Braydon(98)

The way her face softened, he knew she understood his meaning. He didn’t want to go into details with Cheyenne outside waiting for him, but he wanted Jessie to know that he did care about her. Sure, he had a shitty way of showing it. It didn’t change the fact that he considered her a friend. He wanted her to be happy. And if she found that with Braydon, then he was going to be happy for them both.

“I knew there was something going on between you and Braydon,” he added, holding up his hand when Jessie would’ve interrupted him again. “Not like that. I knew the two of you had feelings for each other. Feelings that . . .” God, this was harder than he’d anticipated. “I didn’t have.”

Neither of them moved, neither of them said anything until the silence was practically suffocating him. Only then did he say, “I want us to be friends, Jess.”

“I’d like that.”

“And when you and Braydon get married and have babies, I want to be around for that, too.”

Jessie’s face fell and Brendon realized he’d said the wrong thing.

“I’m not sure Braydon and I will be together anymore,” Jessie said sadly. “I’m kind of an idiot.”

As if they had somehow summoned Braydon telepathically, Brendon’s phone chirped. He reached for it in his pocket and glanced down at the screen. Sure enough.

What the f*ck are you doing at Jessie’s? was the text he had received.

Came to talk to her, was his reply.

Five seconds passed. Ten. And the next text made Brendon actually breathe easier.

I need to talk to you when you get a minute.

Will now work? Cuz this is getting really awkward.

Another brief pause before he finally received an answer.

Meet me at the house.

Done.

Brendon looked up at Jessie, trying to determine how he could get out of this easily. Since he had learned there wasn’t an easy way to do much of anything these days, he just blurted, “I need to go talk to Braydon. Do you mind if, uh, Cheyenne stays here for a little while?” he asked, glancing at the front door.

“I’d like that,” Jessie answered.

Well, hell. That was easier than he’d thought.

Pushing to his feet, he didn’t run to the door like he wanted. Instead, he waited for Jessie to stand and then he made his way over to her. Cupping her face briefly, he smiled down at her and then pulled her into his arms. “I really am sorry, Jess,” he whispered into her hair.

“Me too,” she said, her arms trembling as they wrapped around his back.

Drawing back from her, he kept his hands on her upper arms, forcing another smile. “This is gonna work out. Trust me on that.”

Jessie nodded, but he could tell she didn’t agree with him.

That was okay though. Brendon didn’t need her to.

Despite what Jessie thought, or even what Braydon thought, the two of them were meant for each other. He could feel it.



BRAYDON WANTED TO put his fist through the wall.

He hadn’t yet, but he feared he was going to soon.

The sound of Brendon’s truck pulling into the driveway relieved a small amount of the tension, but not much. Rather than wait for Brendon to join him in the house, he made his way outside.

The sun was settling down over the trees, the sky a hazy shade of blue. It made him think of Jessie’s eyes, which didn’t help his darkening mood at all.

He stepped outside, shutting the front door behind him. Leaning his hands on the wood rail that surrounded the porch, he took a deep breath. When he realized Brendon hadn’t gotten out of his truck, he looked over. That’s when he realized Cheyenne’s rental car was still there. But from where he stood, he could see that she wasn’t in the truck.

A minute later, Brendon was climbing down out of his truck.

“What did you do? Kill her and hide the body?” Braydon asked, only half kidding, as he nodded in the direction of Cheyenne’s car.

“She’s still with Jessie.”

“Why?” he asked, suddenly curious.

“Girl time. Shit, I don’t know.”

Braydon nodded, trying to appear as though he didn’t care. But he did.

Mainly because he wanted to be the one talking to Jessie.

“Feeling better?” he asked Brendon as he made his way up the steps.

“Still feel like shit,” his twin admitted. “But yeah.”

“I know the feeling.”

They were silent for a minute as they both stood on the porch, Braydon leaning forward with his hands on the rail, Brendon perched on the edge, leaning back against the wood post that held up the roof above them.

“Something happen with you and Jessie?” Brendon finally asked.

“Last time I saw her, she was packing her stuff,” Braydon admitted.

“Really? Why?”

“She thought you, me, and Cheyenne were making out on the couch.”

Brendon laughed. “Are you serious? Why the f*ck would she think that?”

“She came over right after you passed out. I guess from the doorway it might’ve looked like we were . . . It probably looked awkward from where she was.”

“Did you tell her what happened?”

“Yeah.” He had told her what happened. He still wasn’t sure she believed him.