Lahat ng Kabanata ng Knocked Up By My Brother’s Best Friend: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

His eyes flicked open, startled. He tensed, started to spring up from the chair, but his eyes settled on me. He relaxed visibly. I took an instant just to breathe him in, the same Old Spice body wash smell I remembered from high school. Grinning, I leaned in and kissed him.“I just stopped by to make sure you’re okay,” I said.A smile played across his lips as he took control of the kiss, pulling me down into the recliner with him. He sat up, tugged my leg across his lap until I straddled him without ever breaking the kiss. He took it deeper, his tongue stroking into my mouth as his arms settled around my hips. I loved his hands on my back, slipping under my sweatshirt as he nipped at my lips teasingly. I wriggled with pleasure.Pulling back, I looked down at him seriously, “I couldn’t stand thinking I’d hurt your feelings when I pulled away. I wanted to put my arms around you and say, ‘yeah, he’s mine. Be jealous.’ But I did what we agreed to and kept it a secret for a little while y

Sarah JoThe cops had dispersed the crowd not long after the blaze was contained. I was cleared to enter the office long enough to get my stuff and close the place for the rest of the day. I headed home early, exhausted. I took the longest shower, just trying to get the residue and smoke off of me. No one had been hurt. Most of the building had been preserved. Even Johnny’s precious office had been saved. The store would be closed for a few weeks for cleanup and repairs. I made a note after my shower to order heavy on the hardware supplies this week. I’d need to keep a small stock of hand tools and a selection of home repair and basic plumbing parts to make up for the absence of the local hardware store’s inventory. We could see a boost in sales as a result, and I’d pass some of that along to the Mason’s by donating to the chili supper that the Methodist church was arranging as a benefit for them. God knew Lucy Mason could use the help, with a new baby and a stupid husband whose store

Sarah JoI was almost queasy about going into the bar. I didn’t want to face Luke and admit the things Ryan had said to me. Or really, to confess the things I’d said back. I’d had a good conversation with my dad after his appointment. I had felt better about where we stood. Then I ran into Luke’s arms on the sidewalk in front of God and everybody. That was my one-way ticket to Slut City, where the men in my family were concerned. So I wanted to see Luke, wanted to be comforted by him, but I felt crappy about the way Ryan and I had both acted at home. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a tiny germ of guilt in my feelings about sleeping with Luke.The last of the cars emptied from the parking lot behind Cecil’s. I pocketed my keys and went to the door, Luke’s coat tucked around me. I could still get a whiff of Old Spice off the collar, which I sniffed more than I cared to admit. He pulled me inside and hugged me. His arms and his coat wrapped around me. God, it felt good. So right and

LukeThat night with her changed everything for me. I knew what I wanted. It was a fierce need in my blood now, to sleep with Sarah Jo in my arms and wake up with her in the morning. An affair that was nothing more than an open secret wasn’t good enough. She deserved better than that. She deserved to be introduced to my parents as my girlfriend and deserved to know I was proud to be with her. So it was time I made that happen. I messaged my dad that I wanted to book Cecil’s for a private party this week. He messaged back that Thursday was our slowest night so it would be best. I offered to pay him the booking fee and he refused.Will you and Mom come to dinner at Cecil’s Thursday night? I want to talk to you about something important. I messaged.You gotta close the bar to talk to us? he replied.It’s important, I texted back. 6pm dress nice.We’ll be there.I smiled, then called Sarah Jo, “Hey, beautiful,” I said, “are you busy Thursday night?”“I’d like to be busy with you,” she sai

Sarah JoI didn’t care that Ryan ruined the dinner. At least I didn’t care very much. Not when I had to tell Luke goodbye as he went off to fight a fire. As my man, as my lover answered an emergency call. The emotional fallout, the needless drama of what should’ve been a lovely evening, was just pointless. I watched him walk out the back door, saw his haste as he shrugged out of his jacket and loosened his tie. I would not have been surprised at that moment to see him shed his button-down to reveal a superhero costume and take off to rescue the helpless and needy. He was a hero to me, so brave in the face of obvious danger. I longed for him, had the sudden stupid urge to go after him and beg him to stay, to stop risking himself, to take me home and stay the night. But I had to let him go. This was who Luke was, who he’d always been. A protector, a guardian. I bit my lip and turned to the company at the table. Ryan was over at the bar, pouring himself something that wasn’t about to mak