Her Brother's Best Friend - Aching Hearts Series #2

Chapter 16 - One Last Time

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CHAPTER 16 - ONE LAST TIME

"You know she won't talk to us for a while." Jason mused as he watched Vanessa try and try to call Emily.

The girl snorted, hanging up for the umpteenth time in half an hour. "Maybe. But at least I wanna try." She groaned, placing her phone back into her pockets.

He sighed, passing a hand over his face. "Don't worry, she's fine. Most certainly she's on the beach chatting with Riley." Vanessa tried to mend, but he snorted, which gained him a dirty look.

"Do not try to divide them, Jason. You hear me?" She chastised, harshly, half glaring at him, who gazed at her, returning the dirty look, but he didn't have time to open his mouth and explain his reasons because she went on, angrily tapping on her foot, arms crossed, looking as serious as he'd barely ever seen her. "Do not dare do anything to impede this couple from forming."

He frowned. "Or what?"

She glared more intently. "Or you'll have to respond to me. And you know I'm not as sweet as your sister."

Jason bit his lip, forcing himself to ignore the heat he felt at such show of feistiness. God, if there was one thing he loved about this girl was how feisty she was. And naughty. And damn, so breathtakingly hot. Even though, there were other sides of her he'd learnt to see, like ... her giggling when she was tickled beneath her ribs, or the way her nose scrunched up she didn't like what he was doing, or ... well, the way the hair on his neck stood to attention every time she called his name. Especially in very specific predicaments.

Either way, he ignored all of that and furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't wanna stand between my sister and her happiness. But Riley –"

"He loves her."

Jason snorted. "He's only after the nth prey, he –"

"He loves her, Jason. And you know that. Hell, it's your freaking best friend. You should know him better than I."

"And I do. That's why I –" She snorted, so he sighed. "Ness, he's seen her growing up."

"So what?"

"So ... she's supposed to be only a child to him."

"She's almost 18."

"Almost!" She glared and he sighed, passing a hand over his face. "Look, I know Riley, okay? I know he's not ... constant in his feelings. And –"

"Oh, and you are?"

He frowned. "What?"

Vanessa sighed. Really, she never thought she'd have to face a serious conversation with him, but right now it was needed. The asshole he could be sometimes could even spoil it all for his sister. Gosh, she loved the guy so much, but sometimes, he was really a jerk, never seeing beyond his freaking nose.

Arms still crossed, she shifted on her foot, to be more comfortable, and explained: "You say Riley is not constant in his feelings. Well, you're the one that proposed to his girlfriend only a few months ago, yet he hasn't set a date yet, and ... he's been cheating on her so easily."

"That's not fair, I –"

"Yes, yes, it's a matter of attraction, I know. Still. The way I see it, between you two, Riley is the one that's more certain of his feelings. He's in love with Emily, he's not afraid to admit it, even if I bet the fact freaks him out too, given their past. He wasn't afraid of trying, but, despite what you might think, he is not after her virginity. Because, you should know it, he's better than that. Hell, I've known the guy for a few weeks only and I can see it while you don't?"