My brothers best friend

Chapter 26: My girl

Chapter 26

Jake's P.O.V.

We are sitting in the car.

"Sorry," Mason says and I look at him in shock. Is he apologizing? "I was an idiot. You're a good guy, Jake, but she's my little sister, and as much as I hate to say it, you've got to... do it" Good to be together? He gives us permission? "But if you fucking, I don't know, upset her or something, I'll get a free pass to punch you in the face."

I nod. "Deal." To imagine Valerie upset sends my alarm systems into overdrive. I would also smash anyone who was ever allowed to make her cry.

"But honestly, man. Last spring? You kissed her last spring? "That's fucked up."

"You didn't let me finish talking, did you. You beat me before I could explain further."

"Well, yes, but then explain."

"I kissed her last spring, but I left her alone after that."

It is true. As much as I hated leaving Valerie alone, it was the best thing I could do, for her and for me. I kept thinking about her, her lips, her body, damn if I didn't also see her posts and read the comments. And there were really many boys who commented on things like: Fuck she's hot. Thinking of her in the bath.

And it pissed me off. Every time I saw a message like that I trained harder or went out. But luckily, people didn't just look at her face and body, because there were also comments like: You're sooo beautiful! Love you and your friends. You are really funny and I wish I had a friend like you. You are so sweet, think a lot about other people than yourself.

And all of that is true. She is beautiful. The most beautiful girl in this world. She is really funny. And she thinks more about others than herself.

"How long?" Mason asks, interrupting my thoughts.

What does he mean? "What?"

"How long? How long did you leave her?"

"Until she started at our college," I reply.

Mason nods a little to himself.

I say a little more seriously so he understands: "I'm not going to hurt her. In fact, I think if anyone is going to get hurt, it's me." And I actually mean it. I like Valerie. As in, like, like. I really like her. Like more than just a friend, which is fucked.

"Wow." He smiles at me. "You must like her, fuck it feels weird talking about my little sister like that with you."

I'm not smiling, because shit, it feels more real now that it's said out loud. "Fuck"

He looks at me. Long... "She doesn't know you like her, does she?" Damn it too. Why does he know me so well?

I am shaking my head. "No."

"You should tell her."

"I'm not sure, man. This is supposed to be non-binding." He starts the car. "Where are we going?"

"I'm hungry, we're going to McDonalds," he replies.

***

We order our food, find a booth in a corner and sit down. Mason looks at me for a long time, and finally I say, "What?"

"I-, you know Paige and me..." he starts but stops.

"What?" I ask again.

"I was thinking about proposing to Paige. And before you say it's too early and blah blah blah." He takes a deep breath. "I love her, we had a fucking good trip here during the autumn holidays, so I thought I would propose, but now that we're talking about it being too early and everything. Then it might be too early. What do you think?"

Wow. And then this happened.

"Man, damn, you... I don't know, do what feels right." That's my best advice, but Mason must really love Paige since he's thinking about marriage. When we were in high school, if anyone said anything about marriage or asked him if it would be something he would think about, he replied, Hell no, marriage is for people who are afraid. Getting married is such crap.

"I do not know. I could also just ask her, but we could not get married right away, just be engaged for a year or two?"

I nod. "Yes, it could be done."

"I'm so damn confused, I'm afraid she'll say no."

"She doesn't." I am 100% sure that it will be a yes. Paige looks at Mason like he's an angel.

He smiles. "Yes, but what if..." Damn if I'm not tired of what if's.

"Shut up. I don't even want to hear it. It's stupid to think about what if... Just live in the moment, man. She says yes, and if she doesn't, you deserve better."

He looks touched. "Thanks. I mean it, thanks, man. Not just for that advice, but you also saved Val's life. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn't stopped it."

I am horrified just to think of what could have happened. That idiot could think of doing bad things to my girl...

Shit.

Now I refer to her as if she were my girl. I literally thought: my girl.

...And if he had made it, he would have been dead by now. But instead he is in the hospital. I hit him pretty hard. When I saw Valerie under Jeremy. My heart stopped.

He is insane. I hope the court finds him guilty and that he rots in prison, but not much happened, at least according to the court, so I think he gets away with it. I clench my fists just thinking about that monster out in the world.

"Don't say thank you, that's what a friend is for."

"And what about Val?" he asks me and smiles cheekily.

I don't smile. I'm fucking fucked.