The Better Brother

by Rye Hart

  Part of me thought I should feel awkward. I was standing alone in Michael’s bedroom, naked and dripping with sex. Still, I’d never felt more comfortable in my life. I didn’t know what it was about him, but I had now had sex twice with a man I’d only seen on three occasions. It was so uncharacteristic of me, but I just couldn’t help myself with him.

  When Michael reappeared, there was a soft smile on his face that drew me to him. He pulled me against him and kissed my lips softly. We backed into the shower, still holding onto each other. Our kiss never broke as the steamy water cascaded over our aching and exhausted bodies.

  We fell asleep in Michael’s bed that night. Neither of us bothered to get dressed after the shower. We curled up beside each other and drifted easily off to sleep.

  CHAPTER 10

  Michael

  Julie’s head was resting on my shoulder when the sun peeked through my bedroom window. I squinted and groaned, throwing my hand over my eyes. The movement woke Julie. She shifted slowly and moaned, sending shivers shooting down my spine.

  “That moan is so unfair,” I said. My voice was rough from sleep.

  “Why’s that?” Julie asked with her eyes still tightly closed.

  “I have to go to work,” I said. “And when you moan like that…”

  I growled softly and tightened my hold on her. She giggled and rolled into me, her naked tits pressing against my chest. I could feel that her nipples were already hard from my touch. I growled again and found her lips.

  She kissed me back, wrapping her leg around my waist and pulling me closer to her. In seconds, my cock was fully erect.

  “You’re killing me,” I said, pulling my lips free from hers.

  “Just trying to brighten your morning,” she said innocently.

  “You’ve certainly done that, Miss Black.” I laughed and kissed her again.

  It took all my strength to break our kiss for a second time. It was already getting late, and I couldn’t afford to miss my morning meetings. The last thing I wanted to do was pull myself away from Julie, but I knew I didn’t have a choice.

  “I’ll drive you home,” I said after we were both fully dressed. “We can swing by the café on the way.”

  Julie smiled. “Sounds good.”

  We got in my car and drove into town. Julie’s fingers were intertwined with mine the whole drive, but when we arrived at the café, she let go and hurried inside. I frowned and followed her. I wondered if she didn’t want to be seen holding my hand in public, but I knew better than to question it.

  “Large cinnamon latte to go,” Julie ordered. “Please and thank you, Sarah.”

  Sarah nodded and turned to me. “The usual, Michael?”

  “Please.” I nodded and pulled my wallet out of my back pocket.

  “I got it,” Julie said firmly. Her hand was already buried inside her purse.

  “Julie…” I began, but she silenced me with a look.

  “You’ve bought me two meals now,” she said. “Please. Let me treat.”

  I shrugged. “If you insist.”

  “I do.” She smiled and slid her debit card over to Sarah.

  It was nice in a way. Most women were all too happy to use my wealth to their advantage. I already knew Julie was nothing like those women, but it was still a nice little reminder.

  We got our coffees, and Julie let me drive her home. Her hand found mine again, and all my concerns melted away. The only thing I felt was dread because I had to say goodbye to her again.

  “I’ll call you later,” I said as she slid out of the car.

  She smiled back at me. “Bye.”

  I watched her until she disappeared into her house, her hips swaying seductively from side to side.

  “What the hell is wrong with me?” I asked myself, speaking to my now-empty car.

  I shook my head and threw my car in drive. As I drove toward the office, I tried to pull myself together. I’d never felt this way about a woman before. Sure, I’d been in relationships—more than my fair share—but no one had been able to drive me insane like Julie. No one could occupy my mind as frequently as she did.

  My head was still spinning as I stepped into my office. Marcy had my meetings all set up, and I was grateful for the distraction.

  “Mr. Smart?” Marcy asked, poking her head into my office a little after noon. “Your brother’s on line one.”

  “Thanks, Marcy.” I grabbed the phone and pressed the button for line one. “Josh. What’s up, man?”

  “Just got back from that conference,” he said.

  “How was it?” I asked.

  “Fucking waste of time,” Josh said. “Nothing I didn’t already know.”

  I laughed. “Why’d you go then?”

  “It was mandatory for all residents,” he said with a sigh. “Anyway, are we meeting up this week?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I can do tonight.”

  “Works for me,” Josh said. “When and where?”

  “Why don’t you come to Ennis?” I asked. “You haven’t been down here in ages.”

  “That’s because there are no good bars in Ennis,” Josh said. “There’s no good anything in Ennis.”

  “Come on.” I laughed. “It’s not that bad.”

  “It’s a tiny-ass town,” Josh argued.

  “We have a great bar right in the square,” I said.

  “Whatever,” Josh said. “What time?”

  “Seven,” I said.

  “I’ll meet you there.”

  We said goodbye after I gave him the name of the bar, and I placed the phone back down. With a sigh, I leaned back in my chair and stared up at the ceiling.

  I spent the entire morning fighting the urge to text Julie. My meetings were a helpful distraction, but after a while, even they failed me. I found myself playing with my phone, typing out a message and then deleting it seconds later. I’d never felt more pathetic in my life.

  Drinks with Josh was exactly what I needed to screw my head back on straight. If nothing else, it would keep me from calling Julie in a desperate haze that night. As much as I wanted to see her again, I knew I should distance myself before I got in too deep.

  ***

  “Have a good night, Marcy,” I said as I pulled my office door closed behind me.

  “You, too,” Marcy said.

  It was a quarter after six, and I still had to go home before meeting Josh. I knew it didn’t matter if I showed up to the bar in my work clothes, but I hated the idea of drinking in a suit. It felt too uppity.

  Just after seven, I stepped inside the only bar in Ennis. Josh was already there waiting for me, sitting at the bar when I walked inside. He fiddled with his pint glass as I slid onto the barstool next to him.

  “You’re late,” Josh said.

  “Five minutes,” I said. “Lighten up, man.”

  “I’m just pissy about this weekend,” Josh said with a sigh. “That fucking conference.”

  “It couldn’t have been that bad,” I said.

  “It was worse,” he snapped. “You have no idea how cocky those doctors can be. Most of them have no idea what the hell they’re talking about half the time. And yet, they all think they’re geniuses.”

  “Never would have guessed.”

  I tried to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Josh had just described himself, and he didn’t even realize it. Luckily, he was too deep in his own complaints to notice my tone.

  “Anyway,” he said after he had finished ranting about the conference. “What’s new with you? Work’s been insane, huh?”

  “You have no idea.” I sighed. “I finally closed the Harrington account, though.”

  “No shit?” Josh asked. “That’s awesome!”

  “Thanks.” I grinned and took a sip of my drink. “It’s been a long time coming.”

  “I know,” Josh said. “You’ve been talking about the Harringtons for like two years now.”

  “Longer than that,” I said. “I’m just glad it’s finally for real. Mar
cy got the signed contracts late on Friday night, so everything’s in place now.”

  “Then this is a celebration!” Josh said. He waved down the bartender and ordered us another round.

  I smiled and happily accepted the drink. Josh could grate on my last nerve, but he really was a decent brother. He wasn’t always the best at reading my moods, but he was supportive when it mattered.

  We talked for a few more hours and continued drinking. Josh didn’t have to be back in Dallas until the next day, so he decided to just crash at my place. We took a cab home, leaving both our cars at the bar.

  When we pulled up to my house, I remembered Julie’s reaction from the day before. I smiled to myself and pulled out my phone. I typed a quick text and sent it off before I could think better of it.

  “Who’s that?” Josh asked.

  I snapped my head up to see that he was staring down at my phone. He couldn’t see the name on the screen, but his interest was obviously piqued.

  “Just some girl I met,” I said evasively.

  “And you’re drunk texting her?” Josh laughed. “Bad move, man.”

  “Nah,” I said. “It’s not like that. She’s…” I trailed off. I didn’t know how to talk to Josh about Julie. More than that, I didn’t really want to.

  “What?” Josh pressed. “Different? Special?”

  “Both,” I said firmly. “She’s both.”

  “Damn,” Josh said, letting out a low whistle. “Never thought I’d hear you get defensive about a girl.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “She’s really something. Honestly, I can’t stop thinking about her.”

  “I want to meet her,” Josh said. He slapped my shoulder in a very older-brotherly way, but my insides froze solid. The last thing I wanted was for Josh and Julie to meet.

  “Not yet,” I said. “I don’t know how serious things are yet.”

  “Well,” Josh said. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  CHAPTER 11

  Julie

  My nerves were fried by the time I fell into bed on Monday night. The Skype interview went well. My potential boss, Meghan, asked all the right questions, and I gave my best answers. When we said goodbye, I felt confident. As the day dragged on, that confidence faded to nothing. I was left in a puddle of anxiety with no way to calm myself.

  The job wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t my dream job by any standards, but it was exactly what I needed right now. The ability to write from home, to maintain an online presence even while living in Ennis, was the best I could possibly hope for. I hated the idea that I might not get the job. As I laid in bed on Monday night, I told myself to relax.

  “Whatever happens, happens,” I whispered as I rolled onto my side and squeezed my eyes shut.

  Not two minutes later, my phone buzzed beside me. I frowned and grabbed it. Who would be texting me so late at night?

  Michael’s name flashed across the screen, accompanied by an unread message notification. I smiled and opened the text.

  “Hey you,” it said. “Just thinking about you. Hope your interview went well.”

  Warmth fluttered through my chest. I grinned and laid my phone back down. It was too late to respond. I knew if I did, I’d never get to sleep.

  Still, Michael stayed in my thoughts as I drifted off. He occupied all my dreams that night, making me wake up the next morning in a much lighter mood. I was still smiling when the sun rose. I still couldn’t believe he’d had this effect on me. I hadn’t been single for that long and here I was, hooking up with someone new. No, it was more than hooking up, wasn’t it? I got out of bed and tried to keep myself busy before I drove myself nuts.

  The morning seemed to never end. Meghan said she’d call today, but she didn’t say when. I dreaded the idea of waiting by the phone all day. Instead, I jumped in the shower, made myself some breakfast, got dressed, and went for a walk. I was halfway to the town square when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

  My stomach dropped when I saw Meghan’s number on the screen.

  “Holy shit,” I said to myself. I shook my head roughly before I answered. “Hello? This is Julie Black.”

  “Julie!” Meghan said with enthusiasm. “I’m so glad I caught you this morning.”

  “Meghan,” I said. “It’s great to hear from you.”

  “Well,” Meghan said. “I have good news. The job is yours if you still want it.”

  “Of course!” I said, excitement dripping from my voice. “That’s amazing!”

  “I loved talking to you yesterday,” Meghan said. “And the team all really enjoyed your samples. You’re the perfect writer for us, and I can’t wait to see the stories you come up with!”

  “Thank you so much,” I said. “I really appreciate this opportunity.”

  “It’s our pleasure,” Meghan said. “So, I’ll send over your first assignment later today. We’ll need it emailed to our editors by next Monday at the latest, okay?”

  “Perfect,” I said without hesitation.

  “Great,” Meghan said. “Talk later.”

  “Thanks again!”

  We hung up, and I felt lighter than air. Not only did I get the job, but by the end of the day, I’d have my first assignment. Words couldn’t describe how happy I was.

  Changing course, I headed back to my house. I suddenly had no desire to take a walk around town or grab a cup of coffee at the café. I just wanted to get home and wait for my assignment to come through. My fingers were practically itching to start typing.

  On the way back, I called Andrea to tell her the good news.

  She squealed into the phone. “You got it?”

  “I freaking got it!” I screamed, not caring that there were other people on the street. “I can’t believe it!”

  “I’m on my way,” Andrea said.

  “What?” I blinked. “What are you talking about?”

  “We have to celebrate!” Andrea said. “And I have the day off. So, I’m coming to town. I’ll see you in an hour.”

  Andrea didn’t wait for my response. She just hung up and left me shaking my head in disbelief. Of course, Andrea was going to drive to Ennis. Why wouldn’t she?

  She pulled into my driveway just over an hour later. I grinned as I threw open the door and greeted her with a hug.

  “I brought sustenance,” Andrea said, holding up a bottle of champagne.

  “Should we really be day drinking?” I asked skeptically. “We’re not in college anymore.”

  “It’s not day drinking if it’s a celebration,” Andrea said, her tone serious. “Now, where are your glasses?”

  I led the way to the kitchen and grabbed two glasses from my top cabinet. We settled on the couch, sipping our champagne and catching up.

  I told Andrea all about the job and how excited I was. I thought about mentioning Michael, but I wasn’t sure how well she would take that news. After all, I moved to Ennis to get over my last relationship. Did I really want to admit that I’d already started another one? If that’s even what it was.

  Luckily, the subject never came up. After I finished telling Andrea all about the new job, she grew quiet and introspective, two things Andrea was not.

  “What’s up with you?” I asked, nudging her leg with my foot. “Drunk already?”

  “No.” She shook her head and sighed. “There’s something I should really tell you.”

  “Okay.” I sat up straighter. “What is it?”

  “I ran into Joshua the other day,” Andrea said. She spoke quickly, spitting the words out before she could change her mind. “At that Starbucks by the hospital. I was there for… Well, it doesn’t really matter. I stopped in to grab some coffee and, boom, there he was.”

  “Did you talk to him?” I asked.

  Andrea nodded. “He asked about you.”

  My stomach did a flip, but it was weaker than I expected. Hearing Joshua’s name used to send me into a spiraling depression. I hated thinking about him. Talking about him had felt like a unique form of torture. Now, it didn’t seem
to bother me as much.

  “What did you tell him?” I asked.

  “Just that you moved,” Andrea said with a shrug. “I said you were doing great, but that you left Dallas.”

  “And?” I pressed.

  “He was shocked,” Andrea said. “I guess he really had no idea.”

  “I told you.” I laughed softly. “He’s not really the type to check Facebook religiously.”

  “Still,” Andrea said. “You’d think he would have by now.”

  “Nah.” I shook my head. “Residency is too time-consuming, remember?”

  “Whatever.” Andrea rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I just thought you should know.”

  “Did you tell him where I moved?” I asked nervously. The last thing I needed was for Joshua to suddenly have a change of heart and show up at my doorstep.

  “God, no,” Andrea said. “Why the hell would I do that?”

  “Just making sure,” I said. “Thanks for telling me.”

  Andrea watched me closely as I took another sip of my champagne. I couldn’t have described my mood if I wanted to. I’d been so happy just moments before, and now, I was still happy but reserved. There was something about hearing Joshua’s name, something about knowing he had asked about me, that made me uncomfortable.

  “You okay?” Andrea asked.

  “Just…” I began. “I don’t know. It’s strange.”

  “What is?” Andrea asked.

  “I don’t feel sad anymore,” I said. “Before, when someone would mention him, I’d feel this weight on my chest. My eyes would burn, and I would want to cry.”

  “And now?”

  “It’s a different feeling.” I shrugged. “Less intense.”

  “You’re getting over him,” Andrea said wisely. “That’s a good thing.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” I smiled, and Andrea nodded encouragingly.

  We spent the rest of the day talking about anything but Joshua. My mind turned back to Michael and, by the time Andrea left, I couldn’t stop myself from calling him.

  “Julie,” he said when he answered. “I was wondering when I’d hear from you. How was the interview?”