I breathe deeply shaking my head at him.
“Ryan, that’s too far and out of line.” Maddy steps in, quickly correcting him.
“I love you, but stay the hell out of my business. Jeremiah has been nothing but a good and loyal friend to you. I was almost sixteen and he was barely twenty-two, not a huge age gap.”
I step back from the counter, stepping closer to him so that I’m standing right in front of him. Ryan needs to hear everything I have to say and soak it in.
“Not once did he act on his feelings. That’s what a true friend does. But here’s the kicker. I’ve been in love with him since the moment you brought him to the house. Hell, I never had asuccessful relationship with anyone because I compared them to him.”
He goes to open his mouth, but I put my hand over it. He’s going to listen to me and then I’m leaving.
“No, you don’t get to speak. Did you ever wonder why I never stayed in the room when he was brought up? Why I never asked about him? Ryan, I never even came home on weekends that I knew he would be there. It was too hard.”
My eyes shift over to Maddy who’s wiping a tear from her eye. She knew. I don’t know how long but she saw what was there when my brother couldn’t.
“I love him and he loves me, we’re both adults and we want to be together. It’s as simple as that. I’m a grown woman and I can date who I want. I don’t need your permission. And that’s what we’re going to do. We didn’t want to have to sneak behind your back because you are his best friend and my brother and believe it or not, we love you.”
I turn and head to the door, but not before stopping just as I go to step out of it and turn back to face him.
“The ball’s in your court, Ryan. Accept it or don’t. It’s your choice. But just know by not, you’re risking losing not only your best friend but me too.”
I don’t say anything else and rush out of the house, wiping the tears from my face as I go. All I want is to be wrapped in Jeremiah’s arms.
Pulling out my phone, I message Jeremiah letting him know Angel and I are on the way.
Jeremiah leaves the door open for us and Angel takes the bag of ice cream and runs barreling into the house.
I step in behind her and rush into Jeremiah’s waiting open arms. He wraps them around me tightly as I sob into his chest.
“I’m so sorry. I should’ve never acted on my feelings, I’ve ruined everything,” he murmurs into my hair.
I pull away from him, gazing into his eyes. Does he regret this?
“Are you changing your mind about being with me?” My lips tremble, tears already staining my face.
“I don’t want to see you or Ryan hurt. There’s nothing more I want than you in my life.”
“Then you have me. Ryan needs to grow up and come to terms that we are together. He has the love of his life, it’s time for me to be with mine.”
He smiles, a twinkle in his gaze. “I’m the love of your life?”
I raise up on my toes, putting myself more at his height, and stare him straight in the eyes.
“Jeremiah Dawson, I love you. I’ve loved you since I was a naive fifteen-year old girl, and I love you even more now as a twenty-two year old woman. I can’t wait to see where we go from here.” I kiss him, softly at first, but he deepens it, seeking control over my mouth.
We’re so caught up in the moment we don’t hear Angel stepping back into the room, until a loud squeal assaults our ears and a tiny body comes flying at us, wrapping us in her arms as best she can.
“Are you in love?” she screams in excitement as she releases her hold and begins jumping up and down.
Jeremiah looks at me smiling happily. “We are.”
She jumps up and down before racing off out of the room. Seeing her so happy about us lessens the pain slightly of my brother hating it.
“Can you stay? I ordered some pizza and made sure to get enough for you.”
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be,” I tell him as he leads me over to the couch and we sit down. I nestle against his body, resting my head on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around me.
“I saw Ryan and gave him a piece of my mind. What did he say to you?” I ask, as Jeremiah repeats the events of the night to me.
