Read Online Bad For You: (An Older Brother's Best Friend Romance) by Charity Ferrell - Free Book Online Page B

grabbing my phone
to send him a text letting him know I’m on my way to pick him up for drinks. I’ve
missed my best friend like fucking crazy, but guilt still consumes me.
    What if Nautica told him about us? What if I
pissed her off so bad that she wanted revenge, and she knew the best way was to
make me lose my best friend? I never put anything passed pissed-off females.
I’ve had my fair share of them doing crazy shit to get back at me, mostly along
the lines of fucking with my truck.
    I snag my coat from my closet and head out of
my bedroom. The house is quiet, but I know it isn’t empty. I pass my parent’s
bedroom on the way to the stairs and stop abruptly when I see my mom sitting on
the edge of their bed, tears falling from her eyes. Seeing her this way isn’t
anything new, but it still hurts every time.
    “You alright, ma?” I ask. I’ve only seen her
once since I’ve gotten home. She came downstairs to tell me hi, gave me a hug,
ordered me some food, and then went back up to her bedroom. She’s been caved up
in there ever since.
    Sniffles escape her throat as she nods and
wipes her eyes. “You know I am, honey,” she lies.
    I slide my hands into my pockets and rock back
and forth on my heels. It’s getting worse with each passing year, and I’m sure
my absence is only making it harder on her; making her lonelier.  
    “Do you want to talk about it?” I ask.
    Another sniffle. “No, I’ll feel better after
a nap.” She opens her nightstand drawer and the sound of pills rolling from a
bottle rings through our silence. I’m not sure how many she swallows down
before giving me a fake smile and waving me out. “Please shut my door.”
    I take a step back and do as I’m told without
another word. It’s what I always do. I learned years ago to stop asking
questions and let her make the rules. If she doesn’t want to talk about it,
there is no talking about it. My mom is as stubborn headed as I am. So I keep
letting her pretend, which most likely makes me a shitty ass son, but there is
nothing more I can do. You can’t force someone who doesn’t believe they have a
problem to get help.
    I tiptoe down the stairs and go out into the
garage. I jump into my truck and head towards Simon’s place. I definitely need
that drink to clear my head. I actually need a few of ‘em.
    I wait in my truck for Simon to come outside
instead of going in. I can’t risk seeing Nautica yet. I need to get my head
straight first before I can face her in front of him.  
    “Bracken, dude I’ve fucking missed you,”
Simon shouts as the passenger door opens and he gets in. “It’s been too long.”
    I step on the gas pedal. “You have no fucking
idea,” I say.  
    We bullshit with each other on the drive to
the bar, and I hope they have something strong – strong enough to make me
forget about her.
     
    * * *
     
    “It feels good to have a drink,” Simon says. He grabs the beer
from the bartender and takes a long swig. He wipes his mouth with his sleeve and
grins. “Damn, I missed this shit.”
    I lead him to a table, and he sits down
across from me. He’s changed. The color of his hair still matches Nautica’s,
dark as the night, but the curls that once hit the bottom of his ears are
shaved off, along with the rest of his head. He’s in the best shape that I’ve
ever seen him in. The military is doing him good.
    I take a long drawl from my beer. “I bet. I
can’t imagine being stuck trudging through the damn snow while some drill
sergeant screams at me for not making my damn bed right.”
    “I’m not going to lie, it’s not fucking easy.
But if my dad did it for our family, so can I. Plus, I feel like I’m doing
something good, you know?”
    I nod. Ever since their dad died, he’s been
trying to do everything to follow in his footsteps. “Do you have any idea when
they’re shipping you overseas?”
    “I’m supposed to be leaving for my tour next
month.”
    I suck in my cheeks and rub the back of