Loving My Brother's Best Friend

When I woke up the next morning, I was still in Austin’s arms and still naked.

He was still asleep, so I took this time to appreciate his features. He had soft facial features, and his hair was adorable with the way it was all over the place.

He didn’t have long hair, but it was enough that it was on his face and had to be combed back. The dark color of his hair complemented his tan skin, and his lips were full and kiss-worthy.

At this moment, I felt grateful that he’d been the one to take my virginity. I hadn’t thought I’d attach myself to anyone other than Luca. I hadn’t thought I’d want anyone other than Luca.

“If I didn’t know you, I’d think you were a creeper staring at me like that,” Austin said, startling me.

My face got hot, and I knew I was blushing. I tried to hide my face, but he pinned me beneath him before I could.

“Even in the morning, you look beautiful.” He kissed me and got off me. I was disappointed because I was hoping we could have sex again, but he lay next to me instead.

“How do you feel?” he asked me with concern in his voice.

“I’m a little sore, but I like it, and I don’t regret having sex with you,” I said with a smile.

“I was afraid I hurt you too much. I’ll be right back.”

He got up and put his boxers on and left the room. A few minutes later, he returned with a washcloth.

He pulled back the covers and put my legs over his lap. When I looked down, I saw dried blood on me and the bed.

“I am so sorry,” I said in an embarrassed tone.

“Don’t worry about it. I expected it.”

And it confused me.

I looked at him curiously. “Do you take virginities very often?”

He laughed. “No, my first girlfriend bled after we had sex for the first time. Only she had a lot more.”

Austin started cleaning me up, and the rag was warm, and it felt good in the area down there. I let out a sigh.

“I’m sorry. I should have been gentler.”

I could tell that he felt bad for hurting me.

“It’s okay. I enjoyed it, and it felt good. It didn’t hurt while it was happening except for the first part of it,” I reassured him. “I’m sorry for ruining your sheet.”

“All right, all cleaned up. Why don’t you go take a shower and relax while I start laundry, and when we’re done, we’ll go get some breakfast,” he said.

“Sounds like a plan.”

I stood up and kissed him before I got dressed and headed to the bathroom.

There was a knock on the bathroom door, and it made me realize that I’d been in there for a while. The warm water felt nice on my body.

“Give me a few minutes, Austin, and I’ll be right out,” I yelled from the shower.

I got out, dried off, and got dressed, and when I flung the door open, it wasn’t Austin; it was Luca.

“Did you stay the night?” Luca asked me.

“It’s none of your business,” I spit back at him.

“Did you sleep with him?” His tone was getting angrier.

“Again, it’s none of your business, Luca.” He didn’t have the right to be angry. I had the right to be angry because of the way he’d been treating me.

“I didn’t think you were the easy type, Henley.” His tone was mocking and filled with a bit of hate.

“Excuse me?” I was fuming at this point; he was such a jackass to me.

“You’ll fit right in with these college girls, spreading your legs for the first guy that shows you a little attention. Get a start on whoring around,” Luca stated.

I didn’t even think about it. I slapped Luca across the face.

“You’re pathetic. I can’t believe I wasted years hoping you would notice me. Leave me alone, and don’t talk to me ever again, Luca. I don’t want you in my life anymore.” I finished the sentence with a sob.

I wasn’t sure if I was crying because he’d hurt my feelings or because I no longer knew who he was. He was no longer the sweet old boy that I’d fallen in love with.

Luca stood there, silently staring at me. He looked like he regretted everything he’d said, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get out of there. I pushed through Luca and into Austin’s room.

“I have to take a rain check on breakfast,” I told Austin.

“What happened?” he asked me with concern.

“Nothing. I’ll text you later,” I told him as I changed and gathered my things.

When I stepped out into the hallway, Luca was still there.

“I’m sorry,” he said while trying to walk toward me, and I ignored him and continued to leave.

“Henley, wait!” Luca yelled, and then all I heard was Austin yelling.

“What the fuck did you do to her?”

I didn’t wait around to hear or see the rest of what was happening. I didn’t want to be around Luca anymore. I was done chasing him.

***

When I got home, I was still upset, and every time I thought about what Luca had said, I couldn’t keep the tears from falling.

All I’d ever wanted was for Luca to notice me, and now he thought I was a slut, but I realized I deserved better. I didn’t deserve someone who called me names or someone who was hot and cold.

As I sat on my bed, my phone started ringing, and I let out a sigh when I saw it was Will calling.

“Hey!” I tried to sound normal.

“Hey, do I need to pick up any food for the house?” he asked.

“No, Mom stocked everything before they left. We should be good unless you want to do some snack shopping,” I told him.

“All right. Well, Luca and I will be over in a while,” Will informed me.

“Okay. See you then.” I hung up the phone and prayed that I could keep it together.

I spent most of the day in my bedroom. Austin texted me a few times, asking me if I was okay, and I told him I was. I told him he could come over tomorrow.

I was in the kitchen when Will and Luca showed up. I heard Will run up the stairs, and unfortunately, Luca found me in the kitchen.

“Henley?” Luca tried to get my attention, but I didn’t acknowledge him.

“Would you give me a chance to explain before Will gets down here?” he asked me.

“No. You’re not worth my time anymore. You crossed a line, Luca—deal with the consequences,” I said hatefully to him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean the things I said to you.” He did sound remorseful, but he needed to do more than apologize.

“Then why did you say them?” I asked.

“It’s complicated.”

“No, you’re complicated. You either tell me or don’t; either way, I’m done with you.”

Luca didn’t have the chance to reply, because Will came back.

“Ready for a movie?” he asked us.

“Actually, I’m going to my room. I have some assignments that I need to work on,” I told him.

“Are you sure?” Will asked me.

“Yes. Have fun.”

***

I spent the day in my room, only venturing out to use the bathroom and to get food. I thought I’d accomplished staying away from Luca until he broke into my room in the middle of the night.

“Henley, are you awake?”

“Go away, Luca,” I groggily said.

“I want to talk to you.”

I internally groaned. I didn’t want to talk to him at all.

I didn’t respond to him, and a few seconds later, I felt my bed dip down.

“I want to explain things to you,” he stated.

I let out a sigh. “Fine. You have two minutes.”

“I’m sorry for everything.” He let out a sigh before he continued. “I like you, Henley, and I know we can’t be together because I don’t deserve you. I’m not a good guy, and Will would kill me.”

“That doesn’t excuse your behavior, and what do you mean you’re not a good guy?” I said as I sat up. I was glad the room was dark, or I would cave.

“I know, but I get jealous when I see you with him, and there are things you don’t know about me that would make you look at me differently. I know I would end up hurting you.”

“Again, Luca, it doesn’t excuse you for saying those things,” I told him.

“I’m sorry. I want you to know that I didn’t mean what I said. I regret everything that I said to you the other day and do want to be with you.”

“What you said hurt me. You’re supposed to be my friend, and you’re not acting like it. I’ve spent years trying to get you to notice me, and you never did, and then you call me a whore.

“It hurts, Luca.”

“But I did notice you. I told your brother two years ago that I was into you, and he told me that if I acted on my feelings, then we couldn’t be friends.”

“He said I wasn’t good enough for you, and he’s right.” I could hear the emotion in Luca’s voice, and it was breaking me.

“It’s too late, Luca. I’m with Austin, and I plan on being with him.”

“I didn’t expect you to change your mind. I just wanted you to know that I wish it was me you were with,” he said with a sigh.

“I think it’s best that we just forget about all this and continue as if it never happened,” I suggested.

“Does that mean we still get to be friends?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“I can live with that.” I could hear a little happiness in his voice.

“And you are to be nice to Austin,” I told him.

“Deal.”

He took me by surprise and hugged me. I hugged him back, thankful we could put this all behind us.

By the time I woke up the next morning, Luca and Will were gone.

I felt kind of sad and had been hoping today would be the day the three of us would hang out like we always did. Little did I know that after last night, nothing would be the same between us again.