Epilogue
Reagan
Two years later
I woke up feeling confused. For a while, I had no idea where I was. Josh wasn’t next to me, either. Then I heard a crash coming from the kitchen, and I smiled. I suddenly remembered that I was waking up in my very first home with Josh. We’d bought the new house in Washington D.C., and today was the first time we were waking up together in it. The smell of coffee and bacon wafted into the air as the door opened and Josh walked in with a tray. I was certain that I’d never been happier in my life.
“Did I wake you?” he said as he brought the tray over to the bed. “I wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed. Then I dropped a plate and it smashed.”
I laughed. “No, you didn’t wake me. Wow, breakfast in bed. This is nice. I think I could get used to living with you.”
“You were practically living with me before,” he said.
It was true. We’d been going out for two years, and in that time I barely ever went home. Every time I did, I just wished I was with Josh, and I liked his home so much more than I liked my own. It was also closer to work than mine was, which meant we got to spend those extra fifteen minutes curled up together in the mornings. We were both still workaholics that liked getting up early, but not nearly as much as we used to be. And on days off, or weekends, we always slept in together. For two years I had paid rent for a place that I barely stayed at, so moving in together had only made sense. I’d been so excited when he had suggested it.
“Yeah, but it feels different now that it’s our home and not just yours.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It does. It feels good. It feels . . . right.”
I smiled. “I agree. And I’m also good with waking up to a breakfast made by my boyfriend. Is this something I should be expecting every morning?”
He laughed. “Well now, that depends. How is it that after two years I still want you as badly as I did in the beginning?”
“I have no idea. But I’m not going to question it. I love our new home, Josh.”
“I love it too.”
“Isn’t it amazing how far we’ve come together? I mean, there was a time when you weren’t even sure how genuine I was.” It was strange to think back to that time. Sometimes it felt as if Josh and I had always been together. But once upon a time, he had been so mad at me that he’d actually banned me from coming into work. We still laughed about it now, even though it hadn’t been at all funny at the time.
“I thought you were a spy! I don’t think I have ever been more devastated in my life. You would actually make a good spy, you know.”
I laughed. “I’m not so sure about that. But I am very proud of you, Josh. I’ve wanted to tell you that for a while now. You did it! You made your dreams come true. I know it’s been two years already, but isn’t it just the best feeling in the world?”
“It’s amazing. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to experience this. Although, let’s be honest, I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“That’s true,” I said, and we both laughed.
“So, after breakfast, I need you to get ready. We have a meeting today.”
“A meeting? But it’s Saturday,” I groaned.
“Since when have you complained about work? I know you love it, even if it’s the weekend.”
“Probably since I realized how nice it was to sleep in with the man of my dreams. How warm this new bed was.”
“Ah, flattery is not going to work this time,” he said. “I need you up and ready. We’re meeting the Handor Brothers, and you know how they are about people being late.”
I groaned. The last time we had met them, we had been stuck in traffic, and we’d arrived ten minutes later than expected. They had not been impressed even though it hadn’t been our fault. The last thing I wanted to do was to see their disappointed faces again. “Oh no, on a Saturday of all days. They’re so boring. And I don’t think they like us all that much after the last time.”
“I know, but we have to pretend like they’re the most interesting men in the world. Come on; I’ll take you to lunch afterward.”
“Can’t you go without me?” I complained and took a bite of my toast. It was a simple breakfast, but somehow food always tasted better in bed.
“Nope. Anyway, even if I did go without you, I know you’d be sitting at home and wishing that you had come with. You hate missing out on work things.”
I sighed dramatically. He was right. I loved getting involved in his work. I’d end up just lying there wondering what they were talking about. “Fine. But only if we have lunch afterward.”
“Deal.”
We finished the breakfast, showered, and got ready. I didn’t dress as smartly as I normally would, mostly because it was a sunny day and it was the weekend. I had recently bought a pretty blue dress that I was dying to wear. It was a summer dress that flowed out at the sides around my knees. I would match it with a tiny white cardigan just so that I wasn’t too exposed.
Josh whistled when he saw me.
“You look beautiful. That dress is amazing on you. I’ve never seen it before.”
I smiled. “Thank you. I got it the other day, and I’ve been dying to wear it. Is it okay to wear this? Or should I wear something more formal?” I asked and hoped that he wouldn’t ask me to change. It was bad enough going for a meeting on a beautiful Saturday morning, and I really didn’t feel like dressing up.
“No, wear that. I love it. I’m going casual too. It’s the weekend.”
“That’s what I thought too!” I said. I was glad we were at least on the same page. I was more looking forward to the lunch following the meeting. I loved talking business with Josh alone. The two of us always came up with the best ideas when we were together. I just hoped the meeting didn’t take too long, but I was sure that it would. Those brothers were the worst when it came to conversation. They droned on and on about things that weren’t important, and they absolutely loved the sound of their own voices.
We walked over to the Washington Monument, where we were supposed to be meeting the brothers. It was an odd place to meet, but I didn’t question it. I also didn’t mind at all because it was one of my favorite places to visit. I looked up at the tall obelisk in front of me and the tranquil pool of water behind it. The structure had always amazed me. Many years ago, long before I had even met Josh, I had looked up at it and wondered if my life would ever be as significant as this structure. As I looked up, I started telling Josh all about it. How it was made to commemorate George Washington, and how it was made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss.
“Funny word that, isn’t it? Gneiss,” I said while still looking up. “I had to look that one up because I was so sure that it was a mistake. But it’s a real word. Gneiss. Did you know this is the world’s tallest stone structure, as well as the world’s tallest obelisk? It’s amazing, isn’t it? I love that we have this right on our doorstep. I wish I knew what year it was constructed, but I’ve totally forgotten. I need to look that up. Hey, I could be a tour guide. I never knew I was so knowledgeable when it came to this monument.”
I only turned around because I realized that Josh had not said a word to me. I half expected to find him gone and to see that I had talking to a stranger all this time. But Josh was standing there, staring at me rather than at the structure itself. He had a strange smile on his face.
“What’s going on? Hey, these guys are late. I wonder if they’re just trying to get us back for the last meeting. How annoying is that? I mean, it wasn’t our fault we were stuck in traffic.”
His smile broadened. “They’re not coming.”
“What? Why not? Don’t tell me we got out of bed for nothing. Not that I’m complaining, of course. I didn’t really want to meet with them. But still. It’s only going to mean we will have to meet them again some other time. I was hoping to get it over with so that you and I could go and enjoy lunch together.”
“No, we didn’t get out of bed for nothing. Although, you should know, there never was a meeting.”
“Never a meeting?” I asked in confusion. What did he mean? And why was he still smiling at me in that way?
“I remember you telling me once about how much you liked this place. You liked that something so big and solid was looking down on the city. You liked the way the light reflected off the water. You said it made you feel small and big at the same time and that it made you look at your life in a whole new way.”
My eyes widened. I only barely remembered telling him that. But it was such a long time ago. I was so surprised that he remembered the conversation in so much detail.
“Yeah, I’ve always loved this place,” I said.
“I know. And that’s why I wanted to bring you here today. Reagan, I love you more than you love this monument. I love you more than I love Washington, D.C. itself. I love you more than being a senator. I love you. I love you. I love you. You’re everything that was missing in my life. And that’s why I wanted to bring you here today. I wanted you to know how much you mean to me, and how grateful I am to have you in my life. It wasn’t just my image that you changed; it was my whole perception on life. You changed me. Reagan, I love you, and I would like nothing more than for you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
I gasped as he got down on one knee and took out a ring. I collapsed to the floor in tears and embraced him.
“Yes! Of course I’ll be your wife,” I said as he put the ring on my finger. “I could honestly think of nothing better in the world than being married to you.”
“What about brownies?” he said.
I chuckled. “They’re a close second.”
He smiled. “Thank you for accepting. And I’m glad brownies are a close second because . . . I have something else for you,” he said and took out a little package from his briefcase. I laughed when I saw that the briefcase was empty except for the brown package. He handed it to me.
“Brownies!” I said in delight. “A proposal followed by brownies? This is seriously the best day of my life. You’re the perfect man.”
“So, I’m not cocky anymore?”
I laughed. “Nah, you’re perfect.”
“You know what happens when brownies are involved?” he said.
“Oh, I know. Brownies in bed?”
“Deal.”
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BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER
BOX SET
By Alycia Taylor
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.
BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER #1
Chapter One
Alexa
You know those moments in life when you think: I’m always going to remember where I was and what I was doing when this happened? Today was going to be that day for me. It started out normally. The alarm on my phone was screaming at me at seven a.m. and I spent at least a full minute banging on it before I found the button to silence it. I would have done better, had I opened my eyes, but I knew that the room would be filled with light. I could feel it already pressing down against my eyelids. I’d forgotten to close the blinds last night. Not a big deal at night, really. My dorm room is on the third floor and it doesn’t face anything but some old basketball courts that no one uses any longer. But in the morning, it’s a different story. I hate mornings and until about ten a.m., I curse the appearance of the sun. While I laid there and tried to think of a logical excuse for not getting out of bed, my alarm started screeching again.
I slapped it and opened my eyes. I squinted in the bright sun as I sat up and decided then and there that closing the blind would have to be part of my nightly routine no matter how I was feeling. I opened the nightstand drawer next to the bed and pulled out a black kami and matching panties. It wasn’t like anyone was going to see them, but I always worried that I’d be involved in some kind of accident and when they took my body to the hospital the first thing the nurses and doctors would say was: Her underwear doesn’t match. Stupid, I know…but it makes me feel better.
I stood under the warm spray of the shower for too long. I hadn’t been feeling very well and the steam helped open everything up so I could breathe. By the time I got out of the shower, I had to hurry and my long, red hair was going to have to go into a ponytail or a braid because there was no way I had time to dry and straighten it. I decided on a braid and then I put on a tiny bit of foundation and some mascara so my light red eyelashes weren’t completely invisible. I slipped on my jeans and then my pink Fox t-shirt last. My shoes and book bag were by the door and as I slipped them on I grabbed a cereal bar off the desk. I wasn’t going to have time for breakfast and I didn’t want my stomach growling in the auditorium where it would echo across the room. Finally ready to go, I dashed out the door.
The first thing I noticed when I stepped out into the hallway was that it was too quiet. This dorm houses over a hundred and fifty college-aged women. It was never quiet. I would have asked someone what was going on, but there didn’t even seem to be anyone around. Hopefully I didn’t sleep through the zombie apocalypse. I was sleeping pretty hard last night. I felt like crap and on top of that I have a test today that I studied for until the wee hours of the morning. I better pass because I gave up two things that I love for it…sleep and a night out with my best friend.
I finally saw signs of life when I hit the ground floor. No zombies, but a lot of gloomy looking people. I saw a girl I know named Maddie and said, “Hey! What’s going on? Why does everyone look like their dog just died?”
Maddie said, “I’m not sure what happened exactly but there was a report on the news this morning that a girl was killed in a car accident. They didn’t have any details yet, but they found a student ID in the car and they think she may have been a student here.”
“They didn’t give her name?” I don’t know why, but a sudden surge of panic forced itself into my chest.
“No they wouldn’t say yet. The news said the name of the victim was withheld until they notified the family. It’s just so sad. Someone our age…just gone like that.”
“Yeah, that is sad.” I looked at my phone. It was ten minutes until I needed to be on the other side of campus. “I have to get to class. I have a big Soc test today. Let me know if you hear any more.”
“I will,” Maddie said.
I jogged more than walked to my class. Dr. Freitas, my sociology professor didn’t tolerate tardiness. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t let me take the test if I got there five minutes late. I made it with two minutes to spare and found my usual spot. Dropping my bag down next to me, I dug out my pencil and my scan tron. I was really glad I made it on time when I saw Dr. Freitas go over and lock the door at eight o’clock on the dot. He went over the rules for the midterm and the he passed it out. My phone was in my lap, but the ringer was off and he couldn’t see it under the little desk in front of me. If he saw it…he would make me leave. He was old school like that.
The test was two pages long and as I went from one question to the next, I realized that I’d over-stressed about it. I probably could have gone out with Emma last night and still passed it. She was going out to hang out with a friend of ours at her house who was having some people over. It sounded like fun…but on top of needing to study, I hadn’t felt well so I’d flaked on her. I was on the last page of the test when I felt my phone vibrate in my lap. I glanced down in Dr. Freitas’ direction. He was walking back and forth, watching. I left it alone and finished the test before I picked up it and my bag. He told us we were excused when we finished and I didn’t want to have to go back up and disturb everyone while I got my bag. I took the test up front and handed it and the scan tron to him.
“Did you put your name on it?” he asked, without looking up.
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay. The door will open from the inside. Make sure and close it on your way out.”
“Okay, thanks.” He was finished with me. He still hadn’t looked up. I let myself out and pulled the door closed behind me before finally looking at my phone. It was a text from Sabrina, another friend of mine. The text simply said, “Did you hear about Emma?”
I text back as I walked down the hall towards the outer door. “Did I hear what about Emma?”
I had just hit the outer door and walked out into the fresh air when she text back, “Call me.”
My mind suddenly went back to what Maddie said about the car wreck…then the cryptic text…Did you hear about Emma? My stomach all at once felt like someone had tied my insides into knots and I got a chill that ran down my spine and across both of my arms. I didn’t want to call her back. I didn’t want to know what had happened to my best friend. I stood there, staring at the phone for several minutes before finally getting enough air into my lungs to convince myself that I was just being silly. I pressed the call button and Sabrina picked up right away.
“Alexa, I wish that I wasn’t the one who had to tell you this…”
“Then don’t,” I said. “Don’t tell me!”
“You do know.”
“I heard there was an accident last night. I heard the girl was dead. I know Emma was out last night and I was supposed to be with her but I flaked at the last second. Please tell me I’m wrong, Sabrina. Please tell me that girl wasn’t Emma.”
“I’m sorry, Alexa,” the other girl said. I could hear the strangled tone of her voice and I knew she’d been crying.
“She’s….Oh shit! She’s…dead?”
“Yes, I’m so sorry.” I hung up. It wasn’t Sabrina’s fault and I wasn’t usually one to shoot the messenger but I couldn’t listen to it for one more second. There was no way that Emma was dead. She was young and beautiful and funny and smart…I pulled up her number and pressed call. It went straight to voicemail. That didn’t mean anything, I told myself. She turns her phone off sometimes when she’s in class. I’m just being paranoid…stupid…Sabrina was a big gossip! She didn’t know what she was talking about and when I found Emma I was going straight over there and punching Sabrina in the face for upsetting me like this. I started walking to the dorm. I felt like I was in a fog…or a bad dream. The world was happening around me, but it didn’t seem real. As I crossed the campus courtyard I realized that people were staring at me. Why are they staring at me? I reached up and touched my face. It was saturated with tears that I hadn’t even realized I was crying. Why am I crying? This isn’t real! Emma is not dead!
I passed the people who were staring at me and even a few who were trying to talk to me. I ignored them all. I just wanted to be alone, so I could process this and figure out why people would even consider the possibility that Emma was dead. That was ridiculous…wasn’t it? I made it to my room and locked myself inside. I sat down on the bed and looked at my phone. The last text I had from Emma was after I’d text her, telling her I really didn’t feel well, and I needed to study and wouldn’t be able to go out. She had text me back and said, “Okay, but all work and no play makes Alexa a dull girl. Love ya!”
I hadn’t even text back that I loved her too. Why? It would have taken me two seconds…or less. Oh God! What if she was dead? What if I had that one last chance to be with her, or to tell her I loved her too and I had let it pass? The tears were running down the side of my neck now. I had to find some tissue…or just lie down on the bed and let them soak into the pillow…which was what I did. I lay there for a while, crying and shaking, rolled into a fetal position and I imagined what her family must be going through. Shit! Her family! I grabbed the phone and called my dad.
He picked it up on the first ring and said, “Alexa honey, I was just going to call you…” Dad’s voice was husky, like he was trying not to cry.
“It’s true?”
“Yeah baby. I’m so sorry.”
I let myself sob out loud then and my dad just sat quietly and let me. When I could speak again I said, “Do her parents know?”
“Yeah, I’m headed over there now,” he said.
“Oh God, Daddy! Oh God!”
“I know baby. Do you want me to come and get you?”
“I need to be home.”
“I know honey. I have to go see Emma’s parents and see if there is anything I can do. Then I’ll be there, okay?”
I’m not sure if what I said sounded like okay to him or not. To my ears it was just another strangled cry. I dropped back down onto the bed and sobbed. My poor Emma. I couldn’t understand why. She was so young…It’s just not fair!