Page 43 of Best Man Speaking
“I’d tell you I’m trying to turn a new leaf, but I’m sure you’d just tell me I’m lying.”
“And what would the truth be?” she asks flat out.
I give her a smirk that I’m not one hundred percent feeling and hook my calf around the leg of her chair, pulling her an inch closer. “The truth is, our past is complicated, but if you can let it be, our present could be easy. We’re going to need to put it aside, otherwise, we’re going to keep taking one step forward and two steps back,” I explain. “Oh, and I think you’ve missed me. I think that’s definitely true.”
Hallie snorts. It’s ridiculous and delicate, and she chooses to stay seated.
“Missed you like a hole in the head,” she replies with a small laugh, ignoring the possibility of anything easy between us.
“You like being around me again. Look at you—you’re flushed at my very presence.”
I’m smug, and unfortunately, I’m aware of just how much the look suits me. This balance of sarcasm and banter is a much safer space for us.
“I’d call it an allergic reaction,” she says dismissively of the blush staining her cheeks.
I lean in close to whisper in her ear. “I’d call it lust.”
Hallie plays with the rim of her wineglass, acting bored. She’s managed to keep her body language neutral, not leaning toward me the way I’m angled toward her. “I’d say you were delusional.”
“If this was my delusion, you wouldn’t be wearing clothes.” I focus my gaze back on the midpoint between her breasts. Mostly to be annoying.
She rolls her eyes. “You really can’t move past the physical, can you?”
This time, she doesn’t need to physically lift my eyes to hers. I manage it all on my own.
“What can I say? I like to hang out in the areas where I excel.”
She shakes her head, more exasperated than frustrated. “Is there ever going to be a serious conversation between us?”
I sit back, tapping my finger against my chin in contemplation. “Maybe? If the room is padded and there isn’t anything sharp around. Oh, and you could be tied up—that could be a nice touch, now that I think about it. Black leather over chains, if you’re looking for my opinion.”
Hallie groans, shoving her shoulder against mine. “God, you’re an ass.”
I feel relief at her touch, but I keep my response purely languid. “It’s not the noblest of steeds, but I’ll take it.”
“You’re not helping. We’re just going to make a mess, and I don’t want that for Julian and Erica. Hell, I don’t want that for myself. They’ve given a consequence for these stupid rules I’d rather not suffer if we get caught breaking them. We’ve already kind of broken it twice.”
I huff. “You mean like my brother breaking my nose and refusing to interact with me as more than an acquaintance for a year? Yeah, I’d rather that not be the case either.”
That wasn’t a fond memory I had planned to share this evening.
“I…I wish I could say I was sorry to have heard about that,” she says with a tiny wince.
I nod in acknowledgment of this particular truth. I’d wondered if Hallie was aware of the damage caused between Julian and me but hadn’t meant to air the personal consequences of our failed relationship in such a cavalier way. Not exactly one of my proudest moments in life. It’d been a punch I hadn’t seen coming, even though I’d truly deserved it.
“It took us a while to build up back to being not just brothers but friends again,” I explain, vulnerability in the words but no blame.
“I won’t take the heat for that,” Hallie responds fairly.
“You shouldn’t. I made the choices I had to make.”
She nods slowly but refrains from commenting.
“And what about this thing between us now?” she asks instead.
“Well, it makes a change to want to be in one another’s company,” I say. “Would it make you feel better if we made a truce of our own?”
Considering the way Julian’s has worked so far, it really can’t hurt; it probably won’t even help.
