Sure, his dad had just assigned him a bunch of busywork, but it took his mind off the stress in his life, and he was grateful for that.
Chapter Two
Tiffany twisted on the bar stool at the Tavern. She was sitting next to a very irritated Sean with pinched lips and folded arms. The fact that Jonathan was joining them for drinks had him in a foul mood.
So much so that Tiffany’s stomach was in knots. Anxiety rose up inside of her as she kept flicking her gaze over to the door, not sure what she was going to do when Jonathan came walking in.
“I just don’t understand why he has to join us,” Sean said as he unfolded his arms and grabbed the beer in front of him. He took a long pull and then set it down.
“Sean, we’ve been over this. He’s my best friend and I haven’t seen him in a long time. Come on, can’t you just put the past behind you?” Tiffany reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled herself closer to him.
Sean tensed for a minute and then relaxed, glancing down at her, his expression softening. “You know I have issues with Braxton,” he said. His voice was quieter now. Less tense.
Tiffany nodded as if she understood, but she really didn’t. Both guys were acting ridiculous. It’d been so long ago that it was a little childish that they were acting this way, but she couldn’t tell them that. It was best to just have them hang out together so that they could see how stupid they were acting.
Sean wrapped his arms around Tiffany and pulled her close, dipping down to press his lips against hers. Relief flooded her body as she kissed him back. Defusing Sean had become an art that she’d perfected. He was a good guy; he just got frustrated a bit too easily—especially when it came to Jonathan Braxton.
A huge cheer sounded in the bar, causing Sean to pull away and glance over toward the door. Tiffany’s heart picked up speed and Sean’s whole body tensed as Jonathan entered the Tavern. A flurry of moving bodies pushed past them and over to where Jonathan stood. Most of the room was either taking turns shaking his hand or clapping him on the back.
“Typical,” Sean said as he turned back to the bar and downed his beer.
All the hope that had risen in Tiffany’s chest deflated as she watched Sean’s shoulders tighten when Jonathan walked up.
“Hey, Tiff,” Jonathan said, reaching his arm around her and giving her a quick peck on the top of her head.
She whipped her gaze around and stared at Jonathan, hoping he’d get the hint.
He furrowed his brow as he stared at her. She held his gaze and then tipped her head toward Sean, who was spinning his now empty bottle on the counter.
Jonathan looked confused, but then realization dawned on him. He leaned forward and clapped his hand on Sean’s shoulder. “Hey, man, it’s good to see you.”
Tiffany hoped that Sean might actually be nice, but that disappeared when she saw Sean’s jaw flex and his gaze harden. He turned to Jonathan, breaking the contact between them.
“Hey,” Sean said, his voice strained.
Jonathan widened his eyes and flicked his gaze over to Tiffany. She softened her gaze, hoping he wouldn’t get upset. These were the two most important guys in her life. There was no way she could pick between them. They needed to figure out how to bridge this gap.
Jonathan must have picked up on her body language because he stuck his hand out and smiled at Sean. “I’m good with putting the past behind us if you are,” he said.
Sean glanced down at Jonathan’s hand and then turned to wave down Freddy and order another beer. When it became apparent that Sean wasn’t going to shake Jonathan’s hand, Jonathan dropped it, shoving both hands into the front pockets of his jeans.
Once Freddy delivered the beer, Sean grabbed it and then turned to Tiffany. “I can’t, Tiff. I’m going to play some darts. You can join me if you want to.”
Anger and frustration boiled up inside of her as she stared at Sean. Why was he acting this way? What had happened in high school wasn’t that hard to get over. Sure, the scouts had picked Jonathan instead of Sean, but she was sure that enough time had passed for him to get over that. Right?
Sean stormed over to the back of the Tavern, and Tiffany’s gaze followed him as he went.
“Well, that was amazing,” Jonathan said as he settled onto the stool that Sean had just vacated.
Tiffany sighed and turned to him. “Lay off, Jonathan. He’s going through something.”
Jonathan met her gaze, dropping his hand in an exaggerated movement. “May I remind you that I haven’t done anything wrong?”
Tiffany groaned as she grabbed her Sprite and slipped off her stool. “Neither have I, and yet I’m the one being punished for this.”
Jonathan studied her, and then his expression softened. “I’m sorry. I was a jerk in high school, and I’m sure I could have handled the situation better.”
Tiffany sighed, blowing a few loose strands of hair from her face. “You think?”
Jonathan’s shoulders slumped. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” he mumbled as he picked up his beer and took a drink.
Confused, Tiffany glanced over at him. “What?”
Jonathan pursed his lips. “Never mind.”
Realizing the longer she stood there talking to Jonathan, the madder Sean was going to get, she rested her hand on Jonathan’s forearm. “I want to hear about it, but not right now. I’ve got to go save my relationship.”
Jonathan nodded. “I get it. Go. I’ll be here.”
She gave his arm a squeeze and then made her way back to where Sean was whipping darts at the board. She had to jump out of the way as one went whizzing past her.
Frustrated that Sean was behaving this way, Tiffany stomped up to him and grabbed his arm, halting any further dart throwing.
“What happened to being nice?” she asked.
Sean’s face was red with fury as he dropped his arm and began spinning the dart around in his fingers. “I can’t do it, Tiff. I just can’t. That guy stole my dreams from me. How am I supposed to play nice with him?”
Tiffany tried not to groan. This had to end. “He didn’t steal your dreams from you. He just got picked. It happens sometimes. You have to stop blaming Jonathan for everything that went wrong in your life.”
Sean glanced over at her, his eyes wide. She could see the anger that resided there. It didn’t matter what she said to him, he was going to be angry with Jonathan forever.
“I can’t believe you are defending him,” Sean said. “It’s because of him that I’m stuck in this hellhole. I deserved to get picked over him. I was the better player. Now I’m rotting away in this town with nothing.” He stepped past her and flung another dart toward the board.
His words stung as they washed over Tiffany. Stuck here with nothing. Was that all she was to him? Nothing?
Unsure of what to say, she folded her arms and glared at him. Part of her wanted to walk away. To let him cool down. But the other part of her—the one that was winning right now—wanted her to stay and fight. She was tired of people making excuses to leave her. Her mom did that. Then her dad. When was she going to find a guy that wasn’t going to run at the first sign of struggle?
As if sensing her frustration, Sean turned to study her. Her expression must have said everything because he sighed as he lowered his arm. “Listen, I know he’s your friend. But one of these days, you’re going to have to pick. Jonathan or me.” He pushed his hands through his hair. “If we are going to be anything, I need to be more important to you than an old high school friend.” He met her gaze and held it.
Tears formed in her eyes as she studied him. Was he seriously asking her to choose? That wasn’t fair. Where did he get the right?
“Don’t do this,” she whispered as she reached up and angrily flung a tear from her cheek.
Sean’s expression softened as he stepped closer to her. “Don’t make me. If you want to see where this is going to go. Stay.”
Tiffany pinched her lips together as she glanced t
oward the ceiling, trying to figure out what she was going to do. There’s no way she would let Sean dictate who her friends could be. Maybe it was a good idea for them to take a break.
“I can’t. Jonathan’s my best friend.”
Sean studied her for a moment, and then his jaw set as he shrugged. “Then I guess you made your choice.” He turned and flung another dart at the board. This one hit sideways, ricocheting off the wall and falling to the floor.
Sean grabbed his beer, gave Tiffany one last look, and shrugged as he walked away.
Frustration and pain built up in her chest as she watched him leave. Part of her wanted to call him back. To convince him that she could still be friends with Jonathan and date him. They could find a way to make this work. But she knew deep inside that wasn’t the case. Things between her and Sean were over. At least, for now.
Maybe if he came to his senses, then she’d take him back. But right now, he didn’t deserve her. She couldn’t let her life be dictated by someone like Sean. If she were that easy to walk away from, maybe they never had what she so desperately believed they did.
Tiffany let out a frustrated sigh as she moved away from the dartboard and weaved through the crowd in search of Jonathan.
She found him leaning against the bar, talking to Spencer. He was friends with Josh and had recently opened up a gym in Honey Grove.
“Sounds like you have some amazing equipment. I’ll have to come check it out,” Jonathan said as he sipped his beer. Tiffany sidled up next to him, and Jonathan turned and raised his eyebrows as his gaze roamed her face.
Great. He didn’t even have to ask to know that something was wrong.
Spencer let out a whoop. “Really? Man, that would be amazing. Having an NFL player work out at my gym would definitely put me on the map.”
Jonathan glanced over at Spencer, his once cocky expression faltering. “Ah, man. I doubt that. But I’m happy to help if I can.”
Spencer clapped Jonathan on the back and then offered to buy everyone in the bar a round.
Jonathan glanced behind Tiffany. “Where’s Sean?”
Tiffany grabbed his beer from his hand and took a drink. “Nope. Off limits. I don’t want to talk about that right now.
Jonathan studied her and then leaned forward. “Wanna get out of here?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Jonathan laid a twenty down for Freddy and then grabbed her hand and pulled her from the Tavern.
Tiffany took a deep breath of salty air as the door closed behind them. She ran her hands through her hair and tipped her face toward the sky. When she lowered her gaze, she glanced over at Jonathan, who was watching her.
Suddenly self-conscious, Tiffany nudged him with her shoulder. “What?”
Jonathan chuckled. “Nothing.”
The crunching of the gravel under their shoes sounded as they walked over to Jonathan’s Jaguar.
“Seriously?” Tiffany asked as she walked over and peered into the car. “Flashy much?”
Jonathan chuckled as he shook his head. “Hey, now. It’s what all the football players are driving.”
Tiffany shot him a look as she nodded. “Sure. Right.”
Jonathan threw his keys in the air. “Wanna go for a ride?”
“Um, do you even have to ask?” she teased. She pulled on the door handle and slipped onto the dark leather seat.
Jonathan got in and started the engine, which roared to life. They buckled up, and then Jonathan peeled out of the parking lot and took off down the street.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked.
Tiffany sighed as she stared out the window. There was so much weight in that question, if only Jonathan knew. “Away from here,” she whispered.
“What?” he asked, leaning toward her.
Not wanting to be a downer, she smiled over at him. “The beach.”
Jonathan relaxed back in his seat, resting his wrist on the steering wheel. “Perfect.”
It took thirty minutes until they were parking in the lot next to their favorite beach. Thankfully, Jonathan had filled the silence with music. Tiffany leaned her head back and belted out the lyrics as the bass thumped around them. One nice thing about having a best friend was you didn’t need to talk. Just spending time together was enough.
Jonathan killed the engine and stuffed his key into his pocket as he climbed out.
“Last one to the water is a rotten egg,” he yelled as he peeled off down the sand.
“Oh, it’s on!” Tiffany yelled as she scrambled to unbuckle and take off after him.
The sound of waves crashing against the shore and the feeling of sand between her toes helped ground her. Tiffany ran, splashing into the water just to have Jonathan grab her around the waist and hoist her up.
“I won!” he yelled as he spun her around.
Tiffany whipped her head back, giggling as she tried not to puke on him. “Jonathan, I’m going to be sick,” she exclaimed, hoping he’d pick up on her desperation.
Jonathan chuckled as he set her down. Then he wiggled his eyebrows as he leaned in.
“The island?” he asked.
Tiffany smiled as she nodded. “Of course.”
Jonathan reached up and pulled off his shirt. Tiffany balked at how much he’d changed.
As if sensing her stare, Jonathan reached up in an attempt to cover his pecs. “Don’t objectify me,” he said, giving her a wink.
“I’m not. It’s just hard not to stare. You’re like…the Hulk,” Tiffany said as she reached out and poked his bicep.
Jonathan flexed it. “Yeah, well, I have to be. If not, I’d get completely run over,” he said as he unbuttoned his pants and pulled them off.
He then ran off to the water and dove in.
Tiffany watched him as she stripped down to her underwear. A weird feeling rose up in her stomach as she splashed into the water and began to swim toward Jonathan’s bobbing head. They weren’t kids anymore, running away together to escape her dad.
Jonathan had been there when everyone decided to leave. When her parents called quits on their marriage and walked off as if their new lives were more important than the broken one they left in Honey Grove. Their broken daughter.
Flipping onto her back and staring up at the star-filled sky, Tiffany took a moment to calm her mind.
This was Jonathan she was thinking about. Jonathan. The guy she’d done a blood oath with as a kid to always stay friends.
Nothing was going to come between them. Nothing.
Chapter Three
Jonathan sprawled out onto the beach as he waited for Tiffany to join him. The secluded island they’d found when they were kids was their hideout. The place they went to get away from the world. It felt great to get back to it. It reminded him of a simpler time, and right now, he needed that in his life.
Splashing drew his attention, and he leaned back on his elbow to watch as Tiffany walked up the beach.
Even though she was his best friend, he found himself appreciating the way her white skin glowed against her black underwear. Something he never would have thought as a kid—and even now, it was a tad strange.
Tiffany must have caught him staring because she hunched over as if to protect herself. “Hey now,” she said as she shuffled over and collapsed next to him.
Jonathan pulled up his knees and rested his elbows on them. “You gave me a hard time; it’s only fair,” he said, glancing over at her and giving her a wink.
It may have been his imagination, but Jonathan swore he saw her face flush.
“Yeah, well my transformation isn’t as impressive as yours.” She reached out to drag her finger through the sand.
Jonathan shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that.”
Tiffany whipped her gaze up to meet his. “Hey,” she said, reaching out to shove his shoulder.
Jonathan chuckled. “I can say this because I’m your best friend, but you’re a babe.”
Tiffany rolled her eyes. “You’re only saying that becaus
e I am your best friend.”
“Okay, fine.” Jonathan smiled. Even though he was joking, there was some truth to his words. Tiffany was beautiful. Her dark curly hair covered her shoulders and arms as she held onto her knees. Her dark eyes were wide and soulful. She was amazing.
And Sean was an idiot.
“Are you going to tell me what happened with Sean?” Jonathan asked. For some reason, he had this desire to drive back to the Tavern and punch the guy. Sean had always been a jerk, dragging Tiffany along in their on-again, off-again relationship. Last he knew, they were officially off, never to be on again. Some things never change.
Tiffany sighed as she grabbed a seashell and fiddled with it. “He told me to pick between you two.”
Yep. Tool. Man, Jonathan hated that guy. “Really? Wow, what a—”
Tiffany peeked over at him, causing him to pinch his lips shut. He should stop while he was ahead.
“You deserve better,” he said, reaching out and placing a sandy hand on her shoulder.
Tiffany leaned toward him, and out of instinct, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She leaned her head on his chest, and from the shaking of her shoulders, he could tell she was crying.
“Hey, hey,” he said, shifting away so he could catch her eye. When she didn’t look up, he pressed his finger under her chin. Finally, she met his gaze. There was so much hurt there that Jonathan was finding it hard to control his anger.
“Sean is an idiot if he thinks he can find someone better than you. You are…everything.” He gave her a smile he hoped told her that he meant what he said.
Tiffany chewed her lip as she studied him. “You think so?”
Jonathan nodded. “A few days away from you and he’s going to come running back.” Ugh, those words tasted bitter on his tongue. But she looked as if that was what she needed to hear. Especially when her lips tipped up into a smile.
She wrapped her arms around him. “You really are the best friend a girl could ask for.”
Jonathan chuckled as he held her close. “Thanks.”
A few seconds later, Tiffany pulled away and wiped at her cheeks. She had a determined expression on her face as she faced him. “Alright, tell me what’s going on. You’re all moody.”
Her Best Friend: Braxton Brothers Series Book Two Page 2
