said than done. Now that Brett would be living with her, rest wasn’t high on her priority list. The sound of the doorbell prevented her from responding.
“Would you mind getting that?” Ginny asked Amy. “I have to get these noodles on the stove.”
“Sure.” Amy walked to the door and opened it. She came face to face with Vanessa. Amy’s stomach felt like it had dropped to the floor. “Uh, hi.”
“Oh, Amy, I didn’t realize...I was...is Brett here?”
Amy wanted to scream at Vanessa to go away, to shout at her that she had her chance and blew it, and that Brett had moved on. But she didn’t.
Instead, she nodded. “I’ll go get him for you.”
The walk from the front door to the back porch was the longest walk of her life.
She was afraid that if she let Brett talk to Vanessa, he would change his mind about everything, that he would realize he still loved Vanessa and didn’t want to be with Amy.
That thought had tears burning her eyes and throat.
She should’ve known that this was inevitable, that Brett would have to talk to Vanessa sooner or later.
She’d just hoped it would be later...much, much later.
“Brett, there’s someone here to see you,” Amy whispered, having trouble getting the words past her lips.
Brett stood and walked up to Amy. She was shocked when he put his hand on her waist and put his mouth to her ear, which he kissed softly. Amy closed her eyes and fought to hold back her tears. “It’s okay. Craig knows. He promised to keep it a secret. I’ll explain later.”
Amy nodded, not wanting to tell him who was outside waiting for him, not wanting him to let her go. But she had to. “Vanessa’s here to see you.”
He jerked away and looked at her, his eyes wide with shock.
Amy simply nodded, and then said, “She’s outside.” She put her head down, unable to look him in the eyes.
Brett put his finger under her chin and tilted her head up. He placed a quick, chaste kiss to her lips, then whispered, “I love you, Amy. You’re the only woman I want. And that’s exactly what I’m going to tell her. Okay?”
Amy nodded and then watched as Brett walked away from her and toward Vanessa. Amy blew out a shaky breath.
“You don’t have anything to worry about,” Craig said from behind her.
She’d forgotten he was there. Turning to face him, she smiled weakly, and said, “I know.” But she didn’t know. She was terrified that seeing Vanessa and talking to her would change his mind.
“Seriously, Amy, you really don’t,” he said.
Amy took a seat next to him and tried to distract herself from thinking about Brett and Vanessa.
It worked for a little while, but the minutes ticked by, and ten minutes turned into half an hour.
She was ready to jump out of her skin. When she simply couldn’t take it any longer, she got up and went outside to check on them.
When she opened the door, she saw Brett holding Vanessa’s face in his hands, and he was pulling away, as if he’d just finished kissing her.
Amy’s heart shattered into a million pieces.
Brett was kissing Vanessa? Amy cupped her hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp.
She would not let him know how much he’d just hurt her.
“I don’t mean to interrupt,” Amy said as she walked down the steps and up to where Brett and Vanessa stood, “but I just wanted to let you know that I’m leaving. Have a nice evening.”
“What? Wait.” Brett released Vanessa and grabbed Amy’s wrist. “Where are you going?”
“To see Lucy.”
“Your sister’s boyfriend drama can wait,” he said.
Amy yanked her arm out of his grasp. She looked over his shoulder at Vanessa, and then back at him. “I’d much rather deal with Lucy’s boyfriend drama than my own. I’m sure it’ll hurt a lot less.”
Brett recoiled as if she’d slapped him. “What the hell does that mean?”
“I saw you just now, Brett. You were kissing her.”
“What? No, I wasn’t. Amy, please, just calm down and let me explain.”
Amy shook her head. “Did you tell her?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Huh? Did you?” When he still didn’t answer, she said, “Did you tell Vanessa that you were in love with me? That you’ve moved on and want to be with me?
” Amy didn’t care that she was shouting, or that Brett’s parents probably heard everything she’d just said.
“Not yet,” he said softly.
Not yet? He’d been out here with her for half an hour. What the hell had they been doing? Oh, that’s right. He was too busy kissing her. Amy lost the battle to keep her tears locked away.
“Don’t bother.” Amy spun on her heel and walked away. She hoped, expected, Brett to follow her. He didn’t.
By the time Amy got to the end of the street, she was sobbing so hard she couldn’t walk any farther. How could Brett have done this to her?