My Best Friend's Brother (14 page)

She stopped suddenly just outside the back door and turned to me.

"Ready?"

I smile. "As I'll ever be." She smiles back and takes a deep breath before opening the door.

Stepping through the door, I was greeted by an unexpected sight.

Hope seemed surprised too, if her open mouth is anything to go by.

The back door led straight into the kitchen and in the kitchen stood not only Kira, but my sister Heather, my brother Matt and Ricky.

But what was most shocking was that they were no longer shouting, but were now laughing and joking instead.

Hope looked at me and struggled her shoulders.

They somehow hadn't noticed our entry into the house.

Hope walked further into the kitchen, not letting go of my hand at anytime.

She stopped near the edge of the island where the group were sat, still not noticing us.

I cleared my throat to gain their attention.

As I expected, all heads turned to us.

Ricky's face changed into one that I couldn't read.

"I need to have a word with you in private." He said in an emotionless voice while looking at me.

I gulped, but agreed.

Hope looked back to me and shook her head "No you can't." her voice full of worry.

"I have to Hope." I whispered.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything" Ricky said, getting Hope's attention.

While Heather, Matt and Kira all wore similar blank faces.

But I could see a hint of a smile in Matt's eyes.

He has never been any good at trying to hide his true emotions.

This made me relax slightly.

If Matt was happy, then that means I should be ok, right?

Or at least that's my theory.

I turned a worried looking Hope around and leaned forwards and whispered into her ear

"Hope, I promise I'll be fine. Just remember our date tonight." I wink and kiss the top of her head.

She grins and nods.

I turned back and walked towards the door, which led to the rest of the house and waited for Ricky.

Ricky stood up, still emotionless and walked out of the door, motioning for me to follow him.

I take a quick look back before exiting.

Matt grins widely and gave me a thumbs up.

Heather sees this and slaps his head.

Kira shakes her head in amusement, while Hope doesn't take her eyes off me at all until I am finally out of the room.

I turned back to Ricky and notice he is headed to the stairs.

"It will be more private upstairs." He says as if noticing my reservations.

I carry on following him and we eventually end up in his bedroom.

He motions with his hand for me to close the door behind me and I nod and do it.

Ricky started loom towards me, I took in a deep breath.

'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea' I told myself silently.

I relaxed myself and closed my eyes.

Ricky punched me straight in the jaw.

And I have to say it hurt like hell.

I moved hand to my face and opened my eyes.

Ricky had backed away and was now sat on the edge of his bed.

I rubbed my jaw and waited for something else to happen.

"That was just a warning." He stated in a firm tone.

"If you do anything to hurt my sister..." He paused and looked me straight in the eye.

"I will kill you." He said seriously.

I gulped and nodded.

"I understand man, but I promise I would never do anything to hurt her." I told him truthfully.

He looked at me and said, "How can I trust you?"

I furrowed my eyebrows "You mean with Hope?" I asked confused.

"Yes and everything." He said standing up again.

"After all you never did tell me... your best friend..."

He put his hand on his chest in what looked like mock hurt.

He continued. "That you had the hots for my baby sister." His face now showed amusement.

I stop rubbing my jaw, as I open and close my mouth a couple of times unsure how to reply.

Ricky laughs. "So I guess it's true?" he asks now smirking.

"Well kinda, but not really." I state truthfully.

"What does that mean? Are you using my sister?" He asked angrily clenching his fist.

I raise my hand and wave them across each other "No, no, no! That's not what I meant!" I sighed and ran my hand threw my hair.

"What I meant is that I really care for her... I always.." I tell him without actually saying the words and hope he understands.

He unclenched his fist and stood up, then walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I know man. Your brother told me after you and Hope left." He smirked.

"He did?" I asked.

"Yep, he told me so I wouldn't run out of the house and kick your butt. I have got to say I was skeptical at first, but if you make my sister happy and don't hurt her then I'm OK with it."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

He stopped smiling and gave me a serious look again. "But I really meant it! You best not hurt her!" He warned.

I smiled to him and patted his back "Don't worry man, I won't. I like her too much for that." I told him truthfully.

"Good then. Let's go back down. I'm sure Hope is wearing a hole into the floor by now." He teased and patted my shoulder as he opened the door and left.

I stood there a moment to take everything in.

Hope like me back, she agreed to go on a date with me and her brother wasn't going to kill me, or at least not now.

And I hell as sure wasn't ever planning to do anything to hurt her, not now I finally got her.

"You coming man?" Ricky called, bringing back to reality.

"Yep, coming." I called back and jogged out of the door and to the stairs where he was waiting.

We reached the kitchen, but before we went in Ricky stopped me.

"Play along." He winked and walked into the kitchen glaring at everyone.

I kept my head down and tried my best to keep a straight face.

"Oh man" I heard Matt say.

"You ok? Still alive?" He smirked.

"Yeah, no thanks to you." I glare and start to walk over to Hope.

Hope

Ricky and Nate have been upstairs a while now and I keep being told to sit and wait.

But all I want to do is go upstairs and make sure he is OK.

"Don't worry." Heather tells me.

"They'll be down soon."
Kira added.

Just then Ricky stepped in followed by an unreadable Nate.

Ricky was wear a glare and walked over to me, while Nate and Matt spoke.

"What did you do?" I glare back at my brother.

A smirk made its way on his face. "Not too much."

"You best not have hurt him." I say as I start to walk over to Nate, who is also walking to me.

Ricky stops me. "I don't want you seeing him anymore." He tells me.

I stop and stare at him. "Why? You can't stop me." I say, ignoring him and continue to walk over to Nate.

"Me and Nate have talked about it and he agrees" Ricky adds.

I looked at Nate with tears in my eyes. "Is that true?" I say trying to stop my tears from falling.

"Don't you want me anymore?" I ask my voice full of sadness as my tears start to fall.

Nate rushes the remaining distance between us and cups my face "No honey, I want you." He tells me before glaring at Ricky.

"Your brother just has a sick sense of humor." He added hugging me to his chest and kissing the top of my head.

"Ricky you are such a dick." I hear Heather say.

"You do anything like that again and I'll hurt you myself." Matt says next.

"I second that." Kira adds.

"Oh come on." Ricky explains.

"You know I didn't really mean to make her cry. I guess I never really thought it through properly." Ricky admits.

"Do you ever?!" Matt teases.

I hear Ricky walk over to where Nate and I are standing.

I am standing wrapped in Nate's arms, with my face in his chest, whilst he rubs circles on my back and kisses my head every now and then.

"I'm sorry Hop. Don't cry. I didn't mean it." Ricky said sadly.

I indicate for Nate to let me go before turning and slapping Ricky.

"You know I hate you sometimes!" I yell out of frustration and lean my back into Nate's chest and he happily wraps his arms around me again.

"I know." He frowns, but quickly adds, "But you love me again now, right? After all I let you slap me." He grins.

I roll my eyes and slap him again. "OK, now I feel better and I guess I love you again." I smirk back.

"You guys are so weird." Kira laughs.

"Sometimes I wonder if we are really related." She adds.

We all laugh. "You have no room to speak." I tease her.

Nate just stayed quiet, still with his arms around me, watching us, amused as did Heather and Matt.

"I am perfectly normal." Kira replies through mock hurt.

"OK Mrs. Hippo" I laugh.

"I'll clean this one up." Matt says getting everyone’s attention.

"You are all weirdos." He smirks.

Heather and Nate both laugh.

I sent her a glare and hit Nate's arm.

Whilst Ricky walked over to Matt "Says the man who only a week ago..." Ricky was cut off by Matt placing his hand over his mouth.

"You said you wouldn't say anything."

I hear Ricky laugh under Matt's hand at this.

"OK I take it back, happy?" Matt says trying to keep Ricky from telling his secret.