The Better Brother

I didn’t know how to answer him. Part of me thought it would be best to ignore him, to pretend like I never saw the text message. Another part of me wondered if I should call Michael and tell him about his brother’s invitation. Neither option seemed like the right one.

“What do you think I should do?” I asked, looking up at Andrea.

She was staring down at me with worried eyes. Concern was etched in every line on her face. When I asked her, she just shook her head and sighed deeply. As she moved over to sit beside me, her head kept moving from side to side.

“I don’t know,” Andrea said. “On the one hand, I don’t ever want you to see Joshua again. He was such a dick to you, Jules.”

“I remember,” I said darkly.

“But,” Andrea said. “It might be a good idea to talk to him. Get some closure.”

“I got my closure a long time ago,” I said firmly.

Andrea shrugged. “Then, ignore him.”

“But,” I said slowly. “Is that really fair? Like I said, I am dating his brother now.”

“Are you sure you still want to?” Andrea asked bluntly.

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I know you like Michael,” Andrea said. “Okay? I know that. But is this thing between you two really worth all the drama that’s bound to come with it?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but quickly let it fall shut again. My initial reaction was anger. Why would Andrea even ask something like that? Michael made me happy, happier than I’d been in years. Why would she want me to give all that up?

“I’m not telling you what to do,” Andrea said quickly. “I’m just worried.”

“I know.” I sighed. “And honestly, so am I.”

“Maybe it’s not worth it,” Andrea said. “There are other guys out there. Guys that are in no way related to Joshua.”

“None of them are Michael,” I said simply.

Andrea sighed, and slowly, a smile crept onto her face. She nodded, accepting my choice even before I fully understood it myself.

There was something real between Michael and me. I knew that the second we met. When he sat down across from me in the café, I knew he was someone I wanted in my life. After we slept together that first time, I was a goner. Michael got under my skin and, now, I knew I’d never be able to shake him.

“I think I’ll meet him,” I said firmly. “If he wants to talk, then we should.”

“Okay,” Andrea said. “Do it.”

I nodded and quickly typed out a reply to Joshua. Andrea read over my shoulder as I agreed to meet Joshua on Thursday.

“Why Thursday?” Andrea asked.

“So I can change my mind if I want to,” I said simply.

Andrea nodded her understanding, and we both sank back into the couch. We drank more wine and marveled at my screwed-up situation.

“Are you going to tell Michael?” Andrea asked. “About meeting up with Joshua?”

I shook my head slowly. That was something I’d been thinking about since I sent off that last text. What would Michael think? Would he be uncomfortable? Or would he be happy that Joshua and I were trying to mend fences?

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I really don’t know.”

Andrea patted my knee and laid her head on my shoulder. She stayed with me that night, making sure I wasn’t alone with my confusion.

CHAPTER 20