Showing off the Goods Read online

  “I’m in the denial phase that doesn’t involve accepting that I’m crazy just yet.” He waggled his eyebrows at me as he sank into the chair my patient had just vacated. “Why don’t you do the talking for once? How are you? How’s April?”

  “We’re good.” I smiled and shook my head at him, but I moved back to my seat anyway. “I mean, April’s mostly good, but since she’s only three, the answer really depends on when you ask her that question.”

  He gave me a sympathetic look. “She might be a rock star for a three-year-old, but she’s still three. Just because she’s the best, most polite, sweetest little girl in the world doesn’t mean she’s not entitled to her tantrums and her mood swings.”

  “Yeah, I know. Thanks, Doc.” I winked at him, snorting back a laugh of my own when he started chuckling at my joke. “As her godfather, you have to think all those things about her.”

  Brett had been my best friend since I could remember. Although, he was no longer the snot-nosed little kid from my first memories of him. Over the years, he’d grown into a handsome man. With his piercing green eyes, dark hair, broad shoulders, and his tall, swimmer’s physique, even I could admit he hadn’t turned out half-bad-looking.

  But that didn’t mean I was attracted to him. We’d never had that will they/won’t they vibe to our relationship. Our mothers were best friends, and since we’d grown up together, he was the closest thing I’d ever had to a brother. What I felt for him wasn’t even just platonic. It was downright familial.

  When April had been born, there hadn’t even been a question in my mind over who to appoint as her godparent and legal guardian in the event that anything should ever happen to me. Brett had been the obvious choice, and luckily, his high school sweetheart and present-day girlfriend, Tierra, had agreed as well.

  “I’d have thought she was the best even if I wasn’t her godfather,” he said. “She’s simply a cut above the rest. Not your average three-year-old at all.”

  “As much as I agree with you, I’m pretty sure we’re both biased. I need to go pick her up from daycare in a few minutes. Does Uncle Brett feel like making the trip with me?”

  He nodded without any hesitation, pushing up with his hands on the armrests before hopping out of the chair. “Count me in. I need to talk to you, and I was hoping we’d have a few minutes before you had to leave, but I thought I might tag along to go get her anyway. I miss my little princess.”

  I rolled my eyes at him as I got up too, tossing him a look over my shoulder when I went to grab my purse and keys from my desk. “You do realize you could’ve had a little princess of your own by now if you’d just pull your head out of your ass and ask that woman of yours to marry you, right?”

  It was a conversation we’d been having for years. Back in high school, Brett had been something of a wild child. He still moved with the same frenetic energy as he had back then, but he’d calmed down in many ways. For one, he didn’t insist on being the life of the party at any and every party anymore. He also didn’t drink beer from Solo cups, need a ride home every night, or sleep with everything that stood still for long enough anymore.

  Then again, we were thirty. Well, I was thirty. He was thirty-one. Same year, different months. We’d had our time for being wild. Brett had simply lived that time to the fullest.

  Until he’d hooked up with Tierra. She’d brought out the potential in him I’d always known was buried in there somewhere, and she’d calmed him right the hell down. I’d literally bowed to her for that once upon a time.

  They were both investment bankers now, even if I still couldn’t quite believe sometimes that was how Brett made his living. To me, he was still too goofy and carefree. But I supposed that was what happened when a person had known someone for as long as the two of us had. It was also still difficult for him to believe that I was a fully licensed psychiatrist with my own practice.

  We’ve come such a long way from punching other kids to the playground to defend each other’s honor and cleaning up each other’s puke after getting drunk for the first time.

  He turned in his seat once he’d dropped into the vehicle with me, suddenly seeming shifty about something. As his hands dragged repeatedly through his hair, I put the SUV in reverse and backed out of my designated spot, waiting him out.

  Eventually, he swiped his tongue across his lower lip. “Yeah, that’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. Consider my head having been removed from my ass, because I finally did it. I proposed to Tierra.”

  “What?” I was so shocked that I nearly forgot I was behind the wheel for a moment. My head snapped around to face him, and the SUV swerved a little before I cursed and looked back at the road. “When? What finally made you decide to it? Tell me everything. Just… what?”

  I was thrilled for him, but I was beyond surprised that he’d actually taken the plunge. He chuckled, reaching out to smack my arm lightly. “Really? You didn’t see this coming after twelve years of dating?”

  “No, I did.” My eyes went wide as I glanced back at the huge grin that’d spread on his face. “I just… Wow. Congratulations. Why didn’t you say anything before? I could’ve come ring shopping with you.”

  “I, uh.” He hesitated before he continued, and I caught a glimpse of his reddening cheeks in the rearview mirror. “I was hoping we might stop at the jewelers after we pick up April. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing.”

  “You made her wait twelve years for a spur-of-the-moment thing?” I repeated the information back to him before I groaned and dropped my head against the backrest. “Brett. No. You didn’t even have a ring?”

  “I had a ring,” he said indignantly but then ducked his head. “It was a toy I won from one of those machines at the pier.”

  “You mean the teddy bear machines?” A much louder groan came out of me as I shook my head hard and fast. “Please tell me you’re joking? You didn’t really give her a plushie ring meant to be a baby rattle. You can’t have.”

  “I, um…” He trailed off before burying his hands in his face. “It’s not really such a big deal, is it? It was supposed to be romantic. I thought it was. I dropped right to my knee when I saw what I’d won. I’m the real prize, right? She gets to spend the rest of her life with me.”

  “Dude, if she said yes to you when you presented her with a rattle after waiting twelve years for you to grow a pair, then she must think you are the real prize.” I glanced at him, already running through the best jewelry stores I knew about in the vicinity. “Here’s how this is going to go. We’re going to pick up April, then we’re going to go buy the prettiest, shiniest, most Tierra ring we can find, and tonight, you’re going to do it properly.”

  “You see. This is why I need you.” He grasped my hand on the gear stick, squeezing to make me look into his eyes in the mirror again when we stopped at a traffic light. “I can’t get married without having you up there with me. Will you please be my best man?”

  I laughed, but then I saw the seriousness in his expression before turning my attention back to the road. “Will Tierra be okay with that?”

  “She’s fine with it. She understands that you’re my best friend and that you’re part of the package. It’s not like she hasn’t known it since the day we met. In fact, she wants you up there with me.”

  “Then your best man I shall be.” The smile that followed my acceptance overtook my entire face. “I’m so happy for you guys. I can’t believe this is finally happening. It’s going to be amazing.”

  All through the drive to April’s daycare, we joked about what my title should be instead of best man.

  “What about just best woman,” he suggested, but I nixed it immediately.

  “Nope. Tierra’s your best woman from here on out. Sorry. Head groomswench?” I laughed, but Brett’s eyes lit up.

  “I love it. Head groomswench it is.” There was a lot more laughter until we parked at the daycare center, but that was just how things were with us. There was never any drama or bullshit
. It was why he was still my best friend after all these years.

  April’s teacher walked her to the gate, and when she saw him there with me, my little girl couldn’t get to us fast enough.

  She joined in the jovial atmosphere and even gave us her opinions on the rings once we hit the jewelers. I stood back and watched them together for a few minutes, feeling that familiar pang of longing in my heart.

  Not for Brett, because I could never look at him that way. But just for a dependable male figure in April’s life who wasn’t only the fun godfather. Her sperm donor had bolted shortly after finding out about her existence, leaving me alone with her.

  And I was fine with being alone—really—but sometimes when she looked at Brett, I could see the questions she was still too young to really understand in her eyes. I’d have to deal with those sooner or later, but for now, I decided to shove it back into that depressing compartment in my head and focused on Brett instead.

  At least one of us was getting a happily ever after. For now, that was more than good enough for me.

  Chapter 3

  PAXTON

  When I walked into the restaurant, Tierra was already there. I was only two minutes late, but for her, late was late. It didn’t matter that it was only because I’d had to circle the restaurant a few times to find a parking spot.

  She had her mom face on when I reached the table, and I raised my hands in apology before she could say a word. “I know, I know. I’m sorry.”

  “You always are.” She sighed but stood up and wrapped her arms around me when I offered her a hug.

  My sister was about a foot shorter than me at five foot three. Even though she was younger, there had never been any mistaking that we were siblings. Both of us had our mother’s black hair, our father’s ice-blue eyes, and the same lean build they’d both shared.

  Tierra looked like she’d come straight from work, wearing a button-down white shirt, navy blue pencil skirt, and a fitted jacket with sleeves to her elbows. I worried about the hours she put in sometimes, but she’d assured me on more than one occasion that she was fine.

  As she released me, she gave me a quick, assessing once-over. “You shaved?”

  “Yep. I had to. I thought the beard rocked, but the brief for my shoot this week wasn’t ‘scruffy, week-old stubble,’” I said. “Where’s Brett?”

  I pushed her chair in for her before going over to take my own. The restaurant she’d chosen was low-key and casual. It was more old-style pub than restaurant with dark wood finishes, hunter green walls, and a low ceiling.

  A beer stood on the table in front of me, and I nodded my thanks while she picked up her own. She answered my question before taking a small sip. “He’s not coming. I told him I wanted to talk to you alone.”

  “Wow. That seems serious.” There was no sign of her distress on her features, though. If anything, her eyes seemed brighter than ever, and there was a smile on her lips that never quite seemed to drop away. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

  She waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Let’s order some food first. I know how you get when you’re hungry.”

  “Fair enough.” My first swig of beer tasted like more. Since it was a school night, I had no doubt that Tierra and I would be keeping this chilled and early, but there really was nothing like a cold beer after a hot day. “How’s Brett?”

  “He’s fine,” she said, then opened her mouth like she was about to say something more before she changed her mind. With a slight shake of her head, she changed the topic. “I got those things done for your taxes that we talked about the last time.”

  “Thanks for that.” I groaned. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

  “Luckily, you’ll never have to find out. One day, you’ll be my age, and then you’ll understand responsibility.” She winked before bringing her beer to her lips and taking a long swallow.

  The waitress came by to take our orders, and Tierra got the same steak I always did. Once she was gone, I propped my elbows on the table and talked to my sister about her work and mine. I was curious about why she’d asked me here tonight—especially since Brett wasn’t joining us—but I didn’t push.

  We’d always been close. I knew she would make me wait until after we had our food if that was what she’d decided to do—and it was. Instead of focusing on that or worrying, I simply enjoyed getting caught up with her.

  Our food didn’t take long, and the waitress came by to drop it off at our table a short while later. My mouth watered at the delicious smells rising with the steam from my plate, but my sister’s reprieve was also officially over.

  She glanced down at her plate, looking like she knew it too.

  “So, what’s the big news?” I asked after taking a bite of the buttery-soft steak. “I’ve got a few random guesses, but I doubt any of them are on the mark.”

  Amusement sparkled in her eyes as her lips curled into a smile, her fork in front of her mouth as she looked at me. “Bring it on. I’d like to hear these guesses of yours.”

  “You’re going to be a surrogate mother for a chimpanzee,” I started, and Tierra laughed before she shook her head. Undeterred, I pressed on. “You can’t blame me for trying. I’d love to have a chimp in the family. Imagine the awesome Thanksgiving photos.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s also illegal to keep a chimp in an apartment the size of mine,” she said. “Another problem is that neither of us would be available to take care of it all day, and I doubt daycare centers take chimps.”

  I shrugged. “Their loss. Okay, moving along swiftly, then. You and Brett have started your own drug cartel?”

  “Nope. Close but no cigar.” She grinned before twisting around to rummage in her purse hanging over the back of her chair.

  After extracting something from it, she fidgeted with her hands in her lap for a moment before looking back up at me. “Brett asked me to marry him.”

  When she lifted her hands to pick up her cutlery again, there was a shiny new rock on her finger. Then I was out of my chair and pulling her out of hers to wrap her up in another gigantic hug. “Congratulations, sis. It’s been a long time coming. I’m glad he finally manned up.”

  “Yeah, so am I,” she said softly, holding me tight before letting me go and sitting back down. I went back to my seat too, feeling her gaze tracking my movements. “Are you really happy about this, though?”

  “Well, I mean, I’d rather you be in a drug cartel. It would’ve been a much cooler story to tell my friends, but yes. Of course I’m happy for you.”

  My heart was racing, and the truth was that while I really was happy for her, I also didn’t quite know how to feel for myself. My baby sister was getting married, and our parents weren’t here to see it. The thought was depressing as fuck.

  I wouldn’t rain on Tierra’s parade, though. The grief that gripped my insides would be in her as well. I doubted she hadn’t thought about the fact that they wouldn’t be celebrating with her, helping her plan, or even attending the wedding.

  As if she could hear my thoughts, her eyes filled with tears, and I reached across the table to take her hands. “Do you think Mom and Dad are looking down on us right now?”

  I nodded, squeezing her fingers as I interlocked them with my own. “I’m sure of it. I’m also sure that they’re popping the bubbly up there and that Dad would’ve sent a lightning strike for Brett’s head soon if he hadn’t finally gotten around to asking.”

  She let go of one of my hands to swipe at a tear on her cheek, but she managed to laugh even though she was obviously emotional. “I don’t think it was ever about not getting around to it. We’ve been busy, you know? Careers don’t build themselves, and we were both waiting for the right time.”

  “Sure.” I wouldn’t argue with her. I’d known this day would be coming for a long time, and now that it had, nothing mattered except for making sure that I did everything I could to support her. “Have you set a date yet?”

  “No,
not yet. I’ve made some inquiries at venues about availability, but I’m still waiting on responses. It’s only been a couple of days since he asked, and he only gave me the ring last night.”

  Again, it seemed like she wanted to add something else, but she ended up taking another bite of her food instead. Knowing I would find out what it was she was holding back when she was ready to tell me, I focused on what I could do to make it easier on her to have to plan a wedding without having Mom around.

  “You’ll let me know if I can help you with anything, right?” I said, smirking in an attempt to lighten the moment. “I’m not sure if you remember this, but I have a lot of contacts in this city. I know people at all the up-and-coming venues.”

  She rolled her misty eyes at me. “If I’m looking for a bar to throw the after-party at, I’ll let you know. You might think you’re a pretty big deal, but I doubt you know people at wedding venues.”

  “Hey, any venue can be a wedding venue,” I joked before turning serious again. “Anything I can do, you just have to let me know.”

  “Actually, that’s another thing I wanted to talk to you about.” Her gaze darted around nervously before she bit her lip when she brought it back to mine. “I need you to walk me down the aisle and to stand up there with me during the ceremony.”

  “You want me to be your maid of honor?” I flinched. “I mean, I am honored, but I’m not sure if I’ll look good in a dress.”

  Her expression became imploring, her features soft and hopeful. “After everything I’ve done for you over the years, do you really think I’d make you wear a dress? Please, Pax? I thought about walking down the aisle by myself, but it makes me want to cry.”

  Urg. Walking her down the aisle was one thing. Of course I’d do that for her, but standing up with her as a member of the bridal party? Fuck.

  “Fine, I’ll do it.” Whatever it takes to make her happy, I suppose. “But you’re going to owe me big if you make me do all kinds of girly shit with you.”