Page 43 of My Fiancé's Brother
“You didn’t lie. I'm confident that he’s about a thousand times hotter than the hockey player.”
I took a deep breath. “Ever since he arrived, Matt has been missing in action.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea. Meanwhile, I'm trying to plan this wedding and Matt is no help. Jackson is a great houseguest but I just…”
Beth’s gaze focused on mine. “I get it.”
“You do?”
“You’re living with a GQ model, and your fiancé has fucked off. Shit gets complicated.”
My breath gusted out of me. “I love Matt, but I feel like I haven’t seen him, much less talked to him in weeks.” I lowered my voice and leaned in. “And Jackson is constantly working out with his shirt off. My car is in pieces, so he's driving me everywhere.”
Beth started to laugh. “And this is a problem why?”
I shook my head. “He listens to me when I talk, and he cares about things like my art and my job.”
Beth gave me a sympathetic smile. “He’s treating you like you wished Matt would treat you.”
“Yes!”
“Where is that dick anyways?”
I hesitated. Wanting to confess that another woman had answered his phone, but knew that it would only make Beth angry. “He canceled. He promised me that he would be here, but he bailed at the last minute.”
Beth sighed and rubbed my arm. “You do realize you deserve better, right?”
I didn’t want to talk about it.
“It’s not Matt’s fault. He has a crazy job. I just need to get through to the wedding. That’s my goal.”
Beth and I chatted a bit more, and despite my pleading, she had to leave. She had an early brunch with her family, and she didn’t want to show up hung over.
The room felt lonely without her. I glanced around the room. Julie and company were crowding Jackson like a poorly mannered fan club. I stood in the kitchen alone, sipping my third glass of wine. How many parties in my youth had I attended precisely like this? Where my friends were off chasing some guy, and I was left standing, by myself, feeling socially awkward. I looked around the room. It was my party, my place, but no one noticed me. I needed one moment. I needed to clear my head.
I walked upstairs, moved into my bedroom and shut the door. I flopped back onto the bed. The music throbbed from below. Loneliness crashed over me. I sucked in a deep breath. I permitted myself to partake in a three-minute pity party, and then I would head back downstairs.
A soft knock sounded on my door. Before I could answer, Jackson stepped in and shut the door behind him. His size dominated the room. I pushed myself into a sitting position.
“Is everything okay?” my voice sounded raspy.
“I was just about to ask you the same thing.”
I blew the bangs off my forehead. “Just taking a breather.”
“Where’s Matt?”
“Working.”
“Seems like that’s all he does.”
“Agreed.”
He frowned and walked over to sit on the bed beside me. “You sure you’re okay?”
I nodded, trying to swallow the lump from my throat. His careexacerbated my pity party feelings. “I think I was having some University flashbacks.”
