My Best Friend's Brother (Hometown Heroes Book 3)

by G. L. Snodgrass

  Jenny looked at her brother as if she was going to bite his head off.

  Luke gave me a quick wink then started in on one of his two cheeseburgers.

  “So,” Chip said with a heavy sigh. “We should do something this weekend.”

  Both Jenny and I froze, what was this and where was it coming from?

  He glanced over at Luke for a moment then back at Jenny and me. The boy’s face was white and his hands were trembling when he reached for his fork. But he was trying to look confident and in control.

  “Come on,” he stammered. “Amy’s got to be getting cabin fever. We should get her out of the house.”

  Jenny glanced over at me then back at Chip. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out what was going on.

  Then it hit me. He was using me as an excuse to ask Jenny out. Glancing over at my friend I had to hide a smile. Suddenly her face had taken on a frightened look. Like a rabbit caught in a trap.

  “You’re right Chip,” I said with as much innocence as I could muster. “I do need to get out of the house. What should we all do?”

  Jenny shot me an evil stare. One of those looks between friends that said she’d get me back later.

  Chip smiled hesitantly and shrugged his shoulders. “There’s not much to do around here. I guess we could go to the movies. The four of us.”

  My insides dropped a couple of feet. The four of us. He was talking about Luke also. I swallowed hard as I glanced over at him from beneath my brow to see how he was taking it.

  The guy seemed impervious. Eating his burgers, following the conversation.

  Chip turned to him. “What do you think?” he asked.

  Luke shrugged his shoulders and nodded slowly. “Sure, I guess so.”

  The three of us turned to Jenny. She looked at her brother, then at me, and then finally at Chip. His face had gone red and a vein pulsed across his forehead. I swear the guy was going to bust a blood vessel. He looked like he was waiting for a sentence from a hanging judge.

  Jenny finally shrugged her shoulders as if it wasn’t a big deal. Just four friends hanging out. But I could tell from the look in her eyes that she was both frightened and happy about being frightened.

  “Great,” Chip said as he exhaled with relief. A smile wider than the Cascades broke out across his face.

  “We can pick up Hop-Along on the way,” Luke said with a nod to me. “Chip can meet us there.”

  Chip smiled as he nodded. A boy who had just obtained his greatest dream.

  My insides tumbled over as I tried to understand what had happened. A few minutes ago Jenny and I had been talking about Becky Anderson’s hairstyle. Now I was going to the movies with Luke.

  Don’t be silly. I told myself. It was the four of us. Besides, this was Jenny’s big brother. To make it worse, he had been roped into this by Chip.

  I glanced up and caught him staring at me. My heart lurched as he gave me a quick smile.

  What was that all about? I wondered. Was he happy about us all going to the movies?

  It didn’t matter, I realized. I was going to get to spend time with Luke Prescott. Could life get any better?

  .o0o.

  That Saturday afternoon I was going crazy. What does a girl wear with a cast? That, plus I had to decide what color to paint my toes.

  Sighing, I hopped over to the closet and started pulling out options. A quick knock at my bedroom door interrupted my panic.

  “Yes,” I called as I continued to look for the perfect outfit.

  When Dad opened the door with a heavy frown on his face, I stopped. This could not be good.

  “I just got a call from your Mom,” he said.

  My stomach dropped. A thousand things jumped into my mind. She was hurt, she was dying of some rare tropical disease common to northern California. She was starting a custody battle and I’d have to move. All of these worries, plus a dozen more, whirled around in my head.

  “Is she okay?” I asked as I turned back to examine my closet, holding my breath.

  Dad nodded. “She sends her love.”

  Yes, but not enough to talk to me herself, she called and didn’t even ask to speak to me. An anger inside of me threatened to erupt. Why was she like that? Why didn’t she care about me? Was I that terrible a daughter?

  “So why did she call?” I asked still not looking at him directly but watching him from the corner of my eye.

  He smiled sadly. “She wants to come for a visit. For a couple of weeks. Over Christmas.”

  I quickly glanced at him to see how he was taking it. Mom had ripped his world in two when she left. It was bad enough that she had made me feel worthless and forgotten. But what she had done to my father could never be forgiven.

  It had taken a lot of work for him to put his life back together. If she hurt him again I would … I don’t know what I would do, but it wouldn’t be nice.

  I nodded slowly. “That will be different,” I said, fighting to hide the anger. Dad didn’t need me adding to his problems.

  “She was wondering if she could stay here, in the spare bedroom. What do you think?”

  I froze as I studied him for a moment. The man didn’t look happy.

  “That’s up to you,” I said as I pulled a dress out off a hangar. “I mean, won’t it be weird having your ex-wife staying here? What if you want to bring a date back to the house?”

  He laughed hard and my heart relaxed. I loved it when he laughed. It was my way of knowing the world was alright.

  “Yeah, like that is going to happen.”

  “You know, Dad,” I said as I took out a second dress, “I’m leaving in less than two years. You need to think about that.”

  He frowned as he studied me for a long moment then smiled softly. “I’ll take that under advisement. In the meantime. Where are you going? You look like you are packing for a three-week trip to the other side of the world.

  I laughed as I tossed another dress onto the bed.

  “A bunch of us are going to the movies,” I said as my stomach fluttered thinking about Luke and I sitting next to each other in the dark theater.

  “Who?” he asked. “Do you need me to drive you?”

  “No,” I said, way to fast. “Jenny and her brother are giving me a lift.”

  He scowled as he stared at me for a long moment. “Jenny’s brother? Meaning Luke Prescott?”

  I nodded without looking at him. No way did I want him reading my secret thoughts. “Yeah, and Chip Huntington.”

  He continued to scowl. “You know, Amy,” he said with a heavy sigh, “you’re leaving in a couple of years. You need to think about that. Stay focused on what you need to do.”

  I turned on him, almost tripping when my leg refused to move as fast as I needed.

  “Dad, it's just a bunch of us going to the movies. No big deal.”

  He studied me for a long moment then sighed heavily.

  “I’ll tell your mother it will be fine if she stays here.”

  I sighed internally, glad that he wasn’t going to make a thing out of me going out. The last thing I needed was my dad getting mixed up in my non-existent love life.

  After he left, I studied the clothes on my bed. What looked good with a cast? How could I possibly look enticing and sexy with this giant contraption on my leg?

  Don’t be ridiculous I told myself. This wasn’t a date. No way was Luke looking at it as a date. Therefore, it wasn’t a date.

  Sighing, I picked a pretty floral print and held it up to me. Would Luke like me in this?

  Remember the best friend rule, I reminded myself. It wouldn’t matter. Even if he did, it wouldn’t matter.

  At six, I had just barely finished my make-up when the doorbell rang. I grabbed my purse, slipped it over my shoulder and hobbled to the head of the stairs.

  Dad glanced up at me as he opened the front door.

  Luke stood there, filling up the world. He glanced at my father then up at me. I froze as our eyes locked.

  He’d
dressed up a little. A button-down shirt, and jeans. God, the boy looked delicious.

  Dad scowled like he wanted to stop the world and throw someone off. What is it about fathers that made them hate the world sometimes.

  I took a deep breath and used one hand on the rail to go down one step at a time. Holding both crutches in my free hand.

  Luke smiled and slowly shook his head. I smiled inside. I know he wanted to tease me but was holding back because my father was standing there.

  Jenny stepped out from behind Luke, said hi to my father then stepped in to wait for me at the bottom of the stairs. Like me, she was wearing a dress. A pretty green and yellow sundress. One of the few times I’d ever seen her in something other than jeans.

  We’d discussed it half the morning and agreed to go girly. My club for a foot sort of dictated the fashion.

  I glanced at Luke, wondering what he thought. But his eyes told me nothing. Of course not, I realized. My father and his sister were standing right there. He wasn’t an idiot. Or at least that was the excuse I was telling myself.

  It couldn’t have been because he didn’t like the way I looked. No, that was impossible. Or at least I desperately hoped so.

  He took a breath as he prepared to say something, but bit it back with a quick look at my dad. I know he was going to mention how slow I was. Probably something about snails crawling uphill being faster.

  When I reached the bottom, I kissed my dad on the cheek then broke out my pretend legs and raised an eyebrow. Silently telling Luke that he was in my way.

  He laughed and turned back outside. My dad stared at us, but kept his mouth quiet. I’ve got to give him that.

  Jenny fell in next to me as we followed Luke to their truck. The two of us told each other how great we looked. When we got there, she held open the door and motioned me in.

  I looked at her, silently asking her if she was sure.

  “I’m not sitting next to him,” she said. “That would be too weird. Besides, someone has to hold those things while you get in.”

  I laughed as I handed her my crutches. No way was I complaining about having to sit next to Luke.

  He shot me a quick smile as I slid across the seat, then shook his head. “I’ve seen paint dry faster than you.”

  “Hey,” I said as I dug an elbow into his ribs. But inside my stomach fluttered and my heart raced.

  He laughed and we were off.

  What was he thinking? I wondered as I snuck glances at him from the corner of my eyes. He had been dragged into this. My father hated him. His sister was there. This must have been just the worst.

  We were almost half-way there before I realized that Jenny hadn’t said a word. I turned to look at her, frightened that she was mad at me for some reason.

  “Is something wrong,” I whispered to her.

  She frowned and slowly shook her head. She’s nervous I realized. Jenny Prescott was terrified. Wow, I hadn’t seen that coming. Was it Chip? Or was she nervous about Luke and me?

  I reached out and took her hand in mine. “This is going to be fun,” I said. “Chip was right, I was getting cabin fever.”

  Jenny smiled sadly as she nodded. Still nothing. Sighing, I looked at Luke, he shrugged his shoulders. Obviously, asking him what was bothering Jenny wasn’t going to happen.

  Why didn’t I know? I wondered. I was her best friend. I should know everything about her. Especially the bad, terrifying things. Had I been so wrapped up in my own problems that I’d failed as her friend. The thought sent a guilty shock through me.

  Or, had it been that my mind was locked on her brother. So much that I couldn’t see when my friend needed me. No wonder they had the whole no big brother rule.

  Well, that was going to change, I thought as I silently promised to focus on Jenny and put these silly daydreams out of my mind forever.

  When we got to the mall, I pulled Jenny aside as I scrambled onto my crutches.

  “Is it Chip?” I asked.

  Her face grew white. “He is so smart. Have you noticed? Did you know that he is taking all honors classes? Each one of them. He writes computer programs in his spare time. Mr. Burley, the science teacher, talks to him like they’re the same. What are we going to talk about?”

  I sighed, now that I knew what the problem was, I could attack it head-on.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I told her. “It’s just a bunch of us going to the movies. This isn’t the SAT’s. Besides, you are way smart.”

  She snorted at the idea of anyone calling her smart but looked up as the boy of our conversation drove into the parking lot and pulled up next to us.

  I had never known that Jenny felt this way. While her grades weren’t great. She wasn’t terrible at school. But this? I hadn’t seen it coming.

  I glanced around to find Luke watching us from the other side of the truck. Obviously, he was giving us time to talk. Like I said, Luke Prescott was always aware.

  Chip climbed out of his maroon Honda accord and flashed us a hesitant smile. His eyes lingered on Jenny for a long moment. Her face grew pink and I almost laughed. The two of them were so cute. Neither willing to admit publicly their feelings for each other.

  Turning, I caught Luke staring at me and my insides turned to mush as my own cheeks grew warm.

  “Come on guys,” Luke said as he indicated the mall while he shot me a quick smile. “If we start now, we might get there by Christmas.”

  I couldn’t help but feel a small twinge of regret. A guy didn’t tease a girl on a first date. Therefore. He didn’t think of this as a date. Of course not, I told myself more than once.

  To him, I would always be his little sister’s friend. The girl whose life he saved one afternoon. Nothing more.

  Biting back a grimace I plodded along on my crutches while my insides turned over. I knew, deep down inside I would continue to have these hopes and dreams. But I also knew that they were useless. And always would be.

  Chapter Eleven

  Luke

  This had to be one of the stupidest ideas I ever had. And I’d been sent to jail because of my stupid ideas.

  Jenny could find out my feelings and kill me in my sleep. Amy could laugh her head off at the idea of ‘us.’ Nope. Like I said, stupid.

  Glancing over at Amy, she shot me a quick smile then focused on making her way across the parking lot.

  God, she looked good. Even bent over her crutches, she looked gorgeous. Just the right curves. The kind of shape that burrowed its way into a guy’s head without any chance of it ever leaving. The kind of sexy, enchanting look that made me think of things that could get me in trouble.

  Somehow, Jenny and Chip got in front and were leading the way. Neither of them interacting with the other in any way. It was like two individuals who didn’t even know each other.

  Amy smiled and shook her head. “They are so cute.”

  All I could do was nod. I didn’t like the idea of Jenny going out with guys. But better Chip Huntington than Willie Dawson. Hell, half the guys inside would have been better than Willie Dawson.

  “It was nice of you to agree to tag along,” Amy said. “I think it made it easier for Jenny to say yes.”

  My stomach clenched up, what would she think if she found out I’d set all of this up? She’d probably be more than pissed off. All I could do was shrug my shoulders and pretend it was no big deal.

  When we got to the movie ticket booth, both Amy and Jenny started to reach for their purses. Chip shook his head and said, “It’s on me. It was my idea.”

  Jenny blanched for a moment, but Amy had the class to simply smile and thank him.

  “And I’ll get the popcorn and stuff,” I said.

  Again, the two girls looked surprised.

  “Really,” Amy said. “That’s not necessary.”

  “You guys can pay for the pie at Sam’s afterwards” I said.

  “Oh, are we going there after the movie?” Amy asked with a fake frown. “Who put you in charge?”

&n
bsp; I laughed, “I haven’t had a piece of Sam’s coconut cream pie in two years. You wouldn’t deny me, would you?"

  “I’d like to go,” Chip said with little more than a whisper as he glanced at Jenny.

  Amy and Jenny exchanged a quick look then both of them shrugged their shoulders.

  “We’ll see,” Jenny said.

  The salty smell of popcorn and melted butter greeted us as we stepped into the lobby. I let it sink in, one more thing I had missed over the last two years.

  We loaded up on supplies and made our way to the theater.

  “Middle, middle?” Chip asked as he raised an eyebrow.

  “Middle, end,” Amy said, lifting up a crutch.

  I rolled my eyes dramatically and shook my head. “The sacrifices we have to make.”

  She laughed. Shooting me a smile that could melt the coldest heart.

  Chip led the way, picked an empty row then stepped back to let Jenny go in first before following her. I smiled to myself. Good boy. I wanted my sister as far from Amy and myself as possible.

  Amy handed me her crutches and then hopped into the second seat from the end. Leaving me to guard the aisle.

  I had no sooner sat down than the lights dimmed and a hush settled over the small crowd. Amy reached over to take some popcorn, glancing up at me with a strange look.

  I leaned back and let the moment sink in. Amy’s honeysuckle perfume, the darkness. I was once again brought back to our night by the fire under the stars.

  She leaned over and whispered, “It reminds me of the night you saved me.”

  I froze for a second, frightened that she was reading my mind. If she could, I was totally screwed. I was an eighteen-year-old guy who had been locked up for two years. Let’s just say that my thoughts were less than pure when it came to Amy Jensen. But thankfully, she smiled up at me and my world returned to semi-normal.

  The movie started as an awkward tension filled me. What was I thinking? The girl was beautiful, smart, and rich. How could I even think she might be interested in a felon with a quick temper and no future.

  Just as I was about to try and forget the whole idea, her leg gently brushed mine. An electrical charge flashed through me. It was as if someone had plugged my heart straight into the power grid.