“This isn’t just about sex,” I argue. “Mike, you know me. Isn’t it better for her to be with your best friend than a total stranger?”
He hesitates. “…I really don’t know.”
I clamp my mouth shut because his attitude is starting to piss me off, and it’s only confirming that Shelley was right when she said she couldn’t talk to him.
Inhaling a long breath, I steel myself to say what I know I need to tell him. “Look, man. I’ll always be ride or die for you. But you’re way off base right now. I didn’t fall for your sister on purpose, but it happened. I fell for her. Hard. I know she got scared tonight, and frankly, a lot of that is on you because we both knew you’d react this way. But I’m not going anywhere.” I cross my arms and stare him down. “I know you can relate, even if you don’t want to admit it. Can you honestly tell me you’d have walked away from Danielle if Honey disapproved?”
Danielle and her grandma are super close. Honey loved Mike from the beginning, but something tells me even if that hadn’t been the case, it wouldn’t matter. Other people don’t get to dictate who we end up with.
His shoulders relax and he backs up a bit, but he doesn’t answer, so I keep going. “Because I don’t think that’s how it would’ve gone down. I think you would’ve stuck it out and fought for each other. Even if it meant disappointing the people you care about. When you love someone, it’s worth it.”
There’s a long pause before he asks, “You love Shelley?”
I don’t hesitate for a second. “I do.”
His eyes scan my face, looking for any sign I might be bluffing. He won’t find it. He lets out a long, slow breath and moves over to the couch, taking a seat so he can think. It takes a minute, but eventually he says, “I think I believe you.”
“Good, because it’s the truth.”
It’s a long time before he speaks again. “You’re right about one thing. If this is real, it doesn’t matter what I think.”
“That’s what she said from the beginning. Unfortunately, I don’t think she ever really believed it. She cares about your opinion. And so do I. Too much, if you want to know the truth.”
Mike sighs. “I want my sister to be happy.” After a beat, he adds, “And you, too, man. Or at least I will, eventually. It’s just going to take me a little while to get used to the idea that you two could find that kind of happiness with each other. I can’t say I like it. But I won’t get in your way.”
“Fair. We can try to stay out of your face.”
“Nah. I don’t want you to feel like you need to hide from me. That’s what started all of this. It sucks that neither of you thought you could tell me. Falling in love should be a good thing.”
Now he thinks my being with Shelley is a good thing? Bro is giving me whiplash, but I’m not going to question his sudden change of heart when I agree with him.
“We both hated going behind your back.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I still have more shit to work through than I thought. I know you’ll treat her right.”
“I would hope it goes without saying, but I will. If she lets me. It’s going to take a lot more convincing on that front. You weren’t our only problem. But we’re cool?”
He shakes his head, but stands to take my hand and pull me into a one-armed hug.
“I still really want to punch you,” he admits while squeezing me.
“Yeah, well, same.” I pat his back twice before we let go.
He can be mad, but I refuse to let this break us. Mike has become a brother to me, too. But sometimes brothers need to have it out. That’s just the way it is. I know he only wantsto protect Shelley. But he’s not the only one worrying about her now.
Mike steps back and tucks his hands in his pockets. His shoulders rise while he says, “I hate seeing her like this. I’ve never seen her this frazzled. This isn’t like her. How do we fix it?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know if we can. But right now my plan is to keep showing up.” Because the Millers are family to me, and that’s what families should do.
Chapter 34
Shelley
The sound of the driver’s side door opening pulls me from my swirling thoughts. Mike takes his seat in the parked truck and drums his fingers on the steering wheel, trying carefully to plan his words. Finally, he looks at me and asks the question I’ve been expecting. All my brother’s confusion, anger, hurt, and disappointment are contained in one word.
“Why?”
He doesn’t need to elaborate. I know the weight the word holds because I’ve asked myself the same thing for months. Why wouldn’t I go to him? Why would I betray the trust he worked so hard to earn? Why would I secretly hook up with his best friend behind his back? Why did I lie, or at least omit where I’ve been lately, and let him worry? Above all, why am I so drawn to Jordan?
