My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 19

"No one will believe us when we show up together." I said as I got dressed in my bedroom, slipping into a pair of jeans.

Looking at Aaron laying in my bed with the sheet hanging loosely around his waist. His hands rested behind his head showing off his toned arms. Smiling softly to myself, finally able to ogle him without shame and embarrassment.

"You know I love to shock people, so this will be great." Aaron replied, making me laugh. "That'll be fun." I replied sarcastically, trying not to let my nerves get the best of me.

These past few days I have been the happiest I've ever been in years. If not ever. I haven't genuinely smiled as much as I did when I was with him. And a part of me was dreading going back to our hometown again. I just wanted to stay alone in our own little bubble as much as possible

But Aaron needed to go back to his father's ranch to continue to take care of him in his old age and fix up the repairs on the property. And Eddie called saying our mother had a health scare and needed me to come over.

Putting on a lightweight long sleeve cardigan over a flattering tank top. Moving my wavy hair to the side to put on my locket my mother gifted me years ago.

"What's wrong?" Aaron asked me, lifting my head as I applied my makeup. "What? Nothing." I laughed it off as he watched me in the mirror.

"Is this about what they will say?" Aaron continued effortlessly seeing right through my nervousness. "I just really don't want to face everyone. After what I did at the reunion and now with us. Everyone will definitely have something to say about it all." I said unable to look him in the eye as I finished getting ready.

"Since when did you start caring about what people thought?" He smiled sitting up from the bed to get dressed, making me turn to him. "I've always cared. Why do you think I tried so hard to accomplish my goals?" I answered. He frowned standing up to come up to me.

"Is this really the life you want or is this the life that was expected of you?" Aaron asked gently, worried for how I would react. Wrapping his arms around my waist as I really thought about it.

"I love my job. I love writing. I just... This lifestyle isn't me." I began looking around my luxury home. "It hasn't felt like me in a long time. I mean look at this house. It isn't a home. It doesn't even look lived in." My hands motioned to my crisp white and beige bedroom. There was hardly any color and everything was in perfect order except for Aaron's clothes thrown on the floor.

"Yeah, I noticed but I wasn't going to say anything." He teased with a smile. "But you've always been a neat freak." Aaron continued trying to ease my nerves.

"I don't want this anymore." I confessed barely above a whisper, unable to look at him. I had never confessed my creeping thoughts about the doubt and dissatisfaction with my life and my career with anyone before now.

"I didn't realize just how much until I went back to Sunnyfield." I said softly as he gently tucked a loose strand of my dark brown hair behind my ear.

"Well, then we'll just have to figure out what life you do want to have. Together." Aaron replied, making me swoon before kissing him lovingly.

Aaron was driving us back to Alabama after our long flight from California. Passing the familiar ranches and pastures under the clear sunny skies. Counting the cows and horses to pass the time as music played softly on the radio.

"What do you think they'll say?" I asked nervously. "Don't let them get to you. They're just intimidated by you." He assured as the wind blew through our hair as he drove with the windows down.

"By me? Why?" I scoffed, making Aaron turn to me amused. "Really? When have you ever had any nice thing to say to any of the people there? You're strong and demanding. Not to mention funny and sexy." He continued through a grin making me roll my eyes, unable to fight off a smile.