The Better Brother

I shrugged. “I’ve been paying attention. Or maybe I’m just better with directions than you are.”

Julie glared at me but linked her arm with mine and let me lead the way. We got back to the hotel just in time to get ready for dinner.

“Where are we going again?” Julie asked as she climbed in the shower.

“It’s someplace by the Tower,” I said. “It’s supposed to have an amazing view.”

“Sounds perfect,” Julie said.

She disappeared behind the shower curtain, and I hurried back into the bedroom. I was already dressed and ready, but my palms were sweaty from nerves. I thumbed through my suitcase, frantically searching for the little black box I knew was buried at the bottom. When I found it, I tucked it safely in my coat pocket before Julie could see a thing.

My phone rang, drawing my attention away from my plans for the evening. I saw Josh’s name flashing on the screen.

“Hey,” I said. “Everything okay?”

“I’m good,” Josh said. “Just calling to wish you luck.”

“Thanks.” I grinned and lowered my voice. “She’s in the shower.”

“I figured you guys were about ready to head out,” Josh said. “You nervous?”

“Yes,” I said. “That’s an understatement.”

“How bad would it suck if she said no?” Josh teased.

“Fuck you,” I said.

Josh laughed, and I quickly joined him. There was nothing like my big brother making fun of me to calm my nerves and get me ready for the biggest night of my life.

“You’ll be fine,” Josh said. “She loves you.”

“Thanks, man.”

Ever since his accident, things between Josh and I had changed. We weren’t just brothers who barely knew each other. We tried harder to stay close, and in doing so, we became friends. In just six months, he and I became almost inseparable.

Josh’s accident changed everything for him. He reprioritized his life and became a totally different person. He quit his job at the hospital, deciding that family medicine was a better option. He moved to Ennis and met Jennifer, his girlfriend of three months.

They were insanely in love already. I’d never seen him so committed to anyone. It was amazing how quickly things could change. Suddenly, we were double-dating all the time. Josh and Julie had become real friends, better friends than they were when they dated.

It was like everything had fallen into place after Josh’s accident. He changed. We all changed. Even Sheila came around more often. She and I were still nervous around each other, and I wasn’t sure that would ever change, but it was better now. Better than I could have hoped.

Even my adopted parents had begun to accept my new family. They were scared at first. My mom worried I would replace her and forget about them, but I managed to convince her that would never happen. She welcomed Josh with open arms and, slowly, she was starting to accept Sheila as well. They weren’t exactly friends, but they were friendly.

“Hey, you,” Julie said. I turned around to see her standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

Steam billowed out around her. She was naked, not even bothering to wrap a towel around herself. My stomach tightened with need.

“You’re the devil,” I said. “You know we have to leave.”

“Just a little something to get you through the night.” She winked and disappeared back into the bathroom.

I laughed to myself and patted the ring inside my pocket. Julie was the perfect woman. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she was the one.

When Julie was dressed, we made our way downstairs. I ordered a car to take us to dinner. Before we even arrived at the restaurant, we saw the Eiffel Tower. It was lit up and gorgeous. Julie’s eyes flew wide as she stared up at it.

“It’s even better at night,” she whispered.

We ate dinner, talking and drinking wine like our lives depended on it. This was our very first vacation together and, already, I didn’t want to go home. I could have lived in Paris forever if it meant keeping Julie by my side.