Braydon (Alluring Indulgence #6)(58)
Author: Nicole Edwards

Braydon knew that the two of them had been friends. He also knew that Brendon wasn’t the type of guy to try to get to know a woman, friend or not. But the fact that he knew more about Jessie’s past surprised him. It made him want to talk to her, to find out everything there was to know about her.

“Look. I know I fucked things up. With you and with her. But I don’t want things to be awkward between us. I know how you feel about her. And I’ve seen the way she looks at you. You’ve got a chance to be happy. And I want that for you.”

“But?” Braydon knew there was something Brendon was holding back.

“I can’t promise that it’ll be easy for me. It’s always been the two of us,” Brendon admitted, glancing down at the floor. “I don’t want anything to come between us. It’s weird. I get it. I just never imagined life without you there.”

“I’ll still be here.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Brendon hesitated. “When you were gone, I was fucked-up. I don’t like what it’s done to me, but I’m not blaming you. I just have to get used to it.”

Braydon didn’t know what to say to that. He didn’t want anything to come between them, either. And up to this point, he hadn’t considered that anything would. Strange how things could change overnight. Well, in their case it wasn’t instant, but now that he thought about it, things were changing. And as much as he hated it, Braydon knew that it was time.

Time for them to find the happiness that had managed to elude them for all these months.

BRENDON HAD HOPED that Braydon would argue and tell him that there was nothing to get used to. He’d wanted to hear that nothing was changing when, in fact, he knew everything was.

But Braydon didn’t say anything.

Pushing to his feet, Brendon looked over at his twin one more time.

“I’m happy for you. Really, I am. And I do owe Jess an apology. I don’t want to lose her as a friend. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t promise this’ll be easy for me. It’s gonna be strange to see you with her. But I want that for you. And for her.” Brendon waited for Braydon to acknowledge him before he added, “I promise I won’t interfere. But I’m gonna need some time. Time to get my head on straight.” If that was even possible at this point.

“What about Cheyenne?” Braydon asked.

What about her? he wanted to say. But he didn’t.

Cheyenne Montgomery might never speak to him again, and he really didn’t blame her. As much as he wanted to blame his ignorance last night on the alcohol he’d plied himself with, Brendon knew he couldn’t. He had lost his ever-loving mind. That was all there was to it.

“She probably won’t ever speak to me again.”

Braydon raised one eyebrow in question.

“Like I said, I was an idiot. I tried to interfere in something that was none of my business. I can’t get past it though.”

“Nothing has ever happened between the two of you?” Braydon asked skeptically.

“Not except for that kiss.” The one that had sent his world spiraling right out of control.

“I don’t understand,” Braydon stated.

“Neither do I,” Brendon admitted. “I’m hung up on her. I find myself doing stupid shit because of it. And truthfully, she’s never made me any promises. Hell, I haven’t even slept with her. I don’t get it any more than you do.” And that was the truth. Last night, when Brendon had all but claimed Cheyenne as his own, he had deserved the fist to the face that he received.

From Sawyer, of all people.

It had been the wake-up call Brendon had needed.

“Don’t you dare disrespect her like that,” Sawyer growled angrily, stepping in between him and Cheyenne. “She’s a woman, Bren. I won’t stand here and let you talk to her like that. Understand me?”

At the sight of Sawyer standing so close, adrenaline had flooded him as his brother got up in his face, and Brendon’s fight-or-flight instinct kicked in. Too bad he’d opted for fight, because Sawyer was already geared up.

Not that Brendon blamed him. Cheyenne hadn’t deserved what he’d said to her. And the moment the words had left his mouth, she’d looked like he’d just killed her dog.

“Hooking up with ’em all, are ya? Is that what it takes to get ahead in the music industry these days? Does the media know that the West Texas princess gets around?” Brendon slurred.

Yeah. That was the dumbest fucking thing he could’ve possibly said. Even six beers in and no food, Brendon had known it at the time, too. Not to mention, it was completely untrue. As far as he knew, Cheyenne hadn’t been with anyone. Including him. No matter how much he’d tried to tempt her.