Amberlee looks over at me, hesitating. She wants to come to me so I can comfort her, but she’s afraid to do it. I nod to the kitchen and hand her the pizzas, making the decision for her. Ryan and I need to finish our conversation, and hopefully, this time it ends better.
We wait for Amberlee to leave, neither of us speaking. The tension is so thick in the room, you could cut it with a knife.
“So,” I finally say in exasperation as I move over and sit on the couch, resting my forearms on my thighs.
Ryan follows suit, sitting in the chair across from me in a similar pose.
“Maddy really reamed my ass when you left.” He laughs, causing me to chuckle along with him. Maddy’s a fucking firecracker, and I imagine she laid into him.
He leans back and lets out a long breath. “You’re my best friend, Jeremiah. More than that, I feel like you are the brother I never had, but Amberlee she’s my baby sister and I want to protect her.”
“I understand that. But Ryan, she’s notmysister, and I want to protect her too. Now you don’t have to do it alone. We can do it together.” With each word, I’m praying he’s truly listening.
Ryan opens his mouth, then closes it, repeating it a couple times before rubbing his face with the palm of his hands.
“Fuck, why is this so hard.”
I shake my head, not knowing the answer either.
“Maddy, my saint of a wife, sat me down and made me listen. I know you’d never hurt Amberlee. In my mind, no one is ever going to be good enough for her. It’s why I scared off all the boys in high school and my horny ass friends over the years. I knew they just wanted sex and I didn’t want her to be a notch in their belt.”
He pauses, rubbing his hands on his pants and I take his moment of silence as my opportunity to speak.
“That’s not what I want. I love your sister and I see a future with her. One day if all goes well, a mother to my daughter. She has a piece of my heart and it’s wrapped around her finger.”
He lowers his head, his gaze focused on his feet.
“I know you won’t. And there’s nothing I want more than my sister to be happy. I think the worst part is knowing when your attraction to her started.”
And there it is. I knew it would be an issue, but I didn’t want to keep it from him only to have him blindsided by it at a later time. Hell, I hate the age I was, it was the main reason I didn’t act on it, other than she was his sister.
I stay quiet, not wanting to push the issue.
“I want both of you to be happy and if being together is that, then you have my blessing. Just”—he sighs heavily—“don’t make out in front of me, just not yet anyways.” He laughs.
“I’ll try to restrain myself.” I chuckle.
“And no talking about your sex life. Fuck me, now that’s in my head.”
“That will never be discussed. Believe me, I don’t want anyone knowing anything that personal about me or my girl.”
He stands and I follow his lead as he steps toward me embracing me in a hug.
“I’m fucking sorry for how I acted,” he whispers.
We break our hold on each other and he steps back. “Ryan, I really do love her and for me, she’s the end game.”
His face softens like I’ve given him the final words he needed to hear to know I’m fully invested in his sister.
“Let’s eat, and give Amberlee the good news we’re not fighting anymore.”
I pat him on the shoulder as I pass him, thankful to no longer have to hide my love for Amberlee.
“Jeremiah.”
Ryan’s calling my name stops me mid-step. My heart races as anxiety settles back in that he’s about to change his mind.
“Just know, if you hurt my sister in any way I’ll fucking kill you.” Ryan doesn’t smile or laugh, he means what he’s saying is one hundred percent true.
