The WRONG Brother: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Love You Forever Book 1)

by Alexis Winter

  “You have no idea,” I tell her, placing my finger under her chin and directing her in for a kiss. She kisses me softly and slowly, but even that’s enough to have me ready to pull her ass back to the bathroom to join the Mile High Club.

  When the plane takes off, she puts on an eye mask and rests her head on my shoulder, ready to sleep the flight away. While she sleeps, I can’t do anything but watch her. I’m so fucking caught up in her that I can’t think of anything but putting that ring on her finger and making her mine for the rest of our lives.

  When we get to Hawaii, we go to our hotel and decide to take a little nap before we start our day. She kicks off her boots, lets down her hair, and removes her sunglasses before climbing beneath the blankets. I kick off my shoes and strip out of my shirt and shorts before crawling up behind her. I pull her close to my chest and the two of us are out within minutes.

  When we wake, we decide to spend our first day lounging on the beach. The two of us strip down to our swimsuits and head out, finding a couple of chairs under a big palm tree. The waiter comes over and I order the hotel’s signature drink. Piper decides to hold off a little while longer since we haven’t had a full meal in a while. She orders some sparkling water instead.

  “Do you want to get something to eat?” I ask, reaching over to run my fingers down the soft skin of her cheek.

  “Didn’t you say you already had dinner plans set up?”

  “I did,” I agree.

  “Well, that’s fine. I’ll just wait and eat then. If I eat now, I won’t be hungry for dinner.”

  “Do you want a snack or something? I saw a little snack bar up there and could grab you something. We still have a few hours before dinner.”

  “I’ll be fine,” she promises, offering me a smile before turning her attention back to the ocean. “This place is beautiful. I could stay right here in this chair with you forever.”

  I pick up her hand and press a kiss to the top. “Me too, Piper. Me too.”

  We spend the day enjoying the beach, resting, and getting some sun. When it gets close to dinnertime, we make our way back up to our room to shower and dress. I shower first so I have time to get everything set up while she gets ready. The balcony has a big table in the center with two white candles burning. There’s a bottle of wine already chilling and breathing, and I ordered our favorite dinners.

  She walks onto the balcony while the sun is still in the sky, starting its slow decline. I look up and I’m breathless. She’s wearing a white summer dress. It’s thin and flowing around her with the light breeze. The dress is long and covers her legs, but her arms are left bare, showing off the sun she got on her shoulders and collarbone today. I walk over and take her hand in mine, bringing it to my lips, where I press a soft kiss against it.

  “You’re absolutely breathtaking.”

  Her cheeks turn a slight shade of pink as I lead her over to the table and pull out her chair for her. She sits down and I scoot it up, taking my seat across from her.

  I grab the bottle of wine and pour some in both glasses. “I know we talked about this vacation over a month ago, but there was actually another reason I wanted to take it.”

  “To get Preston out of the way?” she jokes.

  I laugh as I shake my head. “Well, that too.” I stand and move to the side of the table, falling to one knee. I reach into my pocket and pull out the box, opening it to show her the ring. “Piper, I know we haven’t been together all that long yet, but already I know you’re the only one I want. I want to make you mine in every way possible. I want the pleasure of going to bed with you every evening and I want to wake up next to you every morning. I can’t wait another day to start my future with you. Will you marry me?”

  Her eyes are wide with surprise and they’re slowly filling with tears. She’s smiling when she nods. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you, Calvin.”

  Finally, I can breathe out a sigh of relief. I take the ring out of the box and slide it onto her finger, pulling her against me in the same second. I kiss her like it’s the last time I’ll ever get to kiss her. Already, dinner is forgotten as I pick her up and lay her down on the balcony lounge chair. My hips push her legs apart as I press my body against hers.

  As we kiss, my hands move her dress up until I can hook my fingers around her panties and yank them down. I reach between the two of us to free myself from my shorts, but her hand moves up to cup my jaw.

  “Calvin, there’s something I have to tell you first.”

  My hands freeze as I stare down at her.

  “I’m pregnant,” she whispers around a smile.

  Did I hear her correctly? “Did you just say that you’re pregnant?”

  She nods. “I just found out. I’m not that far along yet.”

  “How?” I ask, trying to figure out how and when. We’ve always used condoms or I’ve pulled out. I mean, I know the pull-out method isn’t foolproof, even with her being on birth control, but I was pretty damn sure I always did it in time.

  “The pool house,” she says, and suddenly I remember. Preston walked in and distracted me. It was the only time I didn’t pull out. “Are you upset?” she asks. “I know it wasn’t planned.” She suddenly seems worried.

  I laugh. “No, I’m not upset. This is awesome. We’re going to be parents!” I lean in and press my mouth against hers. Our excited kiss turns to one of need and I find myself right where I left off. I free myself from my shorts and push up into her, connecting us as one like we were made to do. I hold her tightly as I thrust into her, making her call out with every rock of my hips. She digs her nails into my back—only making me work harder. With one last roll of my hips, we both come undone together and I know I’ll never be the same again.

  Eighteen

  PIPER

  Calvin and I enjoy every minute of our tropical vacation even though I can’t drink. We lie on the beach, catching some rays. We swim and play in the water. We eat delicious food, dance, cuddle, kiss, and talk about our future now that we’re engaged to be married and have a baby on the way.

  A part of me wants to go back home and tell everyone the news about the baby, but it’s all too soon. Calvin and I have agreed to go home and tell everyone about the engagement, then start planning a small winter wedding before I show too much. After the wedding, once the pregnancy is farther along, we’ll break the news to the family.

  Preston is there to pick us up from the airport like promised. He’s wearing a big smile like he already knows what happened on our trip. I take off running toward him and jump into his arms. He catches me and spins me in a circle.

  “Have a good time?”

  “The best,” I say as he places me on my feet. I hold up my hand. “Looks like we’re going to be related.”

  He laughs. “Damn, I was hoping you’d tell him no so we could run off together.”

  “Yeah, right,” Calvin says, putting an arm around my shoulders.

  “So, when’s the wedding?” Preston asks, handing Calvin the keys.

  “We’re thinking this winter. A church wedding back home with close friends and family. Then the reception in the grand room at the country club.” I climb into the passenger seat and Preston slides into the back.

  “This winter? Why so soon? Don’t you guys want to test the waters a bit before just jumping in?”

  I roll my eyes. “No way. I know what I’m getting myself into. I’m ready to jump in with both feet.”

  Calvin looks over at me and gives me a breathtaking smile. “Me too.”

  “So, where are you guys going to live?”

  “Calvin and I have talked about it, and it seems to make more sense to sell his place and live in mine . . . at least for the time being. We might decide to move back home when we start our family. You know, the city is no place to raise a big family, and that’s what we want. I’m thinking at least five little ones.”

  Preston’s eyes nearly bug out of his head. “Five? You want five kids? Holy hell, Piper. Those little shits will be
walking out of there by the end of it. Then again, with Calvin’s Maglite, even the first one might walk out,” he jokes.

  Calvin holds up his middle finger and I reach behind my seat, swinging blindly at Preston. I never land a hit, so he keeps laughing.

  “We’re getting started on the plan, so you need to hurry and catch up,” I tell him.

  “What are you talking about?” Preston asks.

  I spin in my seat to look at him. “We agreed that we’d live next to each other and raise our kids together, so our kids can have a childhood like we did. You’d better hurry up and find the one you’re going to marry!”

  He rolls his eyes. “Ugh, I’m going to need a little more time. If you buy a house, just make sure there’s one next door for me.”

  Since it’s not possible to go back home right now to tell our parents about the engagement, we settle for video chatting with them instead. As soon as we unpack, clean up, and settle in, he calls his parents from his phone.

  “What the hell is this shit?” his dad asks, flipping the phone in different directions trying to figure out the video call. He puts it up to his ear. “Hello?”

  “Dad, look at the screen,” Calvin says, making us both giggle.

  He pulls the phone away from his ear and looks at the screen. Calvin raises his hand and waves. “It’s a video call, Dad.”

  “What the hell is a video call?”

  “It’s exactly like it sounds. Where’s Mom?”

  “Oh, she’s in the kitchen cooking something.”

  “Can you go to her? We have something we want to tell both of you.”

  “Well, all right,” he says, moving the phone all around to get up out of his recliner.

  After a minute, they’re both on the screen.

  “Oh, it’s Calvin and Piper. What are you two up to?” his mom asks.

  “Well, we just got back from our vacation in Hawaii, and we wanted to call and tell you that . . .”

  “We’re engaged!” we both say at the same time as I hold up my hand and show them the ring.

  His mom giggles and jumps and squeals and cries. To say she’s excited is an understatement. His dad smiles, gives him a head nod, and says, “Congratulations, Son.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  “Does Preston know yet?” his mom asks, sounding a little worried.

  “Yeah, he knows and he’s happy for us,” Calvin replies.

  “Well, good. How did your mom take the news, Piper?”

  “Uh, we actually haven’t told her yet. We’re calling them next.”

  “We’re the first?” This makes her start crying again. She wants to know everything: What’s the date? Which location did we choose? Why so soon? When are we going to start having kids and making her a grandma? She peppers us with question after question until we finally have to end the call to share the news with my parents.

  I call my dad from my phone and he answers, “What’s up, Pipes?”

  “Where’s Mom? We want to talk to you both.”

  “She’s knitting,” he says, sounding confused.

  “Knitting? When did she start that?” I ask, trying to remember if I’ve ever seen my mom knit.

  He shrugs as he gets up from his seat in the living room. “It’s the damnedest thing. She took up knitting when she was pregnant with Jake. Then she stopped and didn’t start again until she was pregnant with you. Then she stopped again and hasn’t touched the knitting needles for, well, 25 years. The other day, she just picked them up and has been knitting ever since.”

  My jaw drops. “Dad, did you knock up my mother?” I almost yell.

  “Motherfucker better not have,” he mumbles as he walks into the bedroom where my mom is.

  She smiles at the phone. “Hi, honey.”

  “Hey, Mom. Did Dad knock you up again?”

  Her eye stretch wide. “What? Good Lord, no! I can’t get pregnant anymore. I’m too old for that nonsense.”

  “So what’s with the knitting?”

  She shrugs. “I was cleaning out the attic and came across it. It just seemed like something to do to keep my hands busy.”

  I nod, wondering if she somehow knows about my pregnancy even if she doesn’t actually know. Mother’s intuition? “Well, Calvin and I just got back from Hawaii . . . and guess what?”

  “What?” she asks, looking excited.

  “We’re engaged!” I say, holding up my hand to show her the ring.

  “Well, that’s wonderful, honey.” My mom is a lot more chill than Calvin’s mom, but get them together and they act like teenagers. “When’s the big day?”

  “Late fall or early winter. We’re thinking end of November or beginning of December. Whatever the church has available.”

  Her smile widens. “You’re getting married at home?”

  I look at Calvin then back at her. “We both thought it would be better to go back home. You know, it’s where everything started for us.”

  Calvin reaches behind me and pulls me closer, his hand rubbing up and down my back. He presses a kiss to the top of my head.

  “And have the two of you thought this through? You haven’t been together for very long,” Dad points out.

  “We wouldn’t have it any other way, Dad.”

  Calvin and I talk to my parents a little while longer before hanging up. I lie back on the couch and place my hands on my flat tummy. I can’t wait until it starts to expand and I can actually see how much our baby is growing.

  Calvin is sitting at the end of the couch and he leans over to place both of his hands on my stomach, next to mine.

  “Are you happy?” he asks, looking into my eyes.

  I smile and nod. “Are you?”

  “Never been happier,” he replies as he works his way up my body to kiss my stomach. He keeps one hand on it and lightly lays his head next to his hand. “We can’t wait to meet you, little one,” he says to the baby.

  I laugh. “I don’t think it has ears yet, Calvin.”

  He shrugs. “So it might not be able to hear yet, but it can feel love. And love makes everything grow bigger and stronger.” He offers me up a smile and kisses my belly again.

  The front door opens and Preston walks through. He walks right by us on the couch, heading for the kitchen. Calvin and I both hold our breath, hoping he doesn’t realize what we’re doing.

  Preston doesn’t make it to the fridge though. He stops dead in his tracks and walks backward until he can clearly see the two of us. He pulls his brows together and squints at us. “What are you doing?”

  “Just relaxing,” I answer.

  “Not you,” he says to me as he turns his head a little more toward Calvin. “You. What are you doing?”

  Calvin looks like a deer in the headlights. He’s between my legs with his head at my stomach. “I . . . was about to go down on her. Why else would I be here?”

  My face heats up and nearly burns from embarrassment. I smack Calvin’s arm and he sits up. “What?” he asks, giving me that look that says, I panicked and didn’t want to tell him the truth.

  Preston gives us his side eye but lets it go as he heads into the kitchen.

  “Why would you say that?” I whisper at Calvin now that we have a few seconds alone.

  He shrugs. “I panicked. I couldn’t exactly tell him the truth.”

  Preston is back with three beers. He hands one to Calvin and one to me. I look at the bottle in my hands and set it on the coffee table.

  “What’s wrong?” Preston asks, noticing I didn’t open my beer.

  “I just don’t feel good. I’m tired and have to work in the morning. You two go ahead.”

  “It’s just one beer, Pipes. I highly doubt one beer is going to give you a hangover,” Preston tries.

  I shrug. “I drank way too much on our little vacation. I’m just not feeling it tonight. What are you doing here? I figured you’d be sick of us by now.”

  He smiles but takes a sip of his beer to cover it up. “I missed you guys. Tell me what
you did in Hawaii. Did you go parasailing like we talked about?”

  “No,” Calvin and I both say together.

  “Well, did you do the rock climbing?”

  “No,” we both say in unison again.

  “Did you go on that deep cave dive I found online?” He looks so hopeful.

  We both shake our heads.

  Preston is now annoyed. “So, what did you do?”

  I smile wide and Calvin says, “Well, we spent a lot of time in our room.” And I can’t help the giggle that escapes.

  Preston shakes his head. “You guys can have sex anywhere. Why waste a trip to Hawaii?”

  “Exactly. We can do it anywhere and we’re going to do it everywhere,” Calvin laughs out.

  Preston shakes his head. “You two better be careful or you’ll end up pregnant.”

  Calvin and I look at each other, then at Preston. Preston looks at me, then at his brother, and back. I see Preston’s eyes travel from mine, to my breasts, and then to my stomach.

  “Aw, man. You already are, aren’t you?” he asks, running his hand through his thick, dark hair.

  “What? No! I’m not pregnant,” I lie.

  He rolls his eyes. “It’s written all over your faces. Calvin looks happy for no reason,” he points out.

  “I have a reason to be happy. We’re getting married,” he argues.

  “Yeah, but that’s a kind of happy that only lasts the day or when it’s brought up. Not constantly. And you, Piper—you’re glowing. Your face is lit up and your eyes are sparkling. And it looks like your boobs are already a little firmer. You’re pregnant, aren’t you? I noticed your boobs before you guys even left. I just thought you bought one of those Victoria’s Secret bras or something, but now it all makes sense. I bet it was the pool house, wasn’t it?”

  I can’t keep this secret any longer. Not from my best friend. “Yes,” I breathe out.

  Preston looks proud of himself for figuring it out, but that look is quickly replaced with disgust. “Man, I witnessed my niece or nephew being made? Gross, man.” He shuts his eyes and massages his temples, causing us to laugh.