This revelation changes nothing, unfortunately. Jeremiah is still my brother’s best friend. Off-limits.
Chapter 10
Amberlee
No matter what, atleast that means I don’t have to see him and Sylvia making out. That’s a huge relief.
Still, I feel like a deer in headlights and don’t know what to do or say.
“Didn’t Ryan or Maddy tell you?” Jeremiah’s voice cuts through the silence.
I don’t know how to answer.
No, he didn’t tell me, but I also avoided any conversation that included him for the last seven years.
My heart races. What do I do? Wait, is he single? He may not be married but he may be seeing someone. I haven’t heard him talk about anyone, but I try not to be around him as much as possible, so I don’t know.
“Nah, man, it never came up. But why would I tell my baby sister that my friend got a divorce? Besides, she never even asked about you. Come to think of it, anytime your name came up she disappeared.” My brother shakes his head, laughing as Maddy looks at me, her eyes locking with mine with a sense of understanding.
Does she know how I feel about Jeremiah?
“Hey, I’m an important person. Everyone wants to know about me.” He laughs, then turns to give Ryan a playful glare. “I also hate to burst your bubble Ryan, but your baby sister is all grown up now. You best be prepared for all the horny men that’ll be coming around knocking on her door. Most of them from our own unit.”
Ryan takes off after Jeremiah, tackling him to the ground, as they pretend to wrestle, while my heart deflates.
I’m an idiot. My brother will never let his best friend date me, reminding me that the man I love is not meant to be mine.
“Men and their jokes,” Maddy speaks up, pulling me out of my downward spiral.
“Are you going to ride with us, Aunt Lee Lee?” RJ tugs on my shirt to get my attention.
“Yeah, are you going to ride with us, Aunt Lee Lee?” Jeremiah croons as he and Ryan step back over to us.
“If you ride with them, Sis, that will give me and Maddy some much needed alone time,” Ryan adds as he steps up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, and cradling her growing belly in his hands.
How can I say no to that? If I thought it was going to be uncomfortable before when I thought the bitch was going on this trip, now I have to spend the weekend knowing he’s available but that we can never happen.
“She’s coming with us, Ryan. Take your woman and enjoy the two hours of free time you get before you grow to a family of five.”
“The kids will keep you entertained,” Maddy whispers after Ryan releases her to finish loading up their vehicle, Jeremiah following him.
I just nod and smile. I hope so. Thankfully, once we get to the beach, I can slip away from them. While they do the family thing,I’ll do my own. Maybe there are some women my age there, who wouldn’t mind me tagging along.
“Yeah,” I mumble under my breath.
She bumps my shoulder with hers. “You also get some time with Jeremiah,” she coos.
“And what does that have to do with anything?”
Maddy shakes her head. “The two of you can keep playing dumb if you want, but my eyes are open and I can clearly see what both of y’all are busy trying to deny. Maybe not Jeremiah as much as you.”
She walks away, not waiting for an answer. Does she know how I feel about him? And what does she mean by the two of you?
“Aunt Lee Lee, are you going to ride up front with uncle J?” RJ looks up at me sweetly, Angel by his side, both giving me the cutest faces imaginable that I can’t turn down.
“Yes.”
“Daddy,” Angel screams, as she turns and rushes toward him. “She’s riding up front with you.”
