Her Best Friend's Brother Read online

  When the soup was gone and Johnny Depp was on his way to adventure on the high seas, Tony turned to Libby. “Is that Parker felow going to mind you watching a movie with me, or Sam Tucker?”

  “You have a weird obsession with Sam Tucker. What about Effie?” Libby dodged the question. It was true that she was supposed to be on a date with Parker right now. But that was more of a matter of default due to their best friends being make-out buddies more than anything else.

  “Effie isn’t my girlfriend Lib.” Tony sounded agitated as though he was tired of answering that question.

  This was categoricaly unfair as Libby went out of her way This was categoricaly unfair as Libby went out of her way to completely ignore her existence.

  “We were friends who were rooming together, and I have hardly seen her since we moved back to campus.” Not that it was her business, but it suddenly seemed important to Tony that Libby understand. “I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment.”

  His words reverberated in the air for a little while. Libby could almost feel the electricity zinging between them. She opened her mouth to say something and

  —she sneezed a loud and somehow hilarious sneeze. They were both laughing uncontrolably, and Libby was trying to catch her breath. It was amazing that even though the delicious tension from a moment ago had disappeared Libby was stil having the time of her life.

  “I’l get you some tissues. I should have thought of that.” Tony was stil chuckling as he unfolded himself from his corner of the couch. “Do you need anything else?”

  “Actualy the Nightquil is over the sink if you don’t mind bringing it to me.” Nightquil usualy knocked Libby out, but she knew she had taken the last of the daytime stuff, and she didn’t want to risk another sneeze like that in front of Tony.

  As Tony walked down her halway Libby alowed herself a long look. Tony was wearing a blue Columbia tee shirt, and old washed-soft blue jeans. Most guys you wouldn’t even notice their pants, unless they were yelow plaid or something else equaly odd. Tony made denim look good. It was his thighs she decided. She could see the toned muscles flexing as he walked. And his tee shirt fit snuggly across his broad shoulders. Tony had played footbal for as long as Libby had known him. Even at colege he had a group of buddies she knew that got together for a pickup game at least once a week. Al those years on the footbal field had done Tony’s upper body good. He wasn’t bulky like some footbal players, but lean and broad with upper arms that strained slightly at his sleeves. She loved those arms. When Tony came back and after Libby had dutifuly swalowed her medicine he settled himself onto the couch, draped one strong muscled arm around Libby’s shoulders, and leaned back to watch the movie.

  Libby tried to fight the effects of her cold medicine, but long before the hero got his girl she was slumped over onto Tony’s shoulder and sleeping deeply. Tony considered carrying her to her room, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. And anyway her mother wouldn’t be home for hours, and what if Libby needed someone? So he leaned back into the arm of the couch, and puled Libby, stil wrapped in her blanket, into his chest. It was getting late and he concentrated on matching his breathing with the rise and fal of her back until he too drifted off to sleep.

  The next morning Libby woke up in her own bed and felt as if she had never slept better in al her life. It took her awhile to focus and then she remembered Tony visiting, bringing her soup, and a movie. She also had a fuzzy memory of Tony wrapping her in his arms and snuggling her close to him, but that part was probably a dream. There was no way that her mom, at 5 foot nothing could possibly have gotten Libby from the couch into her bed, and that left Libby with one thriling option for how she had gotten back into bed last night. Sitting up she found a thick blue folder at the foot of her bed.

  Opening it she found a note scrawled in Tony’s familiar messy writing.

  Libby,

  Your mom is back, and I have to get home. I am leaving you the first completed draft of my book. I did promise you could be the first to read it, remember? Take a look when you get chance. I hope you like it.

  Love, Tony Ps: In case you were worried—Johnny Depp gets away and Orlando Bloom gets the girl

  So that was her surprise. Libby grinned widely as she settled back into her pilows and began to read.

  Chapter Five

  “We did it!” Mel was jumping up and down and squealing her very best squeal. The pale green graduation gown bounced lightly as Mel did her dance. Pale green looked wonderful against Mel’s blond hair and fair skin.

  John picked Melanie up and spun her around in a circle.

  “Congrats babe!” He said, before wrapping her in a slightly inappropriate embrace. They were so ridiculously cute together. “You too Libster.” John shot her with a finger gun. God she hated that nickname.

  Parker pressed a kiss to the top of Libby’s head. “Yeah. Congrats.” He whispered. Libby realy wished he would stop doing stuff like that. John and Mel had been together for awhile now, and inevitably Libby always ended up paired with Parker. Not that she minded; it had actualy been nice that she could count on having a date for al the major social events of her senior year. And she realy liked Parker. He was funny and confident, and while she hated to admit to being shalow --having a man fly in from his New York Colege to see her had leant her a certain amount of prestige. Mostly they got along great and while they had shared a few lukewarm kisses he hadn’t seemed to be interested in much more. But lately he had been caling more, and always seemed to be touching her a little more than was necessary. Libby knew that with high school behind her she was ready to take the Tony Marchetti situation into her own hands. So the Parker thing could get awkward.

  The Marchetti back yard looked beautiful.

  Paper lanterns hung from wires that Mr. Marchetti had strung between the trees, and tiki torches dotted the edge of the yard. Mel had spent months planning her Hawaian graduation party. Judging from the size of the crowd, it was a big hit. A big white rented tent sheltered lots of tables and chairs, but extra lawn chairs had been arranged al over the yard to accommodate the guest list. Libby had played the good hostess to Parker most of the night so far, but she was grateful when Parker got caught up in a conversation about basebal and she could slip away. Libby wandered the edge of the yard feeling a little chily in her grass skirt and bikini top. But no way was she changing until Tony arrived. She knew she looked good, and she figured a little sex appeal could only help her cause. Tony’s flight had been delayed and he had had to miss the ceremony, but she thought he would have been here by now.

  “Do I get to hug the graduate?” As if she had summoned him with her thoughts Tony’s warm voice caled from the edge of the yard. Walking towards his voice and letting her eyes adjust to the dark she found him stretched out on an old lounge chair under a tree.

  “I didn’t know you had arrived.”

  “I’ve been here for about an hour. You were…. busy.” Tony stood up as she approached and scooped her up until she was on her tip toes hugging him.

  His skin was hot against hers, and she could feel his breath warm and wet on her neck. He puled her tighter for a long moment and then set her back down. “How does it feel?”

  “Good.” Libby breathed her answer before she realized Tony was probably talking about graduation. “It’s great. I feel great.” Tony puled Libby to sit down next to him on the lounge chair. He left his hand covering hers in between them.

  “So have you decided on a school? Time is running out.”

  Libby grinned. She had great news for Tony.

  “Actualy I heard back from Columbia, and I am in!” Libby had been accepted just about every where she had applied.

  But she had been wait listed at her first choice—Columbia.

  Florida State had realy impressed her the most and offered the best financial aid, but she wanted to be in New York. If she hadn’t made it past the extra interview at Columbia and gotten off their wait list then she had NYU as a backup school. But none of t
hat mattered now. She was going to Columbia with Tony.

  “Wow, congrats. That wait list is hard to beat.

  But is that where you realy want to be? You sounded so excited about Florida.”

  “Wel I want to be in New York, so it was probably going to be NYU if not Columbia.” Libby’s smile dropped a little. In her mind this had gone differently. Tony should have swept her into his arms and proclaimed his joy that they could finaly be together by now.

  NYU. With Parker. Tony hoped that Libby wouldn’t be able to see him grimace in the dark. When Libby had first applied to Columbia Tony’s mind had gone into overdrive imagining being with her. But she had realy been excited after she met with the people from Florida, and he only had one year left in New York. He had even been toying with the idea of moving down there after graduation

  — assuming Libby amenable to the idea. One more year he told himself. Let Libby spend a little time in colege. A semester or two out of high school, and surely they could be together then. Of course that was before he walked into this god awful party. He had spent hours waiting at the airport, and he had stil missed the graduation. Walking into the party tonight he had no trouble finding Libby.

  She looked incredible in her luau costume.

  There were plenty of other girls here dressed in similar get ups. Hel, he had even seen someone walking around with a coconut bra! But only Libby could get his heart rate jumping like that—of course she was the first thing he saw.

  The second thing he saw was that jackass Parker trailing behind her always with his hand on her back or an arm around her waist. Of course he had known they were seeing each other, but he hadn’t realized Parker would be at the party. Foolishly Tony had been assuming he was going to be Libby’s date and just imagine how it felt when he realized Libby already had a date.

  “New York is great Libby; I just remember how excited you were about Florida. You even had me thinking of spending some time down there in the sunshine.” Libby was confused, but undeterred. Tonight was their night she was sure of it. She scooted a little closer to him and moved her hand to his thigh. “I want to come to New York. You are in New York.” Going al out, Libby wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his mouth. She hadn’t kissed Tony in a year and a half. Not since his cousin’s wedding. She was not disappointed.

  Any chil she had been feeling earlier in the evening disappeared immediately. Her skin was on fire.

  His mouth was insistent and firm on her own, his tongue was sliding against hers, and unlike the kisses of her memory she no longer felt he was holding back. Tony wrapped one arm around her waist and dragged her closer to him. Groaning into her mouth at the feel of her breasts crushed against his chest, he tunneled his other hand into the hair at the nape of chest, he tunneled his other hand into the hair at the nape of her neck tilting her face for a deeper kiss. Encouraged by his reaction Libby dragged her hands between their bodies and with shaking fingers she began to undo his shirt buttons.

  Al she could think of was touching him, feeling his skin beneath her fingers, tracing those muscles she had spent years studying. His hands joined hers and for one fleeting moment she thought he was going to help her find that skin she was so desperate to feel. But then he closed his fists over her wrists, and puled out of their kiss so abruptly that Libby was pretty sure she whimpered her protest.

  “Libby. Stop. What are you doing?”

  “I told you. I want to be with you.” Libby tried to lean in again and resume the kiss, but Tony held her in place.

  “We can’t do this Lib. Not now. Not like this.” Tony tried to keep his voice calm; al the while his body was screaming its objections.

  Libby recoiled from him. Humiliation settling in her chest. “You don’t want me? You don’t want to be with me?”

  “Of course I want you! Where were you three seconds ago? You are so beautiful. You are the most stunning thing I have ever seen. Dressed the way you are tonight every man at this party wants you—I can’t help but want you, but that isn’t to say … we aren’t… together...” Tony stumbled trying to explain. He had a plan. Why was she messing with the plan? Why wouldn’t his brain pul it together so he could make sense out of al this? Only, he knew why— it was because most of his blood had drained southward the moment she had touched his leg.

  “But that’s it? That was just your physical reaction to the way I look?” Libby scooted further away snatching her hands back.

  “Christ, Libby! It isn’t like that.” Frustrated in more than one way Tony dragged his hand through his hair.

  “You’re seventeen!”

  “Eighteen.” Libby chewed on her lip.

  Tony’s eyes narrowed on her. “Mel is seventeen.”

  “My birthday is in January, hers is in December. I am almost a year older.” Libby’s whisper was barely audible, because it took al her remaining energy to keep from crying. Had she ever felt so smal?

  Tony nodded. He knew that—he just hadn’t been thinking clearly. “Eighteen. Okay, but you stil just graduated high school. I don’t know if the actual number makes a difference. And— not now Libby. I can’t do this with you.”

  Libby nodded. She couldn’t trust her voice.

  “What about Parker? For crying out loud Lib

  —you are here with someone else. I am not about to snake another man’s date.” Now Tony was just talking. He thought if he could keep talking than he could take the pain out of her eyes. If he could keep talking he just might be able to convince himself he was doing the right thing.

  “It isn’t like that.” Libby’s voice shook slightly.

  “Lib. He’s here like once a month. Do you have any idea what it costs to fly to and from New York?

  Trust me—it’s like that.” Libby started to walk away.

  “Wait. Let’s just… Can we talk? We’re stil friends…we can go back to when you first walked back here…” Tony jogged after her until she spun on her heels to face him again.

  “I’m sorry Tony. I think I have neglected my date long enough.” Libby turned and fled back to the party as fast as she could. Tony was left dumb founded staring after her. Eventualy he headed back towards the house.

  Angry and hurt and lonely and wishing he was stil stuck in that damn airport.

  Libby focused on being angry. Angry that Tony could flirt with her and kiss her and touch her and not realy want to be with her. Angry that she wasn’t enough. Angry that she had wasted her time on him. Angry that she had ever thought they could be more than pen pals. Angry was better than sad. Better than devastated. Better than that lump of insecurity she felt growing heavy in her stomach.

  She found Parker easily enough in a crowd of guys stil discussing some sport or another. Puling him along with her Libby went straight into the house, and into Mel’s empty bedroom. She didn’t have a clear idea of what she was doing. It just suddenly seemed paramount that she prove, at least to herself, that she was a desirable woman. So she least to herself, that she was a desirable woman. So she kissed him.

  Parker kissed back. Expertly. He parted her lips with his tongue, he drew her hips into his, and he trailed his fingers up and down her spine. Libby’s heart sank straight to the floor. “Wait.” She puled away.

  “It’s okay.” Parker whispered puling her back and trailed kisses down her throat. “I’m prepared.” What was he talking about… OH! The meaning of his words sank in and snapped Libby back to reality.

  “No.” She said taking another step back. “I’m sorry-- this was a mistake. I know it was my idea but…” she let the sentence trail into nothing, because she didn’t have an excuse. Tony was at least right about this. She had treated Parker terribly.

  “Hey. It’s alright Libby. We don’t have to do this. To be honest I was pretty surprised. I mean I have thought about it, us more than casualy dating, especialy since it looks like you wil be at NYU with me next year.

  But it’s not the end of the world and wel—at least now we know.”


  Wel that decided it-- no way could she be at NYU with Parker next year. Florida State wins… hands down. “I am sorry Parker; I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “Stop apologizing Libby. Just friends. That’s cool.” He puled her back towards him but it was a light friendly hug, and Libby realy needed a friend. “So friend, can I ask you a favor?” Libby looked up at him. “John and Mel left in our rental car about an hour ago… so…”

  “So you need a ride to your hotel?” Libby smiled at her friend. “Come on, I need to get out of here anyway.” Parker threw a companionable arm around Libby and pressed a light reassuring kiss to her temple as they headed for the front door.

  “Parker?”

  “Hmm?”

  “How much does it cost to fly down here?” Parker barked out a laugh. “Just a little humiliation.” Libby must have looked confused because after they were settled in the car Parker explained. “John’s grandfather owns an airline. You know— corporate charters, but John works off the price of his flights, mostly as an air steward, and it doesn’t cost the old man anything extra if I tag along so realy it only costs John a little humiliation.”

  “An air steward? Like a flight attendant?”

  “Yeah except the old man is kind of old fashioned --- he prefers air steward, and since that term makes John turn red as an apple I have to say I like it too.” They shared a good laugh, and Libby was satisfied that her friend hadn’t been spending next year’s tuition on plane tickets.

  She was leaving. With Parker. Tony stood slack jawed in the halway. He had come to find her, and to beg her for another chance. He was such an idiot. She had offered him everything he had wanted for what seemed like forever and he had thrown it al back in her face. Al because he was a little uncomfortable with her age. They could have worked it out--maybe started slowly he could have taken her on dates. Isn’t that what Mel had said he should do? He could have taken her to Broadway, and the empire state building. But never in a milion years had he expected to find her wrapped around Parker and headed out the door. It was probably his fault. He had driven her into someone else’s arms, but that didn’t take away the sting.