Back to Me without you (Sibling Love Book 1) (7 page)

“Yeah, thanks, man, I don’t need reminding about my love life. I thought we could use this night to play catch up, not delve into our personal lives. If I’m not allowed to tell you I believe that you’re making a terrible mistake in getting married, then you can’t bring up my past.”

Sam was in no mood to speak of his ex-wife. He knew he should have listened to his family before marrying India, but at the time, he was like Justin. All he saw was fireworks. They had been young and in love. Nothing was going to stand between them.

Back then, he didn’t realise just how much of a ruthless bitch she could be. Had he known she would go on to have an affair; he wouldn’t have married her.

“Fair enough,” Justin signalled his brother by raising his mug of beer. He lifted it to his mouth but didn’t take a sip. “So how is my ex-sister-in-law doing these days, anyway?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Sam said. “I do not talk to her unless it’s necessary. We have nothing to do with each other anymore.”

And that was the way he preferred it.

India’s family served as members of the board at the hospital where Sam spent most of his time. Her father enabled her to take on the role of overseeing the general admissions of the hospital. She would roam the floors in business attire and high heels looking important like she was doing a job.

But in fact, India wasn’t so much a worker as someone who did not like to work. If Sam had to guess, she used her time spent at the hospital making sure he had no life. She would make sure he worked all the time while she chatted up all the eligible bachelors working there. India was money hungry and she would never change.

“So, the same old India then.”

“Yeah, most likely,” Sam agreed. “But we’re not talking about her. We’re using tonight to bond as brothers. So let’s catch up.”

“Okay, what do you want to know?” Justin drew out. “You already know I’m engaged. There’s nothing else to tell you other than asking you to be my best man.”

Sam slapped his little brother on the back, wearing a goofy grin. “Are you kidding me? You do not even need to ask. I will be your best man. You stood up for me at my wedding. Of course I’ll do the same for you. I’d have been a little pissed if you didn’t ask. I didn’t fly all this way for nothing.”

“Thanks, bro.” Justin returned the slap. “It means a lot to me. Knowing how you feel about marriage and relationships in general, I thought you might turn me down.”

“Look, I may not be the biggest fan of marriage anymore. And I might have my reservations about this wedding but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be your best man. You’ll always be my little brother even when you’re somebody’s husband and living on the other side of the world. That won’t ever change.”

“And at least you already know the maid of honour,” Justin added. Sam swallowed the mouthful of beer in his mouth.

“What? Is Abby Jessica’s maid of honour?”

Justin nodded his head while staring at his glass. “Well, they are sisters. Of course she’s going to be in the wedding party.” He was silent for a moment before continuing, as though he was pondering his next words. “You know, I was a little worried that you and Abby wouldn’t hit it off. But now that you already know each other, maybe I was worrying for nothing. You’ll be able to get along with each other for the sake of your sibling’s wedding. After all, what happened on the plane wasn’t anything major.”

“I don’t know,” Sam mumbled. “I get the feeling that Abby doesn’t see it that way.”

“Yeah, Jessica mentioned to me that her sister can sometimes hold grudges. But I wouldn’t worry about it. You’re both adult enough to realise that before you knew who each other were, you were strangers on a plane together.”

“And maybe she’ll see just how nice of a guy I am.”

“Let’s not go that far,” Justin said. “You are still you.”

“Yeah, well, you are also my brother.”

“I know, but I’m taken now, so this isn’t about me. Please try and be civil with her. For the sake of our special day filled with peace, love and happiness.”

“Don’t forget who you’re talking to. I’m Sam Carter. I was born to be civil. I can make like we’re the best of friends.”

“You don’t have to go that far. It would be fake. I’m just asking you to make nice with the woman for Jessica and me.”

“That I can do,” Sam said as he raised his beer with his brother’s and they drank in sync with each other. Sam stumbled over his words for a moment afterwards, searching for the right words to say to his brother. He finally decided to be blunt. “Now, as your best man, but also as your brother, I feel like it’s my responsibility to ask you—”

Justin groaned, sinking into his bar stool and burying his face in his hands. “Oh, here we go. I already know what you’re going to say.”

“Hear me out,” Sam replied, raising his hand to his brother’s shoulder. “I just worry about you. That’s all. And after everything that you watched me go through, I don’t want to see you make the same mistakes I made.”

“I know you’re looking out for me, but contrary to what Mom and Dad think, I’m not making a mistake. I’m doing what’s right for me. I love Jessica. She’s the first woman I have had strong feelings for, and I’m not letting her go.”

“Okay,” Sam said, lifting his beer to his lips and taking one long sip. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you about what you’re signing up for.”

Marriage could be perilous. If his brother wanted to learn that the hard way, then he couldn’t stop him. He could only be there for him through the good times and bad.

“I know what I’m signing up for. Jessica isn’t like India. She’s different.”

For his brother’s sake, Sam hoped he was right.

On Saturday, Jessica was shopping with Abby, searching for the perfect outfit to wear to her engagement party that night. Shopping was one of Jessica’s favourite pastimes. When they passed a shop and saw some very glamorous dresses in the window, she decided to try some on.

Abby was sitting in an armchair next to the fitting rooms as she waited for her sister to choose just one dress. Unlike Jessica, Abby wasn’t a big shopper. She did it on occasion when she had no choice, but would never go out of her way to head into the shops at her free will.

“How’s it going in there, Jess?” Abby asked, tapping on her sister’s change room door. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy spending some quality one-on-one time with her sister, but she didn’t want to spend all day at the mall. It was a beautiful Saturday morning; the sun was shining, without a cloud in the perfect blue sky. Abby hoped she and Jessica could get some lunch and maybe take it to one of the park sites near where they lived.

“I’m almost done,” Jessica called out from behind the closed door. “Did you find anything you want to wear tonight?”

Abby chewed on her fingernail. “No, she said. “I think I’m just going to go with something from the clothes I’ve brought with me. I have a nice pair of dress pants and fancy top I can wear.”

At that moment the door swung open and Jessica stood in the doorway. She was striking a sultry pose with one hand on her hip while wearing a little off-white number. “So what do you think?”

Jess looked smoking hot! The fact that she had long tanned legs played well with the boat neckline and embellished bead detailing of the dress. She turned around to give Abby a glimpse at the scooped back. “ Wow! That dress looks so pretty, Jess! It’s perfect on you.”

Jessica stepped out into the hall, turning to admire her reflection in the mirror attached to the front of the door.

“I think so, too,” she said with a grin on her face. “I did have another dress to try on—” She stopped mid-sentence. “But I think that dress wouldn’t look as good on me as it might on you.”

Abby rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t need a new dress. You know dresses aren’t my favourite thing to wear.” She was more of a jeans and t-shirt girl. Dresses were something she had to wear when the occasion called for it. She could get away with not wearing a dress to the engagement party.

“I know that, but I don’t understand why you would prefer to cover up your perfect gams rather than show them off. We’ve both got great legs, even if I do say so myself,” Jessica said, and Abby couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, c’mon, Abby. It’s a perfect dress. It is,” Jessica pleaded with her sister, clasping her hands together. “You have to at least see it and then try it on before you decide. You don’t even know what it looks like yet.”

And then before Abby had a chance for rebuttal, Jessica skipped back into her dressing room and closed the door. A couple of minutes later, she’d changed back into her skinny jeans and red t-shirt, and then ushered her sister into the room.

Abby obliged her sister’s request, stepping into the change room to try on the dress. Abby glanced at the dress hanging on the back of the door. She was grateful it wasn’t as short as the one Jessica had picked to wear. It was a bit more conservative than Jess’s choice and quite pretty. It might just look somewhat decent on Abby.

After removing her jeans and tank top, she slipped it on, then slowly twirled around. She wanted to examine what she looked like before she showcased the outfit to Jessica. She had a hunch that Jessica would like the dress either way. It was Abby who didn’t feel comfortable wearing the kind of clothes Jessica persuaded her to try on.

“Wow!” Jessica said with a gigantic grin plastered on her face. She clasped her hands together, returning them to her chin. “I was right. That dress is perfect for you. Like it’s made for you! I think you should wear that tonight instead of your daggy dress pants.”

“Excuse me, but my dress pants are not daggy. They’re called dress pants because they are dressy. And I am a hell of a lot more comfortable in them than this.”

“Whatever.” Jessica shrugged her sister off. “Okay, so they may be dressy and they may look good on you, but not as good as this dress. Come on, you’re always wearing pants. Try something different for my engagement party. It’s my party, and I think you should buy that dress. I want my sister looking as hot as I will. Well, maybe not as hot. It is my party, but you know what I mean. You’ll still be gorgeous.”

While Abby loved the compliment, she was reluctant to buy something outside her comfort zone. “Do you think I look okay? Does it suit me? I don’t want to buy something if it’s only going to make me look as though I’m older than I am.” She twirled around, feeling the soft, pleated design of the lower part of the dress around her fingers. She traced along the low-cut neckline while trying to cover part of her leg that was showing from the thigh leg slit. She was almost too self-conscious even to step out in something like this.

“Are you serious? You’re hot! And the belt cinched around the waist is the perfect finishing touch. It looks better on you than it ever would on me. People expect you to be predictable all the time and that’s not always a good thing. Maybe you should surprise them tonight. Who knows, maybe you’ll even catch some good-looking guy? Besides, wearing trousers all the time makes you look older than you are, or that you’re covering up for a reason. You have no reason to conceal.”

Abby shot her a sceptical look. The only men she seemed to catch were those who were only looking for a little bit of fun—she wanted more.

She retreated to the change room and did a double-take in the mirror, hesitant to take her sister’s advice. On one hand, maybe she should be courageous and take a risk tonight. It was her sister’s engagement party. Then again, tonight wasn’t all about her and she didn’t want to stand out in front of people she didn’t know.

After she had finished changing back into her clothes, Abby stepped out of the change room just as Jessica was approaching her. Her purchase was tucked into one of the store’s bags.

“Well?” Jessica asked, showing that smile Abby wouldn’t be able to say no to.

Abby hesitated for a moment, biting her bottom lip before she said, “I’m going to take your advice and try something different. I’m going to buy this dress.” She hoped she wouldn’t regret it.