Loving My Brother's Best Friend

“Are you ready to see your family?” Austin asked.

“I am. I haven’t seen them in a few months. It’ll be nice to see Will. I can’t believe he’s getting married.”

“I can. He’s settled down a lot since college. I guess he found the right girl.”

I paused at the sentence because it sounded like Austin was telling me that he didn’t have the right girl to settle down with. Part of me thought I might be overthinking his statement.

“Call me when you land.”

“I will. I love you.”

“I love you too,” he said before he kissed me.

I pulled away because I had to get through security before I missed my flight.

After graduating from high school, I’d gone to the same university as Austin and Will, and we’d continued dating. After graduation, I’d followed him out to New York, and I’d been in New York since.

My brother was getting married, and it was something I’d thought would never happen until he met Sophie.

Sophie was amazing, and even if they hadn’t been getting married, she would still have been my sister.

***

The flight was only a few hours long, and I texted Austin once I got to the baggage claim.

It was hard to believe that we’d been together for so long already and that my brother was getting married before us.

Once I got to the exit, I saw my brother holding a big sign, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“I missed you so much, Ley,” he said, wrapping me in a tight hug.

“I missed you too!”

“You’re still staying with me and Sophie, right?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I need time with you before you become domesticated.”

“It’s going to be like old times. I’ll have you and Luca home at the same time. We can watch movies and binge on popcorn.”

“What?!”

I hadn’t seen or heard from Luca since that night in my bedroom. He’d just disappeared. I mean, he’d kept in touch with Will, but I hadn’t seen or talked to him in seven years.

“Don’t act like you’re shocked. You knew Luca was going to be here, and he’s the best man—like you’re the maid of honor, so you’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

“I guess I didn’t realize it. I haven’t seen or spoken to Luca in like seven years. I’m not even sure he wants to be in the same room as me.”

“Yeah, I think he went through a bit of a crisis back then and didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, but he’s doing well now. He owns his own business.”

I was glad he was doing well. I’d been upset when he’d cut me out of his life. He’d moved out of the frat house and transferred to another college and had hung out only with Will.

It was only a thirty-minute drive to Will’s house, and once we got there, Sophie didn’t waste any time pulling me into a hug.

“I’m sorry Austin couldn’t make it,” she said to me.

“Me too. His company just expanded, and he couldn’t take much time off. He may be here for the ceremony.”

“Understandable. So, when is Austin going to put a ring on that finger?”

I chuckled at her statement.

“Not any time soon. I don’t think we’re ready for marriage. We still have a lot of life to live before we want to do that.”

“I’ll talk to him and tell him he needs to lock down this great girl.”

“Good luck. We’re happy the way we are.”

I wasn’t ready to get married, and neither was Austin. We’d talked about it, but we’d decided that it wasn’t the right time. We were happy being with each other and living the way we were.

My phone started ringing, and I looked at it and saw that it was Austin.

“This is Austin, and I have to take it,” I told Sophie, and I walked to the kitchen.

“Hey!”

“Hey, I already miss you,” Austin stated. We rarely spent time apart. Right now, he’d be working on the couch while I watched TV next to him.

“I miss you too.”

“Are you happy to see everyone?”

“I am. Sophie is already asking when we’re going to get married,” I told him with a laugh.

“We don’t need to get married,” he said bluntly. “I don’t appreciate other people making you feel like we have to.”

“That’s not what happened, and I agree; we don’t need to get married. I’m going to let you go. I have to get back to everyone else. I love you.”

“Love you too. Bye.” He hung up the phone, and I let out a sigh.

I didn’t want to talk to Austin if he was going to get annoyed about a joke.

“Henley?” The voice was unmistakable; I knew who it was before I turned around, and even after seven years, my heart still fluttered at the sight of him.

“Luca.” He was just as handsome as I remembered. This time, though, he had facial hair and muscles. I could tell he’d spent time at the gym.

“Are you staying here?” he asked me.

“I am. Are you?”

“Yeah, Will and Sophie thought it would be more relaxed if we did.”

We? Is ~he with someone? Why does that upset me?~

Just then, a little girl came running in.

“Daddy, Daddy, I found it. We didn’t forget it!” she said excitedly.

Luca bent down. “See? I told you I didn’t forget to pack it.”

“Who is this, Daddy?”

“This is Uncle Will’s sister, Henley. Henley, this is my daughter, Addison.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Addison.”

She got shy and looked at her dad. “She’s pretty, Daddy.”

Luca chuckled. “Yes, she is, baby girl. Why don’t you go see what Aunt Sophie is up to?”

“Okay,” Addison said as she ran off.

“I didn’t know you were a father. Will never told me. How old is she?”

“Four.”

“She’s adorable and looks just like you.”

“She was a blessing I didn’t know I needed. Are you still with Austin?”

“I am, but he might not come due to work, though.”

After my statement, it was quiet and awkward, and I wasn’t sure why I’d told him Austin wasn’t here.

“Well, it’s getting late, and I’m tired, so I’ll see you tomorrow?” I asked.

“Sure.”

I went to walk past him, but he grabbed my arm.

“It’s good to see you, Henley.”

I didn’t trust my voice, so I smiled and nodded and continued to my room. This is going to be such a long family visit with Luca here.