Happily Ever After (7 page)

“So did Ryan.”

“And I can’t get any closer to him.”

“I don’t know. It’s you guys we’re talking about here.”

I pushed him gently. “Shut up.”

“You know I’m joking, baby.”

“So, when are you going to tell your parents?”

“Oh. I guess when we get back.”

“Should you tell Mike first?”

“Nah. He said he didn’t want the company. I don’t think he’ll care either way.”

“It’s always nice to be courteous.”

“When has my brother ever been courteous?”

“When he risked his life for me.”

“Damn. He’s going to be exonerated for everything because of that.”

“He should be.”

He sighed. “You’re right.”

We caught up with everyone and saw Andrew shake his hips as he danced on the green, spinning his club around.

“I’m guessing your dad won the game?”

“You’ve never seen his victory dance?”

“No,” I said with a laugh.

“He does it with everything.”

“It’s cute.”

“Not when you’re playing ball with your friends.”

“It’s cute no matter what context it’s in.”

He rolled his eyes. “Sometimes I worry yo
u’re going to leave me for my dad or my brother.”

“They are both good choices.”

He eyed me. “Even my brother?”

“I already
said this like a million times. He’s a really good guy. He’s just like you, Sean. He wants to change his ways.”

“Do—you think he has feelings
for you?”

I rolled my eyes. “You think everyone is in love with me. First it was Cortland, and now it’s your brother.”

That comment didn’t seem to assuage his doubt. “Did he say anything like that?”

“No, Sean. He thinks of me as family.”

He didn’t seem convinced.

“Sean.”

“What?”

“You’re being paranoid and annoying. Drop it.”

“Fine.”

I could tell by the look in his eyes that the conversation was nowhere near over.

8

Sean

“Need any help, Mom?” I asked when we walked inside.

“No. Everything is ready. Now we just have to wait for everyone to arrive.”

I looked at my watch. My friends from college would be here soon. I knew they were excited about the wedding even though all the bridesmaids were taken. “Cool.”

My mom sat down at the table and sighed, holding her cu
p of coffee. “Did you have fun at the golf course?”

“I kicked ass,” Andrew said as he kissed his wife on the head.

She rolled her eyes. “No cussing, Andrew. We have company.”

It was his turn to roll his eyes. “Our sons speak more profanities than a gangster.”

“And I wonder why,” she said as she glared at him.

He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down, avoiding her gaze.

“Scarlet, I have something for you,” Diane said as she stood up. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to, but I saw it when I was shopping the other day.” She left the room and returned with a dress on a hanger.  It was pristine white with a light pattern of flowers in the material. It was sleeveless and short, reaching down to Scarlet’s thighs.

“It’s beautiful,” Scarlet said.

“You’ll wear it?” Diane asked happily.

“Of course I will. Thank you.”

“And I got these shoes to match. Sorry, I only had sons. I never had the opportunity to buy cute things like this.”

I smiled, loving that my mom did something sentimental for Scarlet. I didn’t have to ask her to be on her best behavior.

“It looks like a perfect fit,” Scarlet said.

“I know what looks good on my daughter.”

Scarlet smiled as she touched the dress, moved by her words.

“I’ll leave it on the couch. You can take it upstairs when you’re ready.”

“Okay.”

We gathered around the table
. I placed my hand on Scarlet’s thigh, feeling the skin of her leg. I rubbed it gently, taking courage in her touch before I spoke.

“Mom, Dad, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

My mom looked at me. “And what would that be?”

I took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking lately…and…I would like to take over the company if the offer still stands.”

My mom clapped her hands together and smiled, overjoyed by my words. My dad’s stoic expression was replaced by a grin.

“The offer always stands,” my dad said. “We’re very happy to hear that.”

My mom placed her hand on her chest. “It gave me nightmares knowing you were working in some dead-end job, making horrible money, when you could be here, right where you belong. You’ve made us so happy.”

I nodded. “Scarlet wanted me to do it. You can thank her.”

Andrew smiled at her. “Thank you for talking some sense into my son.”

“Are you moving here?” My mom asked.

I nodded.

She jumped up. “My baby boy is coming home.” She came around the table and hugged me. “I’m so glad you aren’t staying in Seattle. That’s too far. I need to see my grandkids as much as possible.”

“You’re jumping the gun, Mom. Scarlet and I won’t be having kids anytime soon.”

“But you’ll be having them?”

“Yes, of course.”

My mom hugged Scarlet. “This is the most wonderful news.”

My dad looked at me. “Now we can retire early. I was getting sick of that place.”

“Well, Sean might run it into the ground,” Mike said.

I looked at my brother. “We can do this together if you want. It’s half yours.”

He took a drink of his coffee then returned it to the table.
“Nah.”

“Why not?”
I asked. “We can split the work. It would be less work for both of us.”

He shook his head but said nothing.

My mom looked at him. “If you ever change your mind, I know Sean would love to have you.”

Mike took a drink of his coffee and averted his gaze.

I leaned into Scarlet. “I think something is bothering him.”

She whispered back.
“He’s just going through a hard time.”

My mom grabbed a plate of snacks and set it on the table. “This weekend just got even better. When are you moving?”

“Sometime after the honeymoon,” I said. “There’s no rush.”

“And what will Scarlet do without her brother?”

“He’s coming with me,” Scarlet said. “We’re a set.”

“I feel like
I’m always sharing her with him,” I said.

My mom raised an eyebrow. “You’re moving to New York?”

“Yep,” Ryan said. “She forced me.”

“I’m coming too,” Cortland said. “We’re traveling circus.”

“Wow,” my dad said. “Scarlet seems to touch people everywhere she goes.”

Scarlet looked down at his words. I wasn’t sure if
she was embarrassed by the comment. I wasn’t sure what there was to be embarrassed about. My dad didn’t mean anything negative by it.

Mike stood up. “I should get ready.”

He was already ready. I knew he was just trying to get away from us. When he left the room, I turned to Scarlet. “I’ll be back.”

My mom looked at me. “Persuade him, Sean.”

“I’ll try,” I said with a nod.

I walked up the stairs until I arrived at his old bedroom. After I knocked, it was quiet. His feet thudded against the floorboards as he walked across the room. Finally, he opened the door.
“Yeah?”

“Can we talk for a second?”

“I’m busy.”

“Don’t be an ass. Let me in.”

He sighed then stepped away, allowing me to come inside.

“What’s up?”

“You tell me. You’re the one who’s here.”

“Why won’t you take the company with me? It’s equally yours.
It’s good money, great hours, and a perfect job. It has your name on it.”

“I said I don’t want it.”

“I thought we were past this? I thought we worked out our differences and became brothers again? What did I do?”

Mike
looked at the floor and crossed his arms over his chest. He shifted his weight then shifted it back, stalling for time. “Nothing.”

“Come on. Tell me.”

“I need to get ready.”

“Why will you only talk to my
fiancé but not me? I’m your family.”

“Just go, Sean.”

“No. You’re going to tell me.”

“I just don’t want to, okay? I have a great job in New York. I don’t need to steal your thunder.”

“What? Steal my thunder?”

“Your life is perfect. You got the girl and now you got the company. I won’t stand in your way. Go ahead.”

“Mike, what are you talking about? I want you to be my partner. You’re my brother.”

“Drop it.”

“What’s this really about? Why won’t you do this with me? It would make mom and dad happy. It would make me and Scarlet happy. She loves you and wants you to be close with us.”

“You always get everything. I don’t need your charity. I’m good.”

I sighed, frustrated. I had no idea what he was trying to say. I was never good at understanding people’s emotions. I could understand Scarlet’s because she was always blunt about them. I was also in tune with her body. “Is it because I’m getting married?”

Mike sat on the foot of his bed and stared at the floor.

“You’ll settle down eventually.”

“I find that unlikely.”

I sat beside him and faced forward. “What are you scared of?”

“It’s too late for me. I’ve made too many mistakes, burned too many bridges. I’ll never find a woman to love me the way Scarlet loves you. I’ll never be able to take back what I did to you. I’m a failure, Sean.
A total failure.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Mike, I forgive you for everything that happened with Penelope. Honestly, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Now I’m spending the rest of my life with Scarlet, the girl I was supposed to be with to begin with. You did me a favor.”

“I thought it would make me feel better to hurt you, but it didn’t. I felt worse.”

“I know.”

“I envy you. You have everything. It just reminds me how empty and pathetic my life is.”

“I don’t have everything, Mike. And if I do, you can have it too. Take the company with me. I feel a lot more confident if I had you by my side.”

“You don’t even realize what you have.”

I sighed, not wanting to broach this subject. “You’re in love with Scarlet.”

He said nothing, staring at the floor.

“I know exactly what I have, Mike. Don’t tell me otherwise. I treasure her the way she should be treasured. I love her, only her, and I’ll only love her until the day I die. She’s everything to me. So yes, I do have everything.”

My brother still didn’t meet my gaze.

“When did this happen?”

He shrugged. “When I was protecting her. After I spent time with her, I realized how amazing she was. It just happened. I’m sorry.”

I was angry
but I didn’t know what to say. I also felt very uncomfortable. “That’s why you don’t want to work with me. You don’t want to see her every day.”

“You aren’t as dumb as you look.”

“Why does everyone fall in love with my girl?”

“Why does she choose you?”

“I have no idea. I ask myself that every night while I watch her sleep.”

“Sean, I would never make a move toward Scarlet or confess my feelings for her. I feel like a shitty brother for feeling this way. I’ve already done so many things to you, and now I’ve crossed the biggest line. You have my word.
I won’t do anything.”

“I already knew that Mike. If you were going to, you would have done it already.”

“I’m glad you realize that. I really am happy for you. It’s when my misery floods my body that I start to hate you. You have the life I want. Every day I wish we could trade places.”

“Scarlet isn’t the only fish in the sea.”

“You act like I’ve never gone fishing.”

“You need to look a little harder.”

He sighed. “Believe me, I don’t want to feel this way.”

“I knew you never saw her as a sister.”

“Can you blame me? Have you seen her legs?” he asked with a laugh.

I glared at him.

“Okay. Too soon.”

“I think you should work with me. Don’t let your feelings get in the way of that.”

“When I’m with you, I’m constantly reminded that I’m alone and depressed. I don’t have the love of a woman. I barely have the love of a friend.”

“It won’t always be this way.”

“I’m surprised you don’t hate me.”

“I could never hate you.”

“Or want to tear my throat out.”

“I didn’t say that.”

Mike chuckled. “I’m sorry about everything. I really am.”

“I know you are.”

“I’ll never do anything to Scarlet. You have my word.”

“I trust you, Brother.”

He finally looked at me. “You do?”

“Yeah.
And I trust Scarlet. There’s nothing to worry about.”

He breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I didn’t want to lose you again.”

I patted him on the back. “We’re family. You never could.”

“Could you do me a favor?”

“It depends. You have to do a favor for me.”

“Okay. Can you keep this information to yourself?”

“I will if you become my partner.”

Mike extended
his hand and shook mine. “We’ve struck a deal.”