Chapter 44
forty-four
. . .
Brynnlee
“Can you not be such a tool,”I whisper yell at my brother as I stand next to him for photos. He’s been staring down Jensen for the last hour and it”s giving me heartburn.
“Did you have to bring the asshole to my wedding?” he whispers back, still faking his best smile.
“Well, you’re an asshole so I figured I’d even it out and bring one more.” From the moment Jensen arrived my brother’s mood had changed. He was doing his best to keep up the over the moon groom act, but anyone who was paying attention would be able to see right through it.
“He used you.” His tone is harsh.
“You have no idea what you are talking about.” And truthfully if he didn’t care enough to find out the real details, then I wasn’t going to willingly share them. “I never asked you to stick your nose in my business, so maybe you can worry about your own life, and I’ll worry about mine.”
“Yeah, until you’re crying in your office because the prick went back to his wife.”
“Speaking of wives, don’t you think you need to concentrate on yours. Maybe not be a prick when it’s not warranted and manage to ruin her day in the process.”
He forces a smile and I laugh.
“You look constipated.” I bite my lip.
“And you look like a fool.” I pinch his side, where my hand was strategically placed for photos and enjoy his flinch.
“Will you two act like adults,” my father chastises us and I roll my eyes. He should blame himself for raising such a self-centered dick!
“If he couldn’t be faithful to his wife, then what makes you think he will be to you?” Sebastian is really starting to get on my nerves. But though I know the truth my brother”s words still manage to hit me someplace deep triggering a doubt that I don’t want to have.
I spend the remaining time forcing a smile and pretending to be so happy, but the truth is, on the inside my stomach is bound tight. Like a knot in my stomach that was getting more unbearable with each passing minute.
I look up and notice Jensen sitting at a table with Marco and they are both smiling as they observe us posing. When our gazes connect he winks and I quickly look away.
I know him. I’ve spent the last several weeks learning every little detail of his life. Not only from him but also his mother and sisters. He’s shared the horrible details of his marriage, if that’s what you want to call that disaster. I could see the sadness in his eyes when he told me that is a time he’d rather forget.
I know him.
I look up again and see him watching me, a pensive look on his face.
“Okay one more,” the photographer announces as she gathers me and my brother and positions us side by side. “I’ve gotten everyone but the groom and his best man, or best gal in this case.”
Yes, I was my brother”s best man. Yes, some might find that strange. We fight a lot, we challenge one another at every single turn. Right now I may hate him for the doubts he is giving me, but the truth is, Sebastian is one of my best friends. I know he’s looking out for me in the best way he knows how. He’s a hard man, he’s always been that way. He doesn’t know how to make things light and airy, he says what’s on his mind when it”s there, without thinking it through. But there are times, much like this very evening, that he isn’t my favorite person.
I step up to my brother”s side and lean in, but the space between us is obvious. I force a smile, he stares ahead, and when I glance at him I can tell he is looking past the photographer. His eyes narrow and it hits me. “Are you fucking serious?”
Sebastian turns his attention to me. “He’s gonna hurt you.”
“And when he does, if he does,” I correct, “that is my problem and not yours.”
“Now you know that’s shit.” He chuckles and it”s the first time I see a genuine smile on his face as he reaches out and hooks my shoulders pulling me in closer. “If someone hurts you, they better fucking run.”
Laying my head on his shoulder I close my eyes as his words sink in. No matter how much I fight it, no matter how hard I push and pull, he will never turn a blind eye. He has never been that kind of brother and I know he never will be.
“Everything okay?”Jensen sways with me as he rests his hands on my hips. I’m well aware of the fact that I’m looking anywhere but at him.
“Yeah, everything”s fine.”
The minute the words leave my mouth I feel him chuckle, triggering me to look up at him. “Baby I think we both know that things are so far from fine.” I arch my brow. “I know your brother doesn’t like me. I also know that he’s confident that you and I aren’t going to work and I’m somehow the bad guy in this scenario.”
“He’s concerned.” I have no idea why I’m trying to defend my brother”s actions. I’m in my current mood, feeling insecure and unsteady because of him.
Leaning in, Jensen rests his forehead to mine and he closes his eyes. “He’s your brother, so I won’t get pissed about him putting doubts in your head. But I will say, I adore you, I love you, and the fact that you’ve given me a second chance means the world to me. I don’t take it lightly, and I won’t hurt you.”
I take a deep breath, slowly letting it out.
“I can honestly say before we were us, I was a man that I didn’t like.”
“And now?”
“I’m exactly who I want to be.” He wastes no time responding. “You bring out the best in me, you make me want to be a better man, for you.”
Curling in closer, I tighten my hold on him and rest my cheek onto his shoulder, nuzzling his neck. Jensen turns into me, his nose grazing my cheek. “If it takes me a lifetime to prove to you how important you’ve become to me, then I’ll spend every day showing you just that. But you’ve got to know one thing,” he pauses, kissing my temple. “I screwed up by not telling you from the start. But I could never, have never, and will never cheat. I’m not built that way babe, that you never have to worry about.”
“I know,” I confess, hating where we are right now.
“Do you?” I lift my head and look up at him. “Do you know that I’ll never hurt you?”
Nodding, I look him in the eye, seeing the seriousness there.
He lifts his hand to cup my face, as he stops moving and ensures he has my full attention. “No one has ever made my heart race and calm me all at the same time. There isn’t anything I won’t do for us, you and me, I want it more than anything.” Then without another wasted second he presses his lips to mine and in the middle of the dance floor he shows the entire room of guests that I’m all he sees.