Returning to Rockport: A Brother's Best Friend Romance

by Kelsey Clayton

  Realizing we’re alone makes me feel a lot better. The last thing any of us needs, is for Mav to hear me talking about hooking up with his sister – especially being as I currently live in his house. I sit up and place my elbows on my knees, leaning forward.

  “I sent her flowers this morning, wishing her luck for her interview.”

  “That was sweet of you.”

  I snort. “See, that’s what I thought, but she flipped out. She said that I was trying to sabotage things with Parker by signing my name on the card.”

  “Oh shit! Did he see it?!”

  “No.” Something I’m rather annoyed by. At least if he had seen it, she would have a reason to be mad, but instead she’s pissed at me over a hypothetical situation that never happened.

  I never expected when I woke up this morning, that McKenna and I would be fighting. Over the past couple days, we’ve been spending so much time together that I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. She’s been meeting me on my lunch breaks and we’ve even figured out how to get together after. As long as she’s not home too late, Parker hasn’t thought much about it. I guess I have Ivy to thank for it all. She’s been the cover for Mac and me. If anyone asks her where she is, she tells them she’s with Ivy. It’s not hard to believe, being as the two of them used to be inseparable.

  A throw pillow flies across the couch and hits me square in the face, pulling me from my thoughts. I glare over at Tatum but she only smirks.

  “The fuck, Tate?”

  “That’s for being an idiot. You’re lucky she’s even giving you the time of day after the shit you pulled. Don’t mess it up by pushing for too much. You won’t win by playing dirty.”

  I run my hands over my face. “I’m not sure I’ll win at all.”

  “Please. That girl has been crazy about you for as long as I’ve known her. You being a douchebag hasn’t changed that.”

  “I really hope not. I need her, Tatum. I’ve never needed anyone but fuck, I need her.”

  She smiles knowingly and nods. “I know you do, and you’ll have her – in her own time. I mean really, Parker Hall doesn’t stand a chance if he’s up against you.”

  Maverick walks in the door just as I finish thanking Tatum for the pep talk. He finds us both in the living room and smiles when his eyes land on his girlfriend. His hand reaches in his pocket and pulls out her keys, tossing them to her from across the room.

  “It’s all good to go.”

  She gets up and walks over to give him a kiss. “Thank you, baby.”

  “You do know I could’ve changed the oil, right?” I chime in.

  Maverick laughs. “Yeah, with all the free time you’ve had lately. I feel like I haven’t seen you in days and we live in the same house.”

  Okay so maybe he’s right, but I can’t exactly tell him where all my time has been spent. First, he would slaughter me, and then McKenna would bring me back to life just to kill me all over again. Instead, I just smile and nod.

  “Fair enough. Works had me on a pretty tight schedule.”

  Tatum snorts but covers it with a cough. I narrow my eyes at her which only makes it harder for her to not laugh. Knowing she’s about to risk blowing my cover, she grabs the large binder from under the table and turns back to Maverick.

  “I’ll be back in a bit.” She presses a kiss to his cheek and heads out the door.

  As soon as she’s gone, Maverick groans and flops onto the couch. “I really wish my sister would just cancel this damn wedding.”

  His words have me perking up in an instant. “You don’t like Parker?”

  “Of course not. He’s banging my little sister and I think he’s a complete tool, but I was referring to how I get practically no time with Tatum because she’s too busy planning their rush-down-the-aisle wedding.”

  I’m not sure what makes me feel sicker to my stomach – knowing that I’m banging his little sister too or that Tatum is still planning their wedding. Clearly McKenna didn’t tell her to stop. I hadn’t expected her to cancel it entirely, not yet anyway, but I at least hoped some of the planning would slow down. I mean, at this point they’re wasting time and money on something that won’t even happen. Well, at least it won’t if I get my way. After this morning, I can’t be too sure, regardless of what Tatum said.

  “He doesn’t seem all that bad.”

  It’s a total lie. I hate him more than I hated the kid that stole my Game Boy in third grade, but it’s enough to make it look like I’m not hopelessly obsessing over McKenna like some raging hormone, teenage boy.

  Maverick steals the beer from my hands and takes a swig. “Don’t give me that shit. I saw how relieved you were when he said he wasn’t coming to the club last week. You would’ve rather cut your own dick off than hang out with him any longer than you already had to.”

  Okay, so maybe Maverick wasn’t as clueless that night as I thought, but if he wants to believe Parker’s absence was the reason for my mood change that night, I’m not going to correct him.

  AN HOUR LATER, MAV and I are playing Call of Duty, yelling obscenities at what I can only assume is some thirteen-year-old kid who won’t stop talking shit. It’s been a while since him and I have been able to hang out like this. We may live together but with both our schedules lately, it feels like we only ever see each other in passing.

  Just as the results pop up showing we won the game, the front door opens. At first I think it’s Tatum, but when I hear McKenna’s voice, my heart starts to race. I don’t know if she’s tried calling or texting me because my phone is still in the kitchen, but she’s here. My car is in the driveway, so I know she’s not surprised by my presence.

  “You will never believe what happened!” She says excitedly as she walks down the hallway.

  As soon as she comes into view, I’m stuck in a trance. She’s wearing a pair of gray business type pants and a white blouse, looking like a sexy school teacher from every one of my teenage fantasies. Her hair is up in a bun with only a few strands hanging down to shape her face.

  She smiles as she sees me but when she spots Maverick, it falters. It’s enough for me to notice, but thankfully Mav is too into his victory to catch on. He steals my beer, again, and focuses his attention on his little sister.

  “Well? Are you going to tell us or are you just going to stand there?”

  As if she remembers what she came her for in the first place, her grin returns. “They offered me the job! You’re looking at the new kindergarten teacher for Rockport Elementary.”

  My chest fills with pride as I look at how happy she is. I had no doubt in my mind that they would hire her. They’d be crazy not to. She’s sweet, caring, and brilliantly smart. Anyone who spends more than five minutes with her can see she will make an amazing teacher.

  “Congratulations, Squid! That’s great!” Maverick gets up to give her a hug, one she accepts graciously. “What did Parker say when you told him? He doesn’t expect you to be a trophy wife, does he?”

  I snort, hearing the defensive brother persona in his tone. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if that was exactly what Parker wants. He seems like the kind of guy who needs to trap someone into staying with him. Yeah, he might appear all perfect and princely now, but once he knows he has her, he’ll turn into someone totally different.

  “O-oh.” She stutters. “I… I didn’t tell him yet. He’s at class.”

  Uh, what? I look up at McKenna and smirk as she side-eyes me, mentally begging me not to say anything. It’s unnecessary. I wouldn’t call her out on lying, at least not in front of Maverick. That would just open everything up to questions I’m not ready to answer yet. So instead, I smile down at my lap.

  “Well, I’m sure he’ll be happy for you, too.” Maverick says dismissively as his phone rings on the coffee table. He picks it up and looks at who’s calling. “I have to take this. Congrats again.”

  He walks down the hallway and out the front door, leaving McKenna and I alone in the living room. She pulls her hair
from the bun and shakes it out before running her fingers through it. I watch as it cascades over her shoulders and down her back. She doesn’t even realize how gorgeous she is.

  “You know, you’re getting pretty good at that.”

  Her eyebrows furrow as she looks as me. “Good at what?”

  “Lying.”

  She chuckles, falling back onto the couch beside me. “Yeah, well, I’ve had a lot of practice.”

  I’m not sure if it’s a dig at me or if she’s just being funny, but I can’t find it in me to care. She just admitted to lying to Maverick, which means Parker is home and yet she came here first to share the big news. Judging by the surprised look on her face when she noticed her brother, she didn’t come to tell him. She came for me.

  I cautiously reach my hand over and place it on hers. “I’m really proud of you, McKenna. I knew you’d rock that interview.”

  Her head falls to the side so she’s looking right at me. “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Always have so much confidence in me.”

  I tighten my grip just slightly. “It’s not confidence. It’s just a matter of knowing the truth. The only one who can’t see how amazing you are, is you.”

  Her eyes soften and she looks at me in that familiar way she always has. The look that makes my heart beat faster and time slow down. The look that tells me everything I need to hear every single second of my life. I’ve never seen it on anyone else, and I never want to.

  “I’m sorry I snapped at you this morning.” Her voice is so low it’s almost a whisper, as if she’s embarrassed to admit she did something wrong.

  “It’s okay. You were right – it was reckless.”

  “No.” She shakes her head. “It was thoughtful, and generous, and really sweet of you. They’re beautiful.”

  I use the hold I have on her hand to pull her into my arms. She goes willingly and I place a soft kiss to her forehead. “You are beautiful, but they’ll do.”

  15

  MCKENNA

  My head hangs over the toilet as I empty the contents of my stomach into it. Between the dizziness and the discomfort in my abdomen, the tile floor feels good against my heated skin. Parker wets a washcloth and hands it to me to rub over my face.

  “Are you okay?”

  In an attempt to nod, I only make myself more nauseous. “I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.”

  “So much for seeing my nan today.” He mumbles disappointedly as he leaves the bathroom.

  I don’t know what I managed to come down with, but it’s not fun. I spent the whole night vomiting, which means I’m completely exhausted. The idea of making the three-hour drive to Connecticut just to throw up in his grandmother’s house is just a whole lot of no thank you. Still, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t go.

  I brush my teeth and gargle some mouth wash before drying my face and heading downstairs. I’m sure that I look like death, with my baggy shirt and sweatpants. My hair is tied up in a messy bun that looks like it was done by a blind person. The paleness of my skin and bags under my eyes make my lack of sleep obvious to anyone that glances my direction. If his grandmother saw me this way, she would think her precious grandson is marrying a hobo.

  When I get into the kitchen, I find Parker rummaging through the fridge for something to drink. He pulls out two bottles of water and hands one to me. As soon as the cool liquid slides down my throat, I sigh in relief. It feels so good to wash the acidic feeling away.

  “I’m sorry I’m sick, but you should still go.”

  He turns to me, frowning. “I can’t leave you here by yourself, not when you’re like this.”

  “Babe, I’m a big girl. I can handle being sick on my own. And besides, she’s been really looking forward to this visit. You haven’t been there since Christmas.”

  “Speaking of…” He starts and I already know what he’s going to say. “You still haven’t told me if you’re going to come to England with me this year.”

  I roll my eyes. “Parker, it’s like six months away. Is an answer right now really that necessary?”

  “Yes. I’d like to book our tickets in advance. Flying over the holidays can be expensive, especially international flights.”

  This, this right here, is one of the things that drives me insane about him. The man standing in front of me is the same man who bought a new truck simply because he liked the color better than the one he had for only three months before that. Money has never been, and will never be, an issue for him. He’s simply being impatient and wants my answer now rather than later.

  “Well, if the price of the flight is that important to you, maybe you should save the money on my ticket all together.”

  He scoffs but doesn’t say anything before grabbing his wallet and keys off the counter. I watch him carefully as he walks towards me and kisses my cheek.

  “Feel better and call me if you need anything.”

  I nod. “Tell Nan I said hello.”

  His grandmother is a wonderful person, and even though Parker may be pissing me off at the moment, I hold no resentment towards her. She’s a sweet old lady who would rather horde teabags she found on sale than take the money her daughter offers her. Parker’s mother met his father during a year of studying abroad in London. She was completely enchanted with him and never ended up leaving. He comes from a wealthy family and his mother knew she wouldn’t have to work a day in her life, so she dropped out of college and they were married the following summer. Nan, however, absolutely refused to leave America, and while she’s always been happy for her daughter, she doesn’t hide her disappointment at the way she gave everything up for a man.

  As soon as I hear the garage door close, signifying that he’s gone, I grab the softest blanket I can find and wrap myself in it on the couch. When you’re sick, there’s nothing better than feeling as comfortable as possible. I turn on the investigation discovery channel – my guilty pleasure – and immerse myself into the world of criminally insane.

  Halfway through the second episode of Stalked, my phone dings with a Snapchat from Colton. I open it to find a picture of him, standing in the middle of a half-built house and looking as sexy as he always does in a tight fitted t-shit. There are no words, just a picture of him staring into the camera. I swipe to respond and take a picture of myself, wrapped in my blanket with my lip puffed out in a pout.

  The last few weeks, Colton and I have been spending every possible moment together. With Parker constantly being in Boston for school, it hasn’t taken much sneaking around. Don’t get me wrong, I feel guilty about going behind his back, but there’s just something about the way Colton makes me feel. I don’t think I could stay away if I tried.

  Things with Colton are perfect. He’s been acting the way I’d always wished he would. There hasn’t been a single day where I haven’t gotten a good morning text from him. He always asks how my day has been and when I’m in a bad mood, he tries to make it better. I’d be lying if I said I’m not completely wrapped back up in all things him and now I don’t know what to do.

  Parker is everything I should want. He’s kind, and sweet, and makes sure I know he loves me every single day even if we’re mad at each other – which isn’t often. He is the epitome of the perfect guy… for girls who want the perfect guy. Personally, I want someone who is going to challenge me. Someone who won’t deal with my bullshit simply because he’s too afraid to piss me off. I’m not asking for my house to be a constant war zone, but when everything is flawless 100% of the time, you start to get a little bored.

  Colton sends back a picture, mimicking my face with text this time. What’s wrong? I take a photo of the couch in front of me to answer. It’s bad enough I let him see me looking like a hot-mess-express once today. He doesn’t need more.

  Sick