Sara
I felt happy, truly happy.
Zef said he wanted to date me even after I’d told him the truth about Liam and Owen. I couldn’t believe it. I thought once he knew the ugly truth that he wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me.
Instead, he’d been amazing and supportive, and he liked me.
I was really looking forward to our date tonight. Zef said he wanted to take me to a fancy restaurant, but I’d talked him into a stroll along the midway after his show and a ride on the Ferris wheel.
I was in my room getting ready, trying to decide which of the cute maternity dresses I’d wear tonight and which I’d save for meeting Zef’s brother tomorrow.
I was a little nervous about that. His brother was really famous—I’d Googled him and something like five million hits had shown up. I had no idea! I hadn’t been that much into football because Dad didn’t watch it and Owen played baseball. Pathetic, I know. I knew Quarterbacks were important, but Daniel Colton seemed to have a ton of followers from his underwear endorsements alone. I could see he was cute, but Zef was much better looking, in my opinion. Who knew I’d have a thing for beards?
I was still undecided about which dress to choose when I realized that Zef was standing almost directly outside my window and talking to someone. I couldn’t resist taking a little peek.
“Dan! What are you doing here?”
A man with Zef’s crow black hair and dark eyes was grinning at him. A few years younger, he had the wide shoulders and muscular build of a football player.
“What? I can’t come and hang out with my big brother?”
And then the strangest thing happened—they stopped talking. At least they stopped talking with their voices.
As they waved their hands around, it became clear that they were talking in sign language.
I’d read online that Daniel was deaf and only the second deaf man to play in the NFL. But it hadn’t occurred to me that Zef would know sign language. Another Zef-shaped mystery for me to uncover.
I wondered if I’d ever get to know everything about him. I hoped so, but the man had so many layers, and I remembered what my Grandma used to say about still waters running deep . . .
Zef
Dan pulled me into a hug and did his best to break a rib.
When he stepped back there were deep emotions in his eyes.
“I thought I wasn’t seeing you until tomorrow,” I said, slapping him on the back, “but it’s a great surprise, little brother.”
Dan grinned.
“Yeah, thought I’d surprise you. Lisanne was tired so she’s taking a nap at the hotel. She says hi and she’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
Dan: Is K-e-s around? I was going to tell you all that your show was fucking epic! You’ve got some great new stunts. I nearly shit myself when you did that jump through the wall of flame. Is your ACL okay now?
Zef: Yes, good as new. I was going to tell you tomorrow, but now you’re here, there’s someone I want you to meet.
Dan: What the fuck? Seriously? Get to the good stuff already! You want me to meet someone? Who’s the lucky lady? Is M-i-r-e-l-l-e back in town?
Zef: No. We broke up.
Dan: Sorry, brother. Why didn’t you tell me?
Zef: It wasn’t a big deal. And the woman I’m talking about is S-a-r-a. She’s special. It’s new.
Dan: Okay. Do I get to meet her, or do you keep her busy in the bedroom?
Zef: Dickhead.
Dan: You’re welcome. So, I got some news, too. Me and L-i-s have decided to make it official. We’re getting married.
My hands dropped to my sides and I was so stunned, I started speaking again.
“You’re getting hitched? Wow, that’s . . . congratulations, man! Jeez, my little brother, all grown up and about to become a married man. Fuck, that sounds . . . I’m really happy for you, man. You and Lisanne are good together. Although I have no idea how she puts up with your obnoxious ass.”
“My ass has its own Facebook page.”
That was true. My younger brother was a handsome bastard and had even been approached to do some modeling. Since he’d done a Calvin Klein underwear ad, I had to close my eyes every time I saw his package blown up on the side of a ten-story building. These days, he was as well known for that as for his skill on the field, or the fact that he was the only the second deaf man to make it to the NFL. Pretty damn amazing.
“We’ve set the date for September 8th and you’ve got to be there. All of you have to be there.”
My eyebrows shot upward.
“That’s next week?! At the beginning of the season! Your coach is going to let you take the time off?”
“Yeah, a whole two days,” and he rolled his eyes. “It’s the only way to keep it low key. Fuckin’ paps.”
I had to smile at that—my little brother was becoming a favorite of the photographers who followed the celebrities, even though there was no scandal to find. I guess they liked the fact that he was engaged to an up-and-coming rock ‘n’ roll chick. Good thing he hadn’t been famous when he’d met Lisanne six years ago because she’d looked more like your idea of the average librarian in those days.
“And I want you to be my Best Man.”
My smile fell and I looked away for a second.
“Look, I appreciate that, Dan, more than you know, but it’s not a good idea.
“Why the hell not?”
“Someone like you needs . . .”
“Someone like me? What the fuck does that mean?”
“Someone famous. Someone who shouldn’t have a guy like me for a brother or a Best Man.”
“You’re talking in fucking riddles! A guy like you—you’re my damn brother!”
I raised my hands in frustration.
“Because I’m an ex-con, an addict who can’t even risk taking a freakin’ aspirin. I’m not anyone’s idea of a Best Man.”
Daniel’s eyebrows drew together and his body filled with tension. He was angry.
“Bullshit! That’s such fucking bullshit, Zef! You drove more than 300 miles through the night so you could be the one to tell me that Mom and Dad had gotten into a car accident and been killed. You took on a screwed up sixteen year-old kid. Most guys would have stuck my ass in a foster home, but you didn’t. You took care of me.”
“Yeah, I did a great job,” I mocked. “I spent your college fund on booze, chicks and drugs. Got you arrested. Got the house trashed. Risked your life. Yeah, I was a great big brother.”
“Is that what you think? You were 22 and had to give up your whole life. You gave up on your degree so you could earn a living for both of us. I know you helped pay for the deaf school. You never got to grieve because you had to take care of me. And when I first started to lose my hearing, you stood by me. You even learned sign language to help me.”
I nodded and smiled a little.
“Only because Mom was so shit at it.”
Daniel grinned.
“Yeah. She never did get half the letters right, always mixing them up.” His smile fell. “You didn’t. You worked at it. You remember it even now. Zef, you’re my brother and I love you. I want you to stand up with me. There’s no one else I’d rather have.”
My chest felt tight.
“If that’s how you feel . . .”
“It is.”
“And Lisanne is okay with it?”
“She told me not to come back until you agreed.”
I shook my head, smiling.
“Then yeah, I’d be honored to stand up with you, Dan.”
I held out my hand and Dan shook it then hugged me tightly again.
Family. Nothing mattered like family. Either the one you’re born with, or the ones you make.
“Well, I guess you’d better meet Sara then, because she’ll be coming with me.”
Dan’s face split with a grin.
“Lead me to her. I’m always ready to meet a pretty girl.”
“Don’t let Lisanne hear you say that.”
“Ah, she loves me. And I love it when she tries to educate my ass.”
“Lifetime task, little brother.”
“Yeah, definitely. A lifetime.”
Happiness radiated from him, and I could see the deep contentment inside.
Life had given him a shitty hand, but he’d pushed forward, never looking back. I was proud of him.