Chapter 6
Sibling for Sale
Holly
My heart thuds in my chest like a car that has sub woofers and a popping rap song on max volume.
Alex sits casually in my living room on the love-seat across from where I'm nestled into my couch, a throw blanket on my lap.
I wipe my palms on my Burberry sweatpants and try to get the words I need to say out of my dry mouth.
“So...” I can’t even get more than one word out.
Alex chuckles. “Spit it out, Holly. I haven’t seen you this nervous since you told me you wanted to move out and go to university.”
I clear my throat and try again. “I’m getting married to Mateo in two weeks.”
Alex stands up and walks toward the kitchen while running his hands through his hair. He stops, and I see his chest rise and fall a few times before he walks back to the couches.
He stares straight into my eyes and says two words:
“Absolutely not.”
Instantly my anxiety is vanquished by fiery indignation.
It’s a good thing there is a coffee table separating us because I want to jump up and strangle him. It’s probably the shock at his blatant rejection of my statement that keeps me on the couch and not in the boxing ring.
He didn’t just say what I think he said… right?
It might be time to put my brother up for sale on Facebook marketplace.
“Come again?” I say. The ad is typing itself up in my mind the longer I stare at my older brother who didn’t even give me a chance to explain before shutting me down.
“You can’t marry Mateo.” Alex shrugs, as if he hasn’t just blown my plans for this conversation to smithereens with those four little words.
“What do you mean, I can’t marry him?” I’m not usually one to yell, but this is a yelling moment.
He holds his hands up, pleading innocence.
“When you called saying you wanted to get married to get the media off your back and to get rid of the creepers, I thought your relationship would follow a normal timeline. I didn’t expect you to freak out and get married to my best friend in two weeks.
” He shakes his head back and forth, his blond hair that matches mine falling into his eyes. “You can’t do it.”
The part about marrying his best friend is understandable to be upset about.
But the second part has my blood boiling as my body temperature heats.
He doesn’t even know how Mateo has already helped me.
He doesn’t know about the call to the police the other night.
This decision feels right and makes me feel safe.
I’m not backing down. “Who are you to tell me who I can and cannot marry?”
Alex’s eyes twinkle as he folds his arms and smirks. “Your older brother who thinks this is an atrociously bad idea.”
I groan and throw myself back onto my pile of throw pillows, pulling the fuzzy blanket over my head so I resist screaming and pummeling my brother. I was nervous to tell Alex but I didn’t think I would get this angry over his objections.
“I can’t even look at you right now. You do not get to tell me who can’t be my husband,” I mumble.
Weight settles at the other end of the couch, and Alex’s hand lands on my knee, giving it a gentle squeeze. I yank my leg out of his grasp.
He sighs. “I know finding good men around here is a struggle. But Mateo lives in Oregon. You live here in California. Why do you need to marry him, anyway?”
I’m not surprised Alex heard and understood my mumblings from where I’m buried in blankets and pillows.
Then again, he practically raised me for the last few of my teenage years because our parents were narcissistic alcoholics who only cared about partying so they could show off Alex's money while drinking the night away, not about their children.
Alex saw the many meltdowns of teenage Holly, and the many throw pillows thrown in teenage rage and angst. I’ve been feeling more and more like a teenage Holly lately, mad at the world and insecure about my place in it. This conversation feels oddly triggering.
I peek out of my blanket and glare at Alex. He’s just sitting there, all relaxed, as if he hasn’t got me second-guessing everything I’ve planned with Mateo and triggering the anxiety I’ve worked so hard to control.
I point at him. “The distance is a problem we’re going to figure out together.
But I know enough about Mateo, and more importantly, you know Mateo.
You know he’s the best choice for a husband.
He’s the best single guy we both know. Plus, he’s going to respect my boundaries.
So, you’re going to have to get over it.
” I fold my arms, determined to stay angry, though just thinking about Mateo has my rage softening.
Alex arches an eyebrow at me. “How would a marriage to Mateo even work? Please tell me it isn’t going to be a real one?” He shudders.
“It’s none of your business, brother dearest. But for your information, the paperwork will be real. In reality, he’ll be my platonic roommate, occasional date, and husband in name only.”
Alex nods, his lips quirking. “At least he has sisters and a mom who’ve taught him how to live with a woman.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Marriage sure can be an adjustment.”
I snort. “Probably for you. You lived on your own for years.”
He clears his throat and gives me a pointed look. “And exactly when was the last time you had a roommate?” He looks around my house. “Oh yeah, that’s right. Not since you lived with me.”
I sniff and look away. “Touché. But that’s beside the point.” I shrug. “We’ll make it work.”
My heart tugs at me, urging me to tell Alex about Jorge, his threats, and now his stalking. But how do I confess to my big brother that my life is falling apart, that I lied to Jorge about being engaged to Mateo, and that I’ve convinced his best friend to enter a marriage of convenience with me?
I can’t.
I can’t tell because that’ll put one more burden on Alex when he should be enjoying his blossoming career and his new wife. He has his own responsibilities and I need to be responsible for myself.
Which is why I called Mateo last night before calling the police. Which I should have done in reverse order.
I grimace. Yep. I’m managing my issues and being responsible so well.
The memory of Mateo’s soothing voice filters through my mind. He gave me the courage to make that hard phone call to the police. Somehow, he helped me have the backbone I needed to stand up for myself.
Mateo is one major green flag of a man. I want more of the green flag moments in my life.
It finally clicks why Mateo’s name was the first one I thought of when I lied to Jorge about being engaged: He was my knight in shining armor, coming to rescue me from grabby-hands Jorge.
Mateo didn’t make a single move on me that evening.
He was a friend, he was easy to talk to, and he cleaned up good for the event.
For a moment, I daydream of him escorting me to all the galas and professional events I go to with my existing clients or to meet new ones. Mateo could pull off the fancy look really well if I got some product into those curls of his.
I like Mateo. Which I can’t say about the majority of men I know. He’s attractive, rocks a suit, and I know he can handle himself at the events I attend. He’s protective and I’m totally in denial about how attractive that is and how attracted I am to him.
My mouth waters as I remember eating chocolate Frostys on my almost date with Mateo.
It was the most relaxed I’ve ever been around a man.
Green flag number two, Mateo didn’t feel like a threat, and he didn’t want anything from me.
It was so easy to simply exist around him, not to mention eating food in front of him.
I didn’t feel like I was going to scare him away by dipping fries in my Frosty, and finishing all of it in a few short minutes.
I didn’t feel judged for having an appetite.
I need another chocolate Frosty stat—and to get Mateo out of my mind.
I highly doubt I can get over my past enough to trust a man enough to have a real relationship, not just a fake one.
Who can blame me? The only healthy relationships I’ve witnessed are between my brother and his wife, and his in-laws, Momma T and Stanley.
Alex groans and covers his face with his hands. The sound pulls me from my delicious daydreams.
I nudge his leg with my foot. “What?”
He drops his hands, his blue eyes glaring at me. “You had the look on your face.”
“What look?”
He shakes his head. “Never mind. You’re going to do this no matter what I say. Aren’t you?”
I study his face. We share so much, including the same shade of blue in our eyes, our peachy complexions and sun-streaked blonde hair.
Yet, how did my brother, who shares my past, grow enough to be in a healthy relationship?
Do I need to get amnesia and forget everything and end up in a small town to find the love of my life, too?
I mentally brush those questions aside and focus on his question. “Yes, I’m going to go through with this. Do you give your blessing?”
He crosses his arms and grunts. “Isn’t he supposed to ask me that question?”
I shrug. “This isn’t exactly typical. I figure I can ask instead.” I flip my hair over my shoulder, trying to channel the playful sister role I usually easily fall into around Alex.
Alex rubs his hand down his face again. “I still think this is weird.” He throws his arms up in the air and starts making animated gestures with his hands.
“He’s my best friend. What’s it going to be like after you guys divorce?
What if one of you falls in love with the other but you’re not both in love?
Is this going to make my friendship with my best friend awkward for life? ”
I bite my lip and curl further into my blanket. Why hadn’t I thought about how this would affect Alex and Mateo’s friendship? I should have, because these are completely valid questions, but I’ve been too wrapped up in my issue to think about the long-term effects of our arrangement.
Time to be honest.
“Alex, I can’t tell you how it’s going to be.
I can tell you that Mateo is a great guy.
We both know that, and I don’t think he’d hold it against you if things don’t work out with me.
I don’t know why he accepted so fast, besides the fact he’s practically perfect, he’s the only one I feel like I can turn to right now.
If it makes you feel better, I’m not ready for anything beyond friendship.
I doubt anything romantic is going to happen between us. ”
Alex eyes me, disbelief marring his features. “This is going to end really badly. I reserve the right to say ‘I told you so’ when it crashes and burns and you can’t make me pick sides. He’s my best buddy.”
I nod. “Those are fair terms.”
Alex sighs. “I concede. You both are adults who can make your own decisions. Just note my concerns in the paperwork, please.”
I smirk, knowing it’ll rile him up. “I’ll make sure it ends up in the paperwork that goes into my shredder on a daily basis.”
“Fine. I’ll make a note for myself later.” Alex pulls out his phone and starts typing something.
I grab my phone from the coffee table and pull up the Doordash app.
Alex turns to me. “Did you talk to Reina about this?”
I smile as I think about my conversation with my sister-in-law yesterday. The minute I said Mateo’s name, and that we were getting married, she cheered. Although, she was hoping we were really in love.
“Reina is cool with it.”
He nods. “Good. Mateo is like her brother. If she disagreed with your scheme, I’d have to rescind my approval.”
“I know. That’s why I called her first. She’s fully on board. Unfortunately, she told me I’d have to break the news to you. Some sister-in-law she is.” I roll my eyes with mock outrage.
Alex’s eyes narrow. “That’s my wife, and I can still take you in a tickle fight.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I challenge.
There’s a mischievous glint in his eye. “Watch me.”
Alex lunges toward me, but I roll off the couch and scramble across the floor. He’s on me in seconds, tickling my sides before I break away with a screech. I sprint toward the bedrooms on the other side of the house.
“You can see yourself out, brother dearest,” I yell behind me.
His laughter rings out through the living room, but I’m not taking any chances. Alex is the best, most annoying big brother ever, and our tickle fights get brutal. It’s one way he’d break down my walls when I would hole up and not want to talk as a teenager.
I may be an adult, but I’m tired of talking.
I want a Frosty.