CAITLYN
“Icaught David cheating,” I say, before dissolving in tears.
Joshua gently wraps his arms around me.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Please, I don’t want your pity. You tried to warn me. Amber tried to warn me. Everyone told me, ‘once a cheater, always a cheater,’ but I was a fool and believed he really meant it this time when he said he’d changed.”
“Well, more fool me. And do you know how I found out? I caught them in the act! I went over to the club after work to surprise him. I should have known something was up when the bartender, Nathan, said he was busy in his office. But like an idiot, I just barged right in. He wasn’t even hiding it.
They were fucking right there on his desk. ”
I feel Joshua clench his fists. “Want me to beat the crap out of him?”
I laugh. David is pretty buff, but Josh is a personal trainer. He could beat his ass easily.
“As much as I’d love to see that, we both know it will only cause more trouble. No, what I need you to do is take my mind off it. What have you been doing?”
“Tucker tried to rope me into being his wingman. He left the bar with two women tonight,” he says.
I roll my eyes. Josh’s younger brother is terrible. But at least he isn’t cheating on anyone.
“Do you want a drink or something?” Josh offers. “I can make us coffee--”
“Do you have anything stronger?” I ask.
Josh frowns. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
I scowl. “Please don’t give me that, Josh. Not tonight. Just get me some alcohol and help me forget how badly my life sucks.”
Josh hesitates for a moment, and he opens his mouth. Then he closes it again, shakes his head and stands.
“I’ve got some beers in the fridge, or I’m sure Tucker has a bottle of rum knocking about here somewhere.”
“If you’ve got some cola too, rum sounds good,” I reply, getting comfortable on the couch, as Josh heads out the room.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
While Josh is gone, I grab a tissue from the pack in my purse and clean myself up.
As I’m putting the tissues away, my phone vibrates.
I glance at the screen and see I have 10 missed calls, five voicemails, and three texts all from David.
I delete everything without listening to or reading them, and then turn my phone off.
I’m not falling for his excuses again.
It’s over.
I yank the engagement ring off my finger and throw it in the bottom of my purse. I’ll mail it back to David … or who knows, maybe I’ll pawn it and buy myself something pretty. It’s the least I deserve.
Josh returns to the room carrying a tray holding not only a bottle of rum, a bottle of cola and two glasses, but bowls of various snacks, like chips and olives too.
“If you’re still hungry after this, we can order some take out too. I figured we could get drunk, watch a movie. Whatever you want.”
I allow myself a small smile. I pour myself a shot of rum, and down it quickly, before pouring both Josh and I a mixed drink. “Right now, what I’d really love is to change out of this dress. Do you have something I can borrow please?”
Josh’s eyes widen, but he recovers quickly. “I might have some old sweats that will fit. Come with me.”
Josh gets off the couch, and I follow him upstairs. I’ve been to his place enough times before to know where everything is.
I cast a skeptical glance at the spare room I know Tucker uses when he’s here. “What are the chances of your brother and his two women coming back here?”
Josh grimaces. “Hopefully he’s got the sense to rent a room at the resort or something.”
Josh leads the way into his room. I’ve never been in his bedroom before, but it’s nice. Really nice. He has great taste in decor and is surprisingly neat. He reaches into his chest of drawers and pulls out some sweats and a T-shirt for me.
“There’s a bathroom just down the hall where you can change,” he says, handing the clothes over.
I take the bundle with a smile. “Thank you, Josh. You’re a lifesaver.”
I walk down the hallway and change out of my dress.
Ugh, I can’t believe I went to all this trouble for that cheating asshole.
The scent of Josh’s fabric softener comforts me, and I breathe it in, feeling safe and protected.
Before leaving the bathroom, I scrub all the makeup off my face and fold up my dress.
Returning to Josh’s room with my dress in my arms, I ask, “What should I do with this?”
“Here, just throw it in the hamper. I’ll wash it for you. And if you want, you can stay in one of the spare rooms tonight.”
I hand him the dress, and he drops it in the washing basket. “Thank you, Josh. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he replies with a shrug, as though it’s nothing. As though he does this for all his friends. But that’s just what Josh is like. He’d give you the shirt off your back if you asked.
We head back downstairs, and settle on the couch, where Josh flicks through the various streaming services until we find some comedy show to watch, and we get stuck into our drinks and the snacks.
As the alcohol floods my system, and the TV show takes my mind off everything, I begin to relax and even if I can’t forget what David did, at least I can push it out of my mind for a while.
“So, you didn’t feel like bringing home one of Tucker’s lady friend’s yourself?”
Josh shakes his head. “Nah, neither were my type. And besides, I don’t think they even noticed I was there.”
I laugh. “Yeah, your brother has that effect on people, doesn’t he?”
“Oh yeah. I think I’d lose it if he wasn’t my brother, but you know--”
“You can’t choose your family. Am I right?” I finish for him.
“Exactly.” Josh grins and takes another sip of his drink. “How is your mom?”
“She’s not bad. Working hard, as always. Even though now my business is taking off, she won’t accept anything from me. I wish I could repay her for everything she’s done for me, but she won’t hear any of it.”
Joshua laughs, and the sound fills me with warmth. “Yeah, that sounds like your mom.”
“She’s going to give me an earful about David. She was with you and Amber in the ‘he’s no good for you’ camp.”
Instead of saying ‘I told you so,’ Josh smiles sympathetically, and says, “Families, eh?”
“Are your other brothers keeping well?”
“Yeah, I suppose you heard about Sebastian and Lana?”
I smile. The whole town has been talking about Sebastian and Lana.
They were high school sweethearts, until Lana moved to New York.
Now, she’s moved back to East Hampton, and revealed she was keeping Sebastian’s child secret from him for five years.
They’ve worked through their issues, and they’re a happy family now, but yikes!
I don’t know if I could keep a secret like that.
Not that babies or anything are on the horizon for me anytime soon.
“Let's hope Tucker doesn’t add to the growing list of Braddock offspring, or you’ll start losing track of all your nieces and nephews.”
Joshua chuckles. “If Tucker gets some chick pregnant, I’m gonna skin him alive.”
“How about you? Any ladies caught your eye?”
Josh downs his drink and glances away.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to pry,” I say, grabbing my own drink. I heave out a sigh. Suddenly, I don’t feel merry from the alcohol, and the memories of what David did come crashing back. Unbidden, I start crying. “What’s wrong with me, Josh? I did everything for David, and he still cheated.”
Josh puts his drink down and wraps his arms around me. “This isn’t on you, Cait. David is an asshole.”
“I’m not going to argue that, but I dunno, maybe if I was prettier, or more adventurous in bed, or--”
Josh presses his fingers to my lips, silencing me. “No, Caitlyn. This is not your fault. I won’t have you blaming yourself. This is all on David. He never deserved you, and he is blind if he thinks anyone is more beautiful than you.”
My eyes widen. “You really think I’m beautiful?”
Josh shakes his head and laughs. “Are you kidding me, Cait? You're the most beautiful woman I know. If I was David, I’d--”
I lean in and press my lips to Josh’s. They’re so soft, warm and inviting. I’m about to loop my arms around Josh’s neck, when he pulls away, his eyes as big as saucers.
“Caitlyn, we can’t.”
My shoulders slump. “I get it. No one wants me. I don’t blame you.”
“No, no, that’s not true.” Josh heaves out a breath and rakes his hands through his hair. “God, Caitlyn, if only you know how badly I want you. But I won’t take advantage of you when you’re vulnerable.”
I pause trying to make sense of his words.
My hot best friend Josh wants me? But Josh could have any woman in the world.
He’s gorgeous. Being a personal trainer, he has an amazing athletic body.
Just like all the Braddock brothers, he has blue eyes and dark hair, only Josh’s is medium length and always neatly kept in a bun.
He has a sprinkling of tattoos -- not as many as Tucker’s whose both arms are sleeved in inked artwork -- and from what Josh has told me, each one has a significance to him.
Suddenly, a light bulb goes off in my mind, and my eyes grow even wider.
“That’s why you never approved of David, isn’t it?”
Josh blushes and looks away. “I never said anything. I didn’t think it was right, when you had a boyfriend--”
“I don’t have a boyfriend now,” I say, reaching out to draw Josh back to me.
Josh stares at me intently, his blue eyes soft. “It still wouldn’t be right. You’ve been drinking, and you’re still reeling from what David did to you.”
I straighten up and stare into his eyes. “I’m sober enough to know what I want Josh, and what I want is for you to take me to bed.”
“Are you sure?”
I move in closer and press my lips to his. This time, Josh doesn’t pull away, and instead, cups the base of my head, bringing us closer together.
I kiss him deeply, my tongue swirling against his, before I pull back to murmur, “I’m sure.”
Joshua gently slips out of my embrace, and stands, then offers me his hand. He tenderly pulls me to my feet and leads me upstairs.
At the door to his bedroom, he pauses. “You’re sure about this?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I want you, Josh. Make love to me.”