Craving my Best Friend's Brother

Mia

"Are you two ready or do I need to send a search party?" Liam's voice echoed up the stairs, impatient.

He had been waiting in the foyer for five minutes. Chloe was still curling her eyelashes in the bathroom.

"READY!" I screamed back.

I grabbed my purse and almost tripped over the hem of my dress.

It was the only nice thing I owned that wasn't stained or ripped, a black wrap dress I'd bought two years ago for a wedding. It fits differently now. Looser in some places. Tighter in others.

Chloe burst out of the bathroom. "Go, go, go!"

We rushed down the stairs together, laughing. My heels hit the hardwood. I grabbed the railing to keep from falling.

Liam stood at the bottom. His eyes swept over me once. Twice. I saw him take in a breath as his eyes roamed my body but in the next second he looked indifferent.

Then he looked at Chloe. "Took you long enough."

"We're women," Chloe said, kissing his cheek. "We have standards."

He rolled his eyes. I laughed. Then I saw her. Vanessa stood by the front door, her hand already on the knob.

She wore a silver dress, her hair was down with heels that were so higher than mine and she still walked perfectly.

"Ready?" she asked.

Something cold settled in my stomach. What had I expected? That Liam would escort me and Chloe like we were his dates? He had a girlfriend. A real girlfriend.

Vanessa's eyes landed on my dress. Traveled down. Then up.

"That's what you're wearing?" She asked, her eyebrows narrowing.

My stomach turned. My head lowered.

"It's what I have."

"It's beautiful," Liam said, looking at me. "You look nice, Mia."

Did he just compliment me? My head is going to burst.

Vanessa's smile tightened. She didn't look at him. She opened the door and walked out.

Liam's SUV was parked in the driveway. The passenger seat was empty. I reached for the handle.

"I'll sit up front," Vanessa said quickly, slipping past me and climbed in, pulling the door shut behind her.

I stood there with my hand still extended. The interior light clicked off. I couldn't see Liam's face through the windshield.

I climbed into the backseat. Chloe slid in beside me, already texting someone.

I remembered being twelve.

Chloe's family had taken me to the beach for a weekend. Liam was sixteen. He had a learner's permit. We'd fought over the front seat the whole drive down.

He'd called me a gremlin. I'd called him a toe. Finally, his mother had yelled at both of us, and Liam had grumbled but let me have it.

"You owe me," he'd said.

"I'll pay you back," I'd promised.

"You can't afford me."

I'd punched his arm. He'd laughed.

That was before Vanessa. Before Derek. Before I became a woman who watched the man she loved ignore her from the passenger seat.

*****

Oh God. The mansion was so big. I wasn't prepared. People spilled out onto a terrace that overlooked a pool glowing electric blue. Everyone was beautiful. Everyone was drunk. Everyone belonged here except me.

Liam parked. We walked in together, him with his hand on Vanessa's lower back, Chloe already scanning the crowd for her boyfriend Mark, and I just stood at the back alone and feeling awkward.

I shouldn't have come.

"There he is!" Chloe spotted Mark across the room and took off. "I'll find you later!"

And then she was gone.

I stood alone in a sea of strangers. A waiter passed with a tray of champagne flutes. I took one. I drank it in three swallows. I took another.

My throat tightened.

"New face?" A deep voice called from behind.

I turned. A man stood there. Tall. Muscular. Shaved head that gleamed under the lights. A gold chain rested against his chest. His eyes were dark and hungry and they were fixed on me.

"Marcus," he said, extending a hand. "I own the place."

I shook. His grip was too firm. He didn't let go right away.

"Mia," I said. "I'm here with..."

"Liam's crew? I know." His other hand found my waist. I sucked in a breath. "Liam didn't mention he was hiding someone like you."

I let out a shaky laugh. "I'm just..."

He pulled me closer. His thumb traced a circle on my hip. "You're just what?"

My heart hammered. I tried to step back. His grip tightened.

"Marcus." Liam said, voice strained

I'd never been so relieved to hear it.

Liam was suddenly there. His hand closed around Marcus's wrist.

"She's not interested," Liam said, stepping between us. His body blocked Marcus entirely. His back was to me. "Get away from her. Now."

Marcus held up both hands, smiling. "Didn't know she was yours."

"She's not anyone's." Liam muttered. "But she's under my protection. You touch her again, we have a problem."

Marcus laughed and backed away. "Enjoy the party, little bird," he called to me over Liam's shoulder. Then he disappeared into the crowd.

I exhaled. My hands were shaking. Liam turned. His face was tight, filled with rage.

I swallowed.

"Where's Vanessa?" I asked.

"Doesn't matter." He looked at my face. The empty glass in my hand. "How many of those have you had?"

"Two. Maybe three." I set the glass on a passing tray. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine." He grabbed my elbow. "Come on. We're leaving."

"What? No. Chloe's still..."

"Chloe can get a ride with Mark." He pulled me toward the door. "You're done here."

I let him pull me. Because I didn't want to stay. Because I wanted him to keep holding my arm. Because I was a liar and a fool and I didn't care anymore.

We burst out into the cool night air. The music faded behind us. The door swung shut.

Liam stopped, turning to face me. "You shouldn't have come."

"Maybe." I looked up at him. The moonlight caught his jaw. His mouth. So beautiful. So soft. "But you brought me anyway."

His jaw tightened. My heart raced in my chest. Before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned up and kissed him.