My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 27

Aaron's POV

Bethany and I had decided to host an engagement dinner with all of our closest friends and family at a nearby bistro. The evening was winding down as the sun began to set. We all sat and stood around the patio laughing and drinking, taking trips down memory lane.

"Congratulations, man." Alex said walking up with Dave. "Now does this mean you two aren't going to fight as much?" He teased holding a glass of whiskey.

"Probably not entirely." I joked. "Feels less like 'Congratulations' and more like 'About time'." Dave laughed slapping my shoulder affectionately. "This whole process of you two getting along has been about time. I'm still shocked you two had a crush on each other in high school." Alex confessed.

"Wish I made it more obvious then maybe this wouldn't have taken so long." I looked at Bethany laughing in the distance with Connie and some other friends from school. "Don't think like that, man. It happened the way it was supposed to." Dave said optimistically catching us slightly by surprise.

"When did you get hopeful?" Alex asked him when suddenly as if on queue, his four year old daughter ran up to him. "Daddy, daddy!" She exclaimed with her arms out.

Dave placed his glass on a nearly table to pick her up. "What is it, sweetheart?" He asked holding her on his hip. They both had dark brown eyes and light auburn brown hair making me smile.

After Dave's wife died tragically years ago, his two twin girls have been his whole life and main source of happiness. After the accident, Alex and I did everything we could to be there for him babysitting, making them dinners and helping out around the house. Finally he's begun to look and act like the lighthearted and optimistic man he once was.

"Aaron, sweetheart. Come." Bethany's mother invited me to sit down with her. I excused myself from my best friend's and Dave's daughter. "How are you feeling? Are you having a good time?" I asked, sitting down beside her.

She held a sheer shawl over her shoulders to keep herself warm against the soft summer breeze. "Of course, honey. I'm celebrating my two favorite people. Don't tell Eddie." She joked making me laugh.

"Thank you for making my daughter happy. I've noticed such a change in her since she's come back here. And I'm thrilled shes decided to plant her roots here." Bethany's mother expressed.

"I just wished it was under better circumstances." Because of her mother's health scare and condition gradually getting worse, Bethany decided to come back to Alabama to live permanently while flying to California for work whenever needed.

"She makes me happy too." I smiled softly as she suddenly grew serious. "But I raised that girl. She is my life. And Beth is not as tough as she looks. If you hurt her, I will let myself die and come back to haunt you." Her mother explained with a stern look in her eye, never tearing her attention away from me catching me off guard.

"I promise you I never intend to hurt her ever again. You have my word." I pressed firmly as she nodded. "Good because I intend on staying around for a little while longer. At least until you two give me grandchildren." She smiled, making me chuckle nervously at the thought.

"Where is the bride to be? I wouldn't be surprised if she's sitting alone somewhere. She's never enjoyed attention towards herself. Good or bad." Bethany's mother looked around the party looking for her. "I'll go find her for you." I kissed her cheek as I got up to look for Bethany.

Bethany's POV

People say we should strive to forgive and forget. Too often we do neither. Instead, we hold grudges and stay mad. Life is full of things that we should or shouldn't have done.

Everyone has made mistakes in their past they wish to change. But eventually at some point in time we realize those mistakes made us the people we are today. Those events paved the way for us to make decisions we may never have considered before.

Lately I've begun to realize everything that happened between Aaron and I as children happened for a reason. I've begun to forgive the shy, angry little girl I once was. All with the help of Aaron.

My skin flushed with the warmth of the summer breeze, carrying the scent of blooming flowers. The air shimmered with heat waves, distorting the distant horizon into a mirage of sun-soaked hues. The gentle rustle of leaves overhead provided a soothing sounds to the warm, lazy evening.

Aaron and I were hosting our engagement dinner announcing our news to all of our close friends and family. We all sat outside on a candlelit patio with twinkling lights hanging throughout the ivy and lattice. The hot summer sunset brought an orange and pale pink sky bringing me comfort.

"You're missing the party." Aaron's voice was low and gentle, snapping me from my thoughts. He walked up behind me wrapping his strong arms around my petite waist. "I needed some space. Not sure if I can handle another story about when we were kids." I smiled as he chuckled in my ear.

"You look beautiful tonight." Aaron said as I turned around to face him. Running my palms down his chest flattening out his button up shirt. "I can't wait to marry you." I confessed breathlessly. Aaron hovered over me holding me close.

"I spent so much time focusing on my future... I lost sight of the most important things right in front of me." I confessed to him, unable to pull my hands away. He smiled down at me moving a strand of hair behind my ear, holding the side of my face. Closing my eyes for a moment enjoying his warmth and comfort.

"I still remember that confident little five year old that Connie brought home one day after school. Who knew she would eventually be introducing me to my best friend? My future wife." Aaron said, bringing bittersweet tears to my eyes.

"All those years since the day we met and my only regret is that I didn't spend every single day with you."

Aaron's wonderful and meaningful words pulled at my heart strings as I looked up at him with a wide doe eyed smile. The warm lighting illuminated us and I heard the muffled chatter from the lively party in the distance. All those we loved dearly and have endured all the years of Aaron and I's constant arguing.

"I really hated you. At least most of the time. And I didn't give you much of a choice to hate me." I replied.

"I definitely didn't hate you. Even though you called me more insulting names than anyone else I've ever met. Most I've never even heard of before nor since." He said amused and slightly impressed.

He noticed the guilt on my face, making him continue. "But they were all true. I deserved everything you've ever described me as. The way I handled everything. The way I handled my feelings for you, the night of our graduation and when I saw you again after those ten years without you. That fight we had." He explained as I hung onto his every word.

"I loved the way we fought. I love how smart and witty you are. I love the weird and awkward way you come across sometimes. I love your frizzy curls that used to always get in your face. The way you clench your hands when you're angry with me. I love how you always know what you want." He continued as a tear escaped my eye, unable to fight the lovestruck grin on my face.

"You have no idea how happy you make me, Aaron." I breathed cupping his face, memorizing his handsome face. "Then tell me." He smiled. "It would be easier to just show you." I breathed deeply, hovering my lips against his.

"It's nice to see you like this again." He whispered once we pulled away from our passionate kiss. Aaron's dark brown eyes roamed my face as if he were in deep thought. "Like what?" I muttered.

"Yourself." Aaron answered in awe of me. "Well... thanks for reminding me." I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Of what?"

"Home."