The Better Brother

by Rye Hart

  “It was amazing,” I said. “I got the job.”

  “Congratulations!” Michael said. “That’s fantastic!”

  “Thank you.” I beamed into the phone.

  “Tomorrow,” he said simply. “You free?”

  “I am,” I said.

  “Great. We’ll celebrate then.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Michael

  Julie wore a short, tight black dress. She came to the door with her hair curled and her eyes alive with excitement. I tried my best to keep my eyes on her face, but it was impossible. That dress hugged every single curve, and my willpower just wasn’t strong enough. I looked her up and down, my eyes lingering on her bare legs and black high heels.

  “Like what you see?” she asked, her voice low and suggestive.

  I looked back up at her face. Her eyes were dark and full of that same, familiar hunger. I grinned and stepped forward. My hand slid around her waist, and I pulled her in for a kiss.

  I groaned against her soft lips. When we pulled apart, I sighed deeply. “You look incredible.”

  “Thank you.” Julie smiled and dipped her hips to the side, showing off her dress even more.

  I laughed and held out my arm for her. She took it, and we hurried toward my car. Once inside, I cranked the engine and pointed us out of town.

  “Where are we going?” Julie asked.

  “Into the city,” I said. “This is a celebration, after all. A fancy restaurant is in order.”

  “I don’t need fancy,” Julie said, laughing gently.

  “Which is exactly why you deserve it,” I said.

  Julie smiled as if she were surprised. From the look on her face, she wasn’t used to being spoiled. I wasn’t normally the type to go over the top for a woman but, with Julie, I couldn’t help myself.

  We arrived at the restaurant, and I had the valet park the car. I picked a French bistro for dinner. It was a place I’d been to often, and I knew Julie would love it.

  “You really didn’t have to do all this,” Julie said after I ordered us a bottle of champagne. “It’s just a job.”

  “I wanted to.” I shrugged, and Julie frowned. I searched her face. She was obviously upset. I wondered if I’d made a mistake. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “What?” Julie’s eyes snapped up to meet mine. She softened immediately. “No, no. Not at all.”

  “Then, what is it?” I reached across the table to take her hand.

  “It’s nothing,” she said. “I just… I know you’re used to this. Going to dinner at fancy restaurants. Spending your money without much thought.”

  I laughed. “Ouch.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I don’t mean that as an insult. But I’m not used to things like this. My family is much simpler. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to treat me this way. I’m fine with diners and cafes. I don’t need a lot.”

  “I don’t feel like I have to,” I said. “I just want to.”

  Julie considered me for a few seconds. I knew she was trying to determine whether I was serious or not.

  “Look,” I said. “I know we joke around a lot. Banter and flirting are great, but we’ve never had a really serious conversation before.”

  “No.” Julie shook her head. “I guess we haven’t.”

  “So,” I said, leaning back in my chair and spreading my arms wide. “Ask me anything.”

  “What?” Julie laughed nervously.

  “Anything you want to know,” I said. “I’m serious.”

  Julie hesitated for barely a second, then a wicked smile crossed her face as she leaned forward. I knew she was going to have fun with this.

  “How many women have you slept with?” she asked boldly.

  “I don’t keep a running tally.” I laughed. “Same question.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “Oh, come on,” I said, laughing again. “You didn’t think this was a one-way street, did you?”

  “I haven’t slept with any women,” she said playfully.

  I rolled my eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  “Three,” she said simply. “Including you.”

  I nodded and gestured for her to continue with her questions.

  “When was your last serious relationship?” she asked.

  I sighed. I knew this question was coming, but that didn’t mean I was ready for it. My last relationship wasn’t something I enjoyed talking about. Still, I promised Julie she could ask whatever she wanted.

  “Four years ago,” I said. “Her name was Amy.”

  “What happened?” Julie asked.

  “Well…” I sighed. “It’s a long story.”

  “Good thing we have four courses to get through,” Julie said with a grin.

  I shook my head and chuckled. Julie kept me on my toes more than anyone ever had. Just a simple conversation felt like I was being challenged in the best way.

  “We dated for a long time,” I said. “On and off for three years. But about four years ago now, we ended things for good after I found out she was cheating on me.”

  “Oh.” Julie’s eyes widened. “Wow. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m over it.” I shrugged. “At the time, it was devastating, to say the least. I really loved her, but when I saw that she was using my credit card to buy things for her boy toy, I knew it was time to cut bait and run.”

  “She used your card?” Julie asked, shock filling her voice.

  I nodded. “Classy, huh?”

  “What a bitch.” Julie shook her head.

  I laughed and nodded in agreement. “I didn’t realize it at the time,” I said. “But she was always wrong for me.”

  “I can understand that,” Julie said. A dark look crossed her face.

  “Your ex?” I asked.

  “Yeah.” Julie nodded and grabbed her champagne glass. She took a long sip and looked away. As much as I wanted to hear her story, I didn’t want to force anything.

  “You don’t have to talk about it,” I said. “It’s okay.”

  “Fair is fair, right?” she asked lightly.

  I smiled. “I guess so.”

  “We were together for two years,” she said simply. “Two years, and I thought I was in love. Really, truly, deeply in love. The kind of love that actually means something.”

  “I know the feeling,” I said kindly.

  “But,” she said. “He finished medical school and started his residency. Apparently, I didn’t fit into his plan after that. He dumped me because he was too busy for a relationship.”

  “He’s an idiot,” I said simply.

  Julie nodded. “I realized that afterward,” she said. “It just sucked because I put so much into our relationship. I sacrificed my time and my energy. God, I even helped him track down his long-lost brother.”

  “Long-lost brother?” I asked, frowning slightly.

  “Yeah,” Julie said. “His mom had a kid just a few years after he was born. She couldn’t keep the baby, so she gave him up for adoption. My ex, he always knew about the baby, but he never met him. He wanted to, though. So, I helped him figure out which adoption agency his mom used and stuff.”

  “But you never wanted to meet him yourself?” I asked.

  “No.” She shook her head. “He didn’t want that. He said it was too new, too fresh. He didn’t want anything to complicate their relationship. Which, at the time, made total sense to me.”

  I laughed. “Not really. If you went through the trouble of helping, you should’ve met his brother. I mean, at the very least.”

  Julie shrugged. “I just chalked it up to confusing family dynamics,” she said. “I didn’t want to step on any toes, so I took a backseat.”

  “Confusing family dynamics are a bitch,” I said knowingly.

  “Yours?” Julie asked, raising her eyebrows.

  “I’m adopted, too,” I said. “My parents adopted me when I was a baby.”

  “Really?” Julie asked. “Wow, that’s crazy.”
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  I laughed. “Not really. Honestly, I never thought about it much until I became an adult. My mom told me when I was five, so it was just this thing I always knew. My friends came from their parents, but I didn’t. My parents chose me. In a way, it made me feel special.”

  “That’s a really nice way to look at it,” Julie said with a soft smile.

  “I think that’s why my parents are so hard on me,” I said. “They tried for years to have a baby of their own, but they couldn’t. So, when they got me, everything changed for them. They worry about me. They agonize over my decisions. They hover.”

  Julie snorted. “Sounds like my parents.”

  “Tell me more about them,” I said. I leaned forward and took a sip of my champagne.

  Julie launched into stories from her childhood while I listened. We ate dinner slowly, neither of us in a rush to get home.

  That night, for the first time, Julie and I grew closer. We’d been connected from the moment we met. Our physical attraction was undeniable. We could flirt and banter better than any couple. But after that night, things changed between us. Our connection deepened.

  We talked about our families, our exes, our dreams. Anything and everything we could think of.

  When I dropped her off that night and kissed her goodnight, it was different. That deep-seated longing was still there—my body ignited when she touched me, just like always—but there was something more beneath the kiss. Something deeper. Something meaningful.

  CHAPTER 13

  Julie

  Saturday was fast approaching, and I realized I didn’t have a thing to wear to Michael’s holiday party. I scoured my closet, pulling out every dress I owned. Still, I found nothing. By the time Thursday morning arrived, I was desperate for a little help.

  I grabbed my phone and dialed Bethany’s number. She picked up on the second ring, her voice lively.

  “Jules!” she said brightly. “What’s up?”

  “Hey,” I said. “I’m heading into the city to do some shopping, you interested?”

  “Hell, yes!” she said. “Just let me call the sitter.”

  “You have time,” I said. “I’m not even dressed yet.”

  “Take your time,” she said. “I’ll be home all day.”

  “I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

  “Great!”

  We hung up, and I quickly threw on some comfortable clothes. I doubted I’d be able to find a high-class boutique in Ennis. Plus, I really wanted a day out with my big sister. We hadn’t seen each other since we had dinner with our parents. It was a great reunion, but it didn’t give us a chance to really talk about anything.

  I drove into the city, calling Bethany on the way. The route to Bethany’s house was a familiar one. She and Bryan moved into their neighborhood the week after college. They’d been there for almost thirteen years now.

  As I pulled into the driveway, I remembered all the times I escaped to this house when I was younger. In high school, I would spend weekends with Bethany and Bryan just to have a break from my mom and dad. Then, in college, I used to bring my laundry over once a month. They never complained. If anything, they were both just happy to see me.

  “Sister!” Bethany squealed when I let myself in the front door. “You’re here!”

  “I am,” I said. She hugged me quickly and then ushered me inside.

  Layla was sitting on the living room floor. A woman I assumed was the babysitter was sitting beside her, showing her different pictures in a book.

  “There’s my girl,” I said. I scooped Layla into my arms and kissed her temple. She giggled and squirmed to get away.

  “Put me down, Aunt Juwee!” She squealed playfully and kicked off me.

  I laughed and set her back down. She was at the age of rambunctious behavior. Being held was for babies, and, as Layla liked to say, she was “a big dirl!”

  “You ready to go?” Bethany asked. She grabbed her purse off the couch and threw it over her shoulder.

  I smiled. “Yup. See you later, Layla Bug.”

  “Bye, bye!” Layla waved at us as we slipped out the front door.

  “New babysitter?” I asked as we climbed into my car.

  Bethany nodded, a nervous expression crossing her face. She did her best to be a laid-back mother, but I knew it was hard for her.

  “She has great references,” Bethany said. “But who knows?”

  “You’re a worrier,” I said. “Just like Mom.”

  “Do not compare me to our mother,” Bethany said severely. “I am nothing like she was.”

  “If you say so.” I laughed.

  Bethany scowled at me, but her mood quickly brightened as we drove closer to the city. There were a few shops downtown that I wanted to check out. I wasn’t sure how nice the party was going to be. Knowing Michael, it would be high-class to the utmost degree. That last thing I wanted was to be underdressed.

  “What are we looking for exactly?” Bethany asked as we stepped into the first shop.

  “I need a dress for this weekend,” I said. “I’m going to a holiday party at the Four Seasons, so I need something really nice.”

  “Whoa,” Bethany said. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Four Seasons? Fancy.”

  “Not really,” I said with a shrug. “It’s just a company Christmas party.”

  “For your new job?” she asked.

  “No…” I trailed off, not sure how to explain things.

  Bethany looked at me quizzically. I didn’t know how much I wanted to tell her just yet. Things between Michael and me were still new.

  “Spill,” she said flatly. She put her hands on her hips and stared me down the way only a big sister could. “Now.”

  I sighed and started flipping through the sales rack. I barely saw the dresses that slipped through my fingers, but it was a useful distraction until I could figure out the best way to explain.

  “His name is Michael,” I finally said. “We met at this little café in Ennis. He’s really nice.”

  Bethany just kept staring at me. She wanted more details, that was obvious.

  “And?” she pressed impatiently.

  “He owns his own company,” I said. “Making tools for oil rigs and things like that.”

  “Wow.” Bethany nodded approvingly. “Wealthy?”

  I nodded. “Extremely.”

  “Hence the fancy-ass Christmas party,” Bethany said with a knowing nod.

  “Yup.”

  I hoped she would let the subject drop, but I should have known better. As we fiddled with the dresses, her eyes kept returning to my face.

  “What?” I finally snapped. “What else do you want to know?”

  She laughed. “Everything!”

  “Fine.” I groaned and turned to face her head on. “He’s amazing, okay? I’m completely smitten, and I feel like a total idiot for it.”

  “Why?” Bethany asked. “Smitten is a good thing.”

  “Not right now.” I sighed. “I just got my heart stepped on. I don’t know if falling for another guy is the best decision right now.”

  “You can’t control when these things happen,” Bethany said. “Sometimes, you just meet someone and boom. The rest is history.”

  “Easy for you to say,” I said. “You met the love of your life while you were still a kid.”

  “I got lucky,” Bethany admitted. “This thing with Michael, is it serious?”

  “We—”

  Before I could finish my sentence, a familiar face caught my eye. Joshua was walking past the shop. He stopped right outside and looked around for a few seconds. My feet were frozen in place. I told myself to move, to duck behind the rack of dresses and hide, but I couldn’t. I just stood there and stared until, finally, he kept walking.

  “Was that Joshua?” Bethany asked, her eyes wide.

  “Yup.” I shook my head and exhaled slowly. “That was close.”

  “You haven’t seen him since the breakup?” Bethany asked.

  “Go
d no,” I said. “And I don’t plan on it.”

  “How do you feel about everything?” Bethany asked. “I mean, now that you’ve met someone new? Do you miss Joshua at all?”

  I paused to think. My immediate answer would have been no, but this was my sister I was talking to. I wanted to tell her the truth, even if I didn’t want to admit it to myself.

  “Sometimes,” I said softly. “But it’s not really him that I miss. Just the routine we used to have. Honestly, I barely think about him anymore.”

  “Really?” Bethany asked. “So, then… Michael?”

  “I don’t know how serious we are,” I said. “But I like him a lot.”

  “Are you sleeping with him?” she asked.

  “Personal much?” I laughed.

  “I used to change your diapers,” she said with a scowl. “Just tell me.”

  “Yes,” I said. “We’re sleeping together.”

  “So, things are pretty serious then?” she asked again.

  “They’re moving in that direction,” I said.

  Bethany beamed and returned her attention to the task at hand. She quickly found me four dresses to try on, three of which were the perfect shade of blue to match my eyes. I grabbed a black dress that I thought would look great on me and hurried into the dressing room.

  After trying on all the dresses, I still hadn’t found the right one. Bethany pushed for one of the blue ones, but it didn’t feel right. I wanted something perfect, something striking but elegant.

  “You’re being too picky,” Bethany said.

  “I just want to look nice,” I said defensively.

  “And you will,” Bethany said. “But you just have to pick one. You look amazing in all of them.”

  “You’re my sister,” I said. “You have to say that.”

  She shook her head. “False. I would tell you if you looked like a bag of crap.”

  I laughed and dragged her out of the store. There were a couple more shops down the street that I wanted to try.

  “Do you think he’s still around?” Bethany asked, lowering her voice as we stepped onto the street.

  “Who?” I asked.

  “Joshua,” Bethany said.

  “Oh.” I blinked. Joshua had been completely driven from my mind. Bethany questioned me about Michael so much that I barely had time to think about anything else.