“You all set to head out tomorrow?” Braden asks.
“Packed up and ready to go. I’ve wanted to leave all week, but I had to get Cici up to date first,” Jackson replies.
“I can’t believe you convinced her to come back. She can’t love you that much. What did you bribe her with?” I tease Jackson and laugh, imagining the conversation between the siblings.
“It probably has more to do with how much she and Mia hit it off, but there might be a purse involved. I would’ve offered more. I’m just glad she agreed to come.” Jackson confirms my suspicion of bribery.
“I can’t say the same since I’ve seen Lily less this week than I have all year,” Sebastian sullenly pipes in.
“I think that’s the only other reason Cici agreed to come. She’sexcited to be here for the wedding planning. How’s it going anyway?” Jackson asks Sebastian.
“I try to stay out of it as much as possible. The wedding planner I hired has saved my sanity. Worth their weight in gold,” Sebastian answers, holding his beer up before taking a sip.
“Do you have a time limit you’re setting for yourself or a plan for failure?” Braden asks Jackson out of the blue. He’s the skeptical one of the bunch and the only one of us with the balls to spring that question on him. I suppose he has more leeway since they’re as tight as they are.
“You don’t tell someone to plan for failure, dumbass,” Sebastian scolds.
Jackson shrugs and answers anyway, “I’ll keep searching until I find him. Failure isn’t an option.”
“Is your sister aware of that? I thought you told her it would be for a couple of months, tops?” Not that I would mind. It would just give me longer to win her over. It’s too bad we haven’t run into each other yet. I figured I’d see her in passing while she visited Lily, but no such luck yet. Oh well, I’ve got plenty of time.
“If everything goes my way, itwillonly be a couple months. She’ll be fine with Lily here even if it takes longer. I’m sure some shit will come up with my parents when they get back, though. Keep an eye on her for me and let me know how she handles it,” Jackson says before taking a swig of beer. I’m planning to have my eyes on Cici more than he knows, that’s for sure.
“I’ll check on her for you,” Braden offers.
Oh, hell no.“Definitely not. Stay focused on your next piece of ass and leave Cici alone. The last thing she needs is a ride on the Braden train,” I say pointedly to Braden, then direct my attention to Jackson. “I’ll see her more than Braden since she’s always with Lily, so I’ll watch out for her.” It makes sense, but hopefully that didn’t just clue everyone in to my ulterior motives.
“She might want me checking in with her since shewasinto mefor a while. Right after I broke up with Layla. If I weren’t so fucked over the breakup, I probably would’ve moved in on that.”Fucking Braden.The problem is, I know that. Cici teased me about going for one guy and ending up with another back when we first met. I like the guy since we’ve become friends over the last year, but he can keep his paws off my girl.
“Shut the fuck up, Braden. That ship sailed. Leave her alone,” I reply, making everyone laugh, and I realize that I may have just shown my hand.
However, Jackson doesn’t press the issue and even takes my side. “I second that. Love you, man, but keep your dick away from my sister. I know some of the places it’s been. Eli, I’ll take your offer if you stay alive long enough in between the crazy shit you do. Tell me if she gets into it with my parents.”
He’s referring to my hobby of doing anything that gets my adrenaline pumping. Hey, life’s too short to miss all the thrills it has to offer.
“I’ll second that one,” Sebastian adds while giving me a look of reprimand.
Ignoring both, I decide to stick to the subject of Cici and her parents, knowing it’ll be tricky for her. “Do they know she’s here yet?”
“No, I left a letter on the counter. They’ll see it when they get back. They’re still on the cruise, but they have a message to call me on their way home so I can at least warn them what they’re coming home to,” Jackson responds.
“Well, I hope you’re more successful than the FBI, not to mention all the PIs you went through, but come on, man, it’s a long shot. I don’t want you losing your mind if you can’t find him. That’s all I meant earlier. I realize you feel guilty, but it’s not worth throwing your life away.” I can’t believe Braden is still going down this road. He’s fucking oblivious at times.
“Braden, I’m gonna let that slide because you mean well, but sheismy life. I thought I made that clear. Even if it’s not until the end ofthe trial, I’ll get her back, and if her dad is the way to make that happen sooner, then I’ll find him,” Jackson says before downing the rest of his beer.
“Well then, I hope you succeed sooner than later ’cause I’m gonna miss my best friend. These douchebags aren’t as fun.” He lifts his glass, and everyone follows suit.
“Good luck, man,” I say sincerely.
“Bring him in,” Sebastian adds as we clink our glasses in a final toast.
“It’s getting late. I should probably go since I’ve got a meeting first thing in the morning,” Cici says, lifting Ebony off her lap and rising.
I’m at Seb and Lily’s for dinner and drinks a few weeks later, which has become a frequent occurrence since Cici’s been back in town and is constantly doing the same thing. Any chance to be around Cici, and I’ll take it. I’m obsessed with everything about her. She’s an incredible woman. Strong enough to forge her own path, and resilient enough to step back into the role she left behind only to help her brother, which makes her compassionate to top it off. She’s the complete package, and if I have any chance to make this woman mine, I’ll need to step up my game.
“I’m heading too. I’ll walk you out.”And into my bed.
Sebastian gives me a knowing smirk. He’s pretty much been betting against me from the beginning—not because he doesn’t want me to score but because he knows how stubborn she is. And that’s putting it mildly.
