Brody
Cassie
Five Years Ago
It was hard to get her alone, considering the way Liam circled her like she was the President and he was the sole member of Secret Service, but at last I got her.
I was surprised that he’d left her side for even a second, but at this gala he had responsibilities. There were teammates who wanted to talk to him, probably knowing it might be another ten years before anyone could get him to show up at a social function again.
Everyone always wanted to talk to Liam, and the fact that he didn’t want to talk to anyone didn’t seem to deter them.
Well, I didn’t want to talk to anyone except the little blonde I was about to ambush.
I slid over into the seat beside her, noticing the way she flinched in surprise when I cleared my throat.
She’d been so totally lost staring off at Liam, who was talking to some of the guys a few feet away, that she hadn’t heard me approach.
Liam, razor-sharp instincts and all, clocked me the second I appeared next to his girl and shot me a warning look.
“Hey, blondie,” I said, “we haven’t gotten the chance to officially have a conversation yet, so I figured it was time to rectify that considering we’re going to be in-laws and all.”
“W-what?” she sputtered, face reddening in seconds. “What does that mean?”
“Oh, because I’m marrying Maggie,” I told her. “And since you clearly stole my friend’s heart, it looks like you two won’t be that far behind us.”
I didn’t think it was possible for her face to turn even pinker, yet somehow she exceeded my expectations for the shade a human complexion could turn when faced with embarrassment.
I laughed. She was pretty adorable. I could see what Liam saw in her. And honestly, she was the perfect girl for him—someone sunny to balance out his broodiness.
“I thought you knew that we were just pretending,” she whispered, but I heard the bullshit in the pitch of her voice.
“Pretending, huh?” I grinned. “If you say so. But just so you know, Liam already promised me a spot in the wedding party.”
Cassie’s head snapped over to where he stood so fast I thought she was going to break her neck. And I’d be responsible. And Liam would kill me. And then I’d never get to marry Maggie.
So basically, I had to wrap this up.
Cassie and Liam needed to figure it out on their own and I was content to let them do that, because I knew they would.
I had a knack for things like that. Knowing when a couple had what it took to go the distance or not.
That’s why I knew right away Maggie was the one for me. I felt it. And my instincts had never led me astray before.
“Anyway,” I said, knowing I only had a few seconds left before Liam stormed over demanding what I said to make Cassie have that scared-shitless look on her face, “I just wanted to let you know that if you ever need anything I’ll be your go-to guy, because like I said—we’re practically family now.”
“Go-to for what?”
“I don’t know. If you need to rant about Liam and his scowling problem—”
She laughed.
“—or anything else.” I shrugged. “I’m here. Part of your team now.”
“Why?” she asked, completely dumbfounded.
“Because you’re Liam’s girl—”
“I’m not,” she shook her head hastily.
“And because you’re Maggie’s, too. And those two are the best people in my life. So, I’ve got your back. Okay?”
I stood up, content with our conversation and having finally gotten an official feel on the girl that was important to both my best friend and my girlfriend.
She had my stamp of approval.
Hell, she probably had everyone’s.
I was glad that Liam and Maggie had someone like her in their corner.
“Hey, Brody,” she called, as I started to walk back off into the crowd to find my girl.
“Yeah?” I turned back.
“I’ve got yours, too.”