Her Best Friend's Brother Page 8

  He had tried—to notice other women that is. Al year he had been determined to find someone. Any one he could feel even a fraction of this connection with. It hadn’t worked. He had found himself depositing his dates back their front doors at the end of each night with polite excuses of early classes, or worries of on setting colds and he then he had gone home—alone.

  “What do you want to do tomorrow?” Tony spoke as they reached their cars.

  “Umm… I don’t know. Don’t you have to spend some time with your parents?” Libby thriled at the idea of spending an entire day with him. But she didn’t want to assume things, and then there were those old bad habits she needed to keep clear of. After al hand holding and plastic bracelets did not undying devotion make.

  “I think we should make cookies. You suck so far as a teacher, but I am wiling to give you another shot.” Tony disregarded her question.

  “You want me to teach you how to bake?”

  “Just how to bake cookies.” He corrected her. “I have realy missed your chocolate chip cookies. I could come to the bakery.”

  “Nah. You are a health code violation. We can go to my mom’s apartment.”

  “Gee you realy know how to knock a guy down!” Libby twitched a smile at him. “Don’t take it personaly. You have to pass a food safety course to use our kitchen.”

  “Okay so tomorrow it is. Around 2:00?”

  “2:00 is fine” They had arrived at the bakery, and were standing outside Libby’s car both unwiling to end the evening.

  Tony weighed his options. He could hug her-- pul her into his arms, fil his hands with her hips, smel her shampoo… Of course kissing her goodnight would be better. A brief brush of his mouth against hers would be innocent enough, if less than satisfying. What he wanted to do was back her up against the car, and devour her mouth.

  That mouth that he felt sure he could drown in, and stil die happy. And her throat, he needed to know what her skin would taste like along her neck. He wanted to touch her, to feel the weight of her breasts, the softness of her skin…

  okay that option was out. Instead of al of those things he raised their stil intertwined fingers, dropped a kiss on the back of her hand, and said “ ‘night Lib” before he walked back to his own car.

  Chapter Nine

  The next day Tony arrived as promised right at 2:00. Libby set out al the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies. It was the most fun Libby ever remembered having with Tony. And that was saying something because Libby always had fun with Tony. She found her mother’s pink Big or Small Save them All apron. (Left over from a breast cancer awareness bake sale a few years before). Of course being the champ that he was Tony donned the apron without comment. They worked most of the morning.

  Libby didn’t often make one batch of cookies. That’s what comes from growing up with a baker. So they ate the first batch while they made batches two through nine to be donated to the local lions clubs’ for the annual apple festival the folowing week. Batch number ten Libby wrapped up for Tony to take back to New Jersey with him.

  Under Libby’s watchful eye Tony didn’t burn a single tray of cookies, and he kept his tasting-spoon out of the raw dough. Even after spending the entire previous evening together Libby and Tony found conversation flowed easily throughout the afternoon.

  “Thanks Lib. I won’t tel you how quick those are going to get eaten, or how much extra time I am going to have to spend at the gym.” Tony was doing the dishes talking over his shoulder at her. There was something almost tender about that moment that kept Libby from replying. She was sure her voice would crack if she tried to speak. So many times in her greatest when-I-grow-up fantasies she had pictured similar situations. Only the dishes wouldn’t have been left over from a baking lesson, so much as left over from dinner. A roast she had spent al afternoon on for her, and Tony, and their three kids. Kids that would have had Tony’s chocolate hair and Italian skin tone. But that was in the past. And hadn’t Libby grown up since the days of waiting for Tony to see her as more than a friend?

  So she pushed those thoughts aside. There would be no roast, and no olive skinned babies.

  It was almost dinner time. Tony dried his hands after stacking the last of the cookie sheets in a drying rack.

  He turned and watched where Libby was wiping down the counters. There was flour in her hair, and on her hands, and smudged up to her elbows. God she was pretty. He wanted to walk up behind her and tel her that she made flour look good. He wanted to tug the braid out of her hair and let if fal through his fingers. There were a lot of things he wanted to do. “Should we get some food? Or I know an arcade where I can let you win at Skee Bal again?” Tony wasn’t hungry after an afternoon of cookies, but he didn’t want to go home either.

  “In your dreams Marchetti.” Libby hadn’t eaten nearly as many cookies as Tony and she was starving, but she felt a distinct emotional backslide coming on, and needed time to get her head together. “I’m not realy that hungry. And I have a lot of packing to do stil. Rain check?”

  Inside Tony crashed. “Yeah too many cookies—

  I’m sure I couldn’t eat either.” Carefuly he puled out his cheeriest fake smile (The one usualy reserved for great Aunt Milicent who smeled like cats, but who Dad insisted on inviting for thanksgiving anyway) and started gathering his jacket to leave. “Tomorrow. What would you like to do tomorrow?”

  He was trying to kil her. “I have to leave pretty early Monday morning and I am sure your parents want to early Monday morning and I am sure your parents want to spend time with you.”

  Even his Aunt Milie smile was failing him. But Tony was nothing if not determined. “Okay wel get your packing finished tonight. And I wil pick you up in the morning.

  We’l go to the Y and run.” Smooth he thought to himself.

  She was going to dust him—so not the way to impress a girl. “And when we come back I wil help you load your boxes so you’l be able to sleep in a little on Monday.

  Accepting her defeat, and unable to resist the idea of sharing her morning run with Tony, Libby nodded. “I like to get to the gym early.”

  Tony breathed a sigh of relief that she had agreed.

  “I’l be here early.”

  And he was. With coffee. Tony knocked on the door and was surprised when Ms. McKay answered. This was dumb because, of course, Ms. McKay lived here. But she usualy worked strange hours since bakeries were open so early, and Tony hadn’t actualy hung out here that many times.

  “Come in Tony. Libby’s changing she should be out in a moment. Have a seat.” Tony thanked her and perched himself on the couch sipping the stil scalding coffee to cover for his nerves. He remembered very clearly the night Ms. McKay had come home in the early morning and found him and Libby fast asleep wrapped up in each other on this very couch. When she had shaken Tony awake he had wanted to crawl under a rug. Although-- she had been very sweet about the whole thing. Thanking him for being such a good friend. For sacrificing his Haloween night and for tucking Libby back into her bed since the medicine had knocked her out cold. That had just made him feel worse; because of course Tony had had his own less than honorable reasons for being there that night.

  “Libby tels me you’re living in New Jersey?” Oops, stop daydreaming man! Ms. McKay was talking.

  Had he missed something?

  “Umm yeah. I have been interning at a paper there the past few years. So it was an easy choice.” He didn’t mention that he had been researching papers in Talahassee a little over a year ago. That was before the luau party, and before Parker.

  “A news paper man?” Ms. McKay smiled. He could see a little of Libby’s smile in her face. He wondered if this was Libby twenty years from now. Libby must have gotten her height from the late Mr. McKay, but the shining dark eyes, and flyaway dark curls were al there in her mother. “Would I have seen your writing?”

  “Not unless you get the Columbia literary mag, or you unless read the obits in the Trenton Examiner.” Tony offered a she
epish shrug. “The Examiner is a smal paper, but I like that. I’m not sure I want to be Perry White; I am looking forward to being given more interesting subject material now that I have my degree.”

  “Hmm.” She nodded politely. Maybe he should tel her he’d written a book, and that he had plans for more.

  No—that was stil a bit of a pipe dream, not exactly promising of a secure future.

  “The Examiner isn’t a big paper, but it is wel run.

  I’ve learned a lot. I think I might like to start my own paper one day. Lindstown doesn’t even have its own daily.” Where did that come from? But it wasn’t a bad idea, and Tony didn’t want to live in New Jersey forever. He hadn’t given overly much thought to moving since he gave up on the idea of Florida, but he found he liked the idea of moving home.

  “That’s nice dear.” Ms. McKay didn’t seem impressed one way or another with his future plans. Not that they should matter to her. Parker was going to be a lawyer. Parker had the kind of bank account that could withstand monthly airline tickets just to take her daughter on a date or two. Stupid Parker.

  Libby and Tony ran two one-mile legs. She smoked him both times. Silently Tony promised himself to hit treadmil more often at his own gym. Tony was no couch potato though and when they settled into a light jog around the track he had less of a problem keeping up. Libby was beautiful when she ran. She was always beautiful, but there was calmness on her face when he was running. Relaxation vibes roled off of her like she didn’t have a care in the world. Not Tony-- Tony’s lungs were burning, and he could barely remember this morning’s blueberry muffin. But Libby looked incredible. Of course her amazing long legs in those tiny running shorts didn’t hurt either.

  “That was fun. I think I missed having someone to train with.” Libby mopped her towel over her face and shoved it back into her bag. Tony would have answered if he had any breath to spare—which he did not.

  After they had hit the showers Tony offered to help Libby load her things into the moving truck.

  “I’m not picking up the U-Haul until tonight—it’s cheaper that way.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “My mom and Stuart wanted to have lunch together.”

  “Oh, right. Wel I wil get you home then.” Tony drove Libby back to her apartment in silence.

  “Thanks for hanging out with me this weekend.” Tony finaly spoke when he stopped in front of her building.

  “Have a good drive tomorrow.”

  “Yeah. I’ve had fun. It was nice to have a friend around since Mel abandoned me early.” Libby leaned over to hug him good bye. Her hair, stil wet from the shower at the gym, clung to his neck. Oh yeah, he thought, we are just friends.

  Upstairs Libby told herself she was thankful that Tony had left. She reminded herself of her resolution to move forward with her life. She did not sit around dweling on how she had felt with Tony’s eyes on her legs and bottom for the past hour. Wel not much.

  Chapter Ten

  It was easy faling back into school. Suzy was bubbling with how wonderful her summer had been, and how she had gotten back together with her high school boyfriend. Accounting wasn’t quite as bad as she had remembered. And of course the Florida weather was a plus.

  Keeping her resolution to move forward with her life Libby set out to realy enjoy colege life. She accepted dates, and went to parties. Not that she let her studies slide, but she didn’t feel as if she was being left behind either. Not realy.

  Brian flushed a toilet—he says the water just dumps straight down. Something about the way the Australian toilets are shaped. Sorry to disappoint you

  -L-

  I’m not disappointed. I bet he is just pulling your leg. I choose to stand strong in my backwards flushing toilet beliefs.

  -t-

  They are letting my take over Sarah Kendall’s column while she is on maternity leave. This is a big deal.

  Halloween at the office was great. I was Clark Kent

  -t-

  Congrats! Send me copies!

  I was a pirate wench—the accent was fun.

  -L-

  I haven’t been home for Thanksgiving turkey in a while. I am pretty excited. When are you getting home?

  -t-

  Mom and Stuart are going away for Thanksgiving.

  I am glad— she doesn’t take many vacations. I am going to New York to see Mel.

  -l-

  My mom got married!!! She came home from Thanksgiving married! They eloped in Las Vegas--so weird. I like Stuart and all—I just can’t believe they did it in Vegas! It is too romantic for grownups.

  -L-

  Wow. Stuart’s pretty cool. He was my little league coach you know. I bet they are happy. I am sure it is weird for you.

  I heard Mel scorched the turkey! Serves you right for abandoning me in Lindstown. If you want to talk you can call me.

  -T-

  We missed you at Christmas Lib. I wish you had mentioned that you were staying at school to take a winter class. I have a little vacation time coming up—I was thinking of spending it in Florida. What do you think?

  -t-

  “Hi Tony.” Libby was sitting in her dorm room. She had picked up her phone as soon as she saw his name flashing on the caler ID.

  “Libby! You wil never guess. I mean I had almost given up on sending it out… But I’m nothing if not persistent…”

  “Tony! You are starting to remind me of Mel.” Libby smiled into the phone. She had missed his voice. He was coming for a visit next week and Libby couldn’t wait.

  She had a list as long as her arm of things she wanted to show him.

  “Sorry, Lib.” Tony drew a deep breath. “I got an agent.”

  “For your book? That’s amazing. Wow. I told you it was good.”

  “I know you have been realy great. You are the only one I have told you know. I’m stil not teling anyone—not until I get a publisher. But an agent is a huge start. He is realy optimistic, and he has already hooked me up with an editor in the city. I am going to meet with her next week.”

  “Next week?”

  “I know Lib. That’s one of the reasons I am caling. I have to cancel my trip. I don’t want to, but I only get so much vacation time. And I think it would be better spent working with my editor. My editor can you believe it?”

  “Of course it’s fine. Great actualy. I am super happy for you.” Stupid book! Her whole week was ruined. Except it wasn’t a stupid book. It was very good and Tony was a great writer.

  and Tony was a great writer.

  “I knew you’d understand. Libby-- I don’t deserve friends like you. Mr. Carson, Jack, he’s the agent.

  I sent him a bunch of sample stuff in addition to the manuscript and he likes it al. He agrees with me about Isaac Raines being the strongest character. I am already outlining a few stories. I told you about Isaac right?”

  “Umm No.”

  “He’s a detective. A real wrong-place-wrong-time kind of a guy. Think John McClain only less pissy.”

  “John McClain is not pissy!” Libby loved the Die Hard movies.

  “Missing the point here Lib.” Tony was laughing at her.

  “Oh right. Sorry. Okay tel me al about your editor, and about you’re the new book.”

  They talked late into the night. Tony was so excited. And he should be. This was a huge deal, but stil Libby felt sad. She hated feeling jealous. But she had to admit, if only to herself, that she was actualy very jealous.

  Of a book. Wel not realy of the book—it just seemed like she was stuck in a holding pattern. Al around her people were doing things, making futures. And she was just happy to get a passing grade in accounting.

  Mel had just signed a deal with a boutique in SoHo. (Because when you live in New York you do things like go to boutiques in SoHo). She was going to be offering Marchetti Designs in women’s dress shops. Apparently women are the ones buying men’s accessories anyway.

  John and Parker were looking at medical and law schools.

>   Suzy spent most of her nights at her boyfriend’s apartment these days and was beginning to hint at an engagement.

  Even boring Brian and his boring girlfriend were having the time of their lives in Australia. Dependable old Libby was just plodding along towards a business degree.

  Tmarchetti: You there?

  Libby thriled at the ping of the chat window on her computer screen.

  Libbylibbylibby: I was just finishing a paper, yeah I’m here.

  Tmarchetti: I had a meeting with my agent in the city today. I ate dinner at Mel’s. Have you talked to her lately?

  Libbylibbylibby: Not in a couple of weeks actualy.

  She’s so busy. Is everything okay with her?

  Tmarchetti: She’s fine. Can I cal you?

  Libbylibbylibby: of course.

  “Helo?” Libby was starting to get worried. She should have caled Mel to catch up. But school had been crazy lately.

  “Hey. Lib.” Tony sounded strange.

  “What’s going on?”

  “So I was in the city today. And I was at Mel, and John’s place. And Parker stopped by.”

  “Okay. What’s going on Tony?”

  “Libby he had a girl with him. And I didn’t know if you knew or what the deal was, but you should know. And you are a thousand times prettier—if that helps. I can’t imagine what he’s thinking.”

  “Tony! Are you trying to warn me that Parker has a new girlfriend? Her name is Penny. I’ve met her. I like her.” Geez! Here, she had been worried and here it was just his overprotective brother routine.

  “So you two aren’t together anymore?”

  “No. We never were. Not realy. Just a few dates and a great friendship. Seriously my heart is intact. But thanks for worrying about me that was sweet.”