Page 5 of Smitten With My Brother’s Best Friend (SEALs of Aster Falls #1)

(Taylor)

______

I knew he was going to be angry. I expected it even, but Terry really freaked out. I can’t believe he pushed me like that. His actions just solidified my decision. He’s not the right guy for me, and he never was.

“We broke up,” I say in response to Maverick’s question.

His hands are clenched around the steering wheel. He’s really mad. I wish I knew why. He never used to care much about me before.

“And he couldn’t take it like a man?”

“He was understandably upset. I brought him to my hometown. I introduced him to my family, and now I’m telling him I want to end it. It’s a lot to take in,” I say in Terry’s defense.

“Regardless, he’s obviously a coward. You sure do know how to pick them, Tay,” Maverick says with a sneer.

I glare at him. What’s his business anyway?

“I never asked for your help okay? I could have handled it myself.”

“It didn’t look like that to me.”

“Whatever. Just take me home.”

“I’m not hearing a please or a thank you,” he points out.

“Please take me home before I jab my heels into your arm,” I say angrily.

“You’re wearing sneakers,” he says incredulously.

“Doesn’t mean it won’t hurt,” I mutter.

“Right, I forgot how aggressive you are. You scratched me so hard once that I bled.”

I remember that. I was 14 at the time. He and Adam had snuck into my room when I had a boy over.

They began making kissy noises under the bed, pretending I had another boy in the room.

It had been mostly Adam, but the two of them did everything together back then.

Anyway, the boy left, and when I found the two of them, I had a massive freakout.

It got a little out of control. In my defense, this was after the whole letter incident.

I hated him at the time. The memory makes me laugh.

Maverick glances at me quickly before turning back to the road,

“For a girl that just broke up with her boyfriend, you seem happy,” he notes.

I shrug. “I thought I would be sad too, but the truth is, it was a long time coming. Terry and I weren’t going anywhere. “

“Then why did you bring him here?”

Good question.

“I don’t know. I thought maybe it could work out.

I honestly didn’t know if I was going to go through with the breakup.

But being around my mom and brother has made me feel a little less lonely.

I didn't know anyone when I moved to New York, so it was a bit hard. Then Terry came along, and he helped me. He was there to show me around, and I guess that’s one of the reasons it was so hard to let go of him.

But being around people who love me has helped me realize that I don’t need Terry anymore.

I felt braver, and I just decided to end it. ”

Maverick nods, his expression understanding.

“I think the reason it was so hard was that I didn’t want to start all over. I’ve invested three years of my life with Terry, and it’s scary to think of him not being there anymore. The change is going to be hard.”

“You’ll be fine,” Mav says assuredly.

“How can you be so sure?” I ask.

“Because you always seem to bounce back. I’ve known you for most of your life, and nothing ever seems to bring you down. You shrug everything off and come out stronger.”

Wow.

I never thought I would ever hear Maverick Kessler praise me like that. It’s nice.

“You’ve always been like that. Even after I publicly rejected you, you pretended it didn’t bother you. You’re great at that.”

I stiffen. He just had to mention that.

“This conversation was going well until you mentioned that.”

“I just want us to put it behind us.”

“It doesn’t work that way. You seem to have forgotten, so I’m just going to refresh your memory.

You were 17. I was 13. It was a barbecue party in your mom’s backyard.

Everyone we knew was there. One of my friends put this idea in my head that I should write a letter to you confessing my feelings.

Everyone knew I had this huge crush on you.

So I wrote the damn letter. I poured my heart out.

I handed it to you in front of everyone, which was a big mistake.

It took you exactly two minutes to read it, and when you finished, you looked at me and smirked.

Then you handed the letter to my brother.

I was still standing in front of you. I asked what you thought about it and what was your reply? ” I ask.

Maverick shifts uncomfortably, and it barely registers that we’ve reached my house. He parks in front of the house but doesn’t look at me, avoiding my eyes. He doesn’t speak for several seconds.

“I said, ‘that’s cute, Tay. But it’s never going to happen,” he answers finally.

“Exactly. Everyone heard you. They all had front-row seats to my public humiliation.”

“In my defense, Adam was the one that made copies of your letter and shared it with all our friends.”

“The both of you were dicks! I forgave Adam because he’s my brother, but I can’t forgive you.

I know you and everyone else thought it was just a childish crush, but I can still remember how genuine my feelings were.

And how humiliated I was. You said I bounce back easily, but you have no idea how hard it was for me and how much I cried behind closed doors. ”

“Taylor…” he starts.

“No,” I interrupt. “I don’t care, and I don’t need any apologies from you.

I’m over it. I’m over you and that silly crush, and I’ve had years to get over it.

I’m going to leave for New York soon, and you’ll be here in Aster Falls.

Working. Doing what you do best. That’s all you seem to care about anyway.

You’re my brother’s best friend, and that’s all you’ll ever be. ”

I probably imagine it, but I think I see a flash of hurt in his expression. I don’t give him a chance to defend himself or apologize. I step out of the car and slam the door.

“Wait,” Maverick says, his voice low and cold.

I turn to him.

“Relay this to your ex-boyfriend. If I ever see him around you again, he’s dead.”

And with those weird words, he drives off.

Today has been an emotional rollercoaster.

Not only did I break up with my boyfriend of three years.

I also bared my heart and soul to Maverick.

I had kept everything I said inside me for so long, it was bound to come out eventually.

Surprisingly, I feel better. Maybe now that I’ve said my mind, I can move on.

I can stop thinking about him and wondering, what if?

Maverick is complicated, and I would very much like my life to be easy.

“Hey, Tay. Was that Maverick’s car out there?” My brother asks, coming to meet me in the hallway.

“Yeah, he drove me home,” I say quietly.

Adam studies me. Taking note of my flushed cheeks and the unshed tears in my eyes. I hadn’t realized that my conversation with Maverick affected me that badly.

“What happened?” he asks.

He looks so concerned I end up spilling everything about Terry. He’s even more furious than Maverick by the time I’m done.

“Did Maverick break his nose?” Adam asks.

“I don’t know. It was bleeding, but I don’t think it was broken.”

He cracks his knuckles.

“Guess I’ll have to finish the job,” he says menacingly.

“How about no? Like I told Maverick. He has never acted like that before. He was just angry. It’s understandable, and Terry’s a good guy.”

“Fine, but if I see him, I don’t know what I’ll do. He had better be on his way back to New York by now.

Knowing Terry, I highly doubt that. He doesn’t give up that easily, but I hope he stays away. My brother and his best friend aren’t men to be trifled with. Who knows what they would do to him?

“How come you aren’t with your girlfriend? The two of you have been glued together for days.”

Adam smiles. As he always does when Lisa is mentioned. At this point, I’m just waiting for him to propose and for them to get married.

“She had to leave town for a few days. She’ll be back soon. Which means I’m all yours for a while. Movie marathon?” he asks.

“Nice to know, I’m your backup choice. You’re a terrible brother,” I say with a sniff.

It’s a lie. Annoying antics aside, Adam’s a really great brother.

We might not be close, but I know if push comes to shove, he’ll always be there for me.

Anytime he can, he always makes sure to give me a call.

He calls Lisa first, then mom, then me. In Adam’s life, his order of importance is probably, Lisa, then my mom, Maverick, and I are probably on the same level.

I used to hate that I wasn’t his favorite person when we were younger, but I’ve made peace with it now.

He followed his best friend to the damn Navy.

The two of them are like blood brothers.

I envy their closeness, but I’m also glad for it.

We’re on different paths and always will be.

“You wound me, Tay. You know I love you, right?” he says with a smile.

I step forward and hug him. He plants a kiss on my head.

“I know, and I love you too. Despite the fact that you’re a jerk.”

He chuckles.

“Come on, I’ll get you some ice cream. That’s what girls eat when they go through break-ups right?”

I grin. “Yeah, that sounds nice.”

He stays with me throughout the night, trying his best to comfort me. The problem is that I’m not hurting because of the breakup. I’m confused because of Maverick. I can’t help thinking that I might have hurt his feelings.

*****

Two days later, when my mom asks me to take something to Donna’s house for her, I don’t even complain.

I had been looking for an excuse to see Maverick.

I drive up to the house, and after taking a deep breath, I walk up to the door.

I knock, but no one answers. I do this three more times before getting a little frustrated.

Then I turn the knob, and to my surprise, it opens.

“Donna,” I call, walking in.

I spent a lot of time in the house as a child, so I’m sure she wouldn’t mind me coming in. I hear loud music coming from the living room, which explains why no one answered the door. I head there and what I see makes me stop in my tracks.

Shit!

Maverick is there, and he’s doing push-ups. That’s not the problem. The problem is he’s currently shirtless. I am once again subjected to the sight of his bare, muscled chest, and it’s even sexier because he’s working out. A man is not allowed to look that good.

I’m embarrassed to say that I stare for a full five minutes. He’s so focused on his workout that he doesn’t notice me, or at least that’s what I think. Then suddenly, the music stops, and Maverick stands, walking towards me. I stumble back.

“H-ii,” I stammer.

He drops the remote he must have used to switch off the music.

“Hey,” he replies, his voice husky and gravelly, like he just woke up. He’s standing way too close to me.

“My mom asked me to drop this,” I say, my voice coming out tiny and a little shrill.

Maverick smirks.

“Thanks.”

He takes the parcel from me and, thankfully moves away to drop it on the counter in the kitchen. I’m ready to bolt, but he stops me.

“Don’t run., Tay. It’s perfectly normal to stare at a man working out for so long,” he calls out from the kitchen.

I can practically feel the sarcasm—my cheeks heat.

“I wasn’t staring,” I protest.

“Really?” he asks, walking back into the living room.

Again, he walks closer until he’s too close for comfort. His steamy scent surrounds me.

“Yeah. You just seemed so focused, and I didn’t want to disturb you,” I mutter distractingly because my attention is on his arms and the sheen of sweat sliding down one of them.

I want to lick it.

That thought is all shades wrong and gross. I shake my head before taking a step away from him so that I can think better.

“What are you doing here, Tay?” he asks.

“I told you I came to drop the parcel off for your mom,” I answer.

He raises an eyebrow.

“The last time we talked, I was sure you’d rather die than talk to me again. You coming into my house willingly makes me think you have something to say to me. So come on, Taylor. Spit it out. Give it to me straight. Be honest, you’re good at that.”

He’s right. I am very blunt, and I have a tendency to say stupid things.

And I think I did just that the last time we talked.

I still remember the look of hurt on his face.

It was merely a flash, but I want to know what I did, and I want to fix it.

Unlike him, I hate hurting people’s feelings if I can avoid it.