Best Friend’s Brother: Best Friend's Brother Romance Read online

  Jakob made his way back to her. He was a little underdressed too, with a polo shirt and pants. His dog tags swung around his neck.

  “You look nice,” he smiled at her. She thanked him.

  Zooey’s mind wandered to the night before. They had been sitting under the moonlight with a few drinks. It was a celebratory occasion since they hadn’t seen each other in so long. Jakob was telling her about a friend he had in the army named Nathaniel. A friend he said reminded him of Zooey. He told her that they had the same taste in music, and the same kind of imagination. His friend had died on his second tour. His tank had run over an IED, and he had died on his way for medical care. Jakob was a pallbearer at his funeral, and even helped to fold the flag that adorned his friend’s coffin.

  “Oh, you would’ve loved him. I kept telling him so much about you,” Jakob’s voice cracked a little, but if he was sad, he didn’t let it show. He kissed Zooey then, without warning. She remembered not ever wanting him to stop.

  “Where have you been all night?” Zooey got over her nerves and started to walk and talk with Jake. There were some kids running around with sparklers. Zooey could see that Peter had put Isaiah in his stroller and was walking around the place with a plate of food. Her mother was still probably talking to Lauryn and Ryan. It always amazed her that Lauryn had a friendship with Kady separate and apart from her friendship with Zooey.

  “I was inside helping out Carla’s dad with all that yummy food over there. Tried the hot wings? You should,” Jake winked at her and smiled like he was proud of himself. Cooking was definitely a new talent. Zooey remembered one year when the two of them tried to surprise Lauryn with a cake. That had been a total disaster. Jake was simply hopeless, and Zooey had no sense of time. They ended up baking a flat hard cake that was basically inedible. Lauryn was in love of course, and ate it happily. She never told them that that was probably the worst stomachache she had in her life. It didn’t matter though; it had been one of Lauryn’s favorite birthday memories.

  Zooey and Jakob walked and talked for a bit. Neither one bringing up the night before, or acting on their desires. Zooey still wasn’t sure what was on Jake’s mind, and she was too nervous to make mention of what it was she was thinking and what she had been feeling for all these years. Jake excused himself for a bit to get more food from inside the house.

  “There you are! Hi Zooey!” it was Carla. Zooey did her best to hide her confusion when Carla walked over to her. “I knew I saw you talking to Jake. Did you see where he went?”

  For some reason, Zooey kept expecting cruelty from Carla. But Carla was smiling at her and looking around. Zooey told her that he had gone inside for more food, and Carla thanked her and went inside herself.

  Zooey made her way over to a wide oak tree by the lake and sat down. She reminisced about high school. If in her Sophomore year someone had told her that she would be the one making out with Jakob Savage and making nice with Carla Mennez, she would never have believed it.

  *

  Sophomore year was Zooey’s least favorite year of high school. Her acne mixed in with her freckles, and her hair was always too long. It was never tame enough for a ponytail, but she tried them anyway. It was a very awkward fashion year for her too. She would take her mother’s baggy pants from the 80s and wear them with a large unbuttoned button up shirt with another shirt underneath. Lauryn would always tell Zooey that that was how everyone dressed 2 years before the millennium, but Zooey was going through a phase. Everyone had the “oh no” years when it came to style and fashion, and 2008 was it for Zooey.

  “Wow, I am judging you. Seriously judging you,” Carla’s voice sounded more like a whine than a voice. If it were possible to complain about it, Carla did so, and sometimes at great length. She and her friends were sitting on a picnic table close to the field of their high school. Zooey was with Lauryn to give something to Jakob, and Carla just had to say something.

  Zooey looked down at her outfit. She was wearing a large black t-shirt, and jeans that she had sewn band names into. Carla’s crew laughed awkwardly behind her. Zooey wanted to speak up. She wanted to tell Carla she didn’t care what she wore, which is why she wore it. But something about the way Carla said it made Zooey secretly care all of a sudden. And she had secretly cared ever since.

  “This is a No Judgment table, Carl,” Jakob was the only one making use of the actual benches by the picnic table. Everyone else was on the table itself. Jakob looked down at her jeans, and mouthed the names of the bands he recognized. “I didn’t know you liked Dance Gavin Dance, Zoo.”

  Zooey could tell that her face was red hot, but she flashed Jakob a grateful glance.

  “Whatever. She looks weird,” Carla mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear. She went back to her conversation with her friends, and Zooey had to practically drag Lauryn away to keep her from starting a fight.

  *

  Zooey woke up under the willow tree by the lake. It was the sound of fireworks that caused her to open her eyes. She looked up at them mesmerized, not realizing what they were at first. They shot up into the sky from the other side of the lake on the outskirts of a small orchard. They were beautiful and bright. Everyone had gathered in front of the lake by the house to watch the show, proudly wielding American flags.

  Zooey stood up and wandered around the crowd of people in search of Jakob. She wanted to share this with him. She passed a lot of faces she recognized, but she still couldn’t find him. She spotted Lauryn smiling up at the sky. Ryan was behind her and holding her by her waist. She thought he was enjoying the show, but his eyes were on Lauryn the whole time. He looked up for a second at Zooey, and then looked around. He mouthed the word “barn” and smiled at her. Zooey thanked him with a smile and snuck off into the direction of the barn.

  She didn’t want to be seen, so she crept behind the house, and followed a small trail. The moon and the bursts of fireworks guided her to the entrance of the barn, which had been kept ajar. Her heart skipped a beat. If he was here with someone else she didn’t want to intrude. At least that’s what she told herself. If he were with someone else the last thing on her mind would have been worrying about imposing.

  The door creaked as she opened it slowly, taking her time to adjust to the darkness of the barn.

  “Jake!” she squeaked in a loud whisper. She didn’t see anyone. This was a really small barn, but on the other side there was an even smaller stable attached. Zooey made her way inside slowly. She reached out in front of her blindly, feeling her way around.

  The fireworks outside had stopped, and she called out his name again.

  “Hey, Zoo,” Jake was sitting on a pile of hay close to the other entrance of the barn. He had on a jacket, and his hands were in his pockets. Zooey walked over to him and collapsed on a pile close to his. There were little bits of hay that stuck her flesh, but she didn’t mind.

  “The fireworks are beautiful tonight. Why aren’t you out there?” she rolled onto her stomach and faced him. She put her chin in her hand. She had adjusted enough to be able to see his blue eyes flash. He pursed his lips ever so slightly.

  “I just wanted to be away is all,” he smiled nervously. It was strange to see him nervous, and to have him so quiet.

  “You ok?”

  “Fine,” he snapped. His tone made Zooey uneasy. Did something happen to make him upset?

  “I’m sorry,” she frowned.

  “It’s ok. You just wouldn’t understand.”

  Just then, the fireworks started again, and Jake winced. He tucked his head in between his hands, and stayed as still as he possibly could. He breathed deeply in and out, and that’s when Zooey understood.

  The fireworks. They sounded like gunshots.

  She scrambled over to him instinctively, as if she had done this for him before. In reality, she had...but for her mother. Zooey took his hands, and pressed Jake’s face against her heart.

  “Shhh,” she told him when he at first tried to pull away. She covered the side
of his face so that his other ear was blocked too. She rocked back and forth for a while, just holding him and listening to his staggered breathing. She didn’t know if he was crying. She didn’t want him to have to hear anymore of the fireworks.

  Zooey hummed a lullaby, like she had done so many times for her mother, and didn’t let him go, even after the fireworks ceased. There was nothing now, but the sound of their breathing.

  Jake pulled away from her. He leaned back onto his pile of hay and watched. He didn’t say anything.

  “I’m sorry…” was all he said. He stood up then, and walked slowly out of the barn. Zooey sat still. She didn’t call after him or follow him. She stayed in the barn until she figured it was time for her to go home.

  *

  “So how was it?”

  “How was what?”

  “Don’t give me that. I saw you sneak off into the barn, and Jake was nowhere to be seen. How was hooking up with my...never mind, I just realized what I asked. I don’t want to know.”

  “Nothing happened,” Zooey blushed, but she laughed. Lauryn made everything so lighthearted. Jakob had apparently left the barbecue just after the fireworks. Lauryn had left with Ryan because she thought that Jakob and Zooey had left together. Luckily, Zooey’s family was still there to take her home.

  “It’s about time though.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh come on. I’ve known that you were in love with my brother since we were 12 years old.”

  How? Zooey hadn’t even known that for herself. Or maybe she really did always know. Maybe it was always a lingering thought in the back of her mind, but nothing she thought would turn into anything. She didn’t consider it, because she couldn’t imagine that he could have maybe felt the same way. Lauryn was right. Zooey had loved him all along.

  “I really like Ryan,” was Zooey’s response. She didn’t want to get into what happened in the barn the night before.

  “Yeah? I like him too,” Lauryn was eating a yogurt from Zooey’s fridge. She licked the foil cover clean and dug in. “So...what did happen in the barn last night?”

  “Nothing. We didn’t talk much,” Zooey got out some yogurt too. She opened the yogurt and put it in a bowl. She poured miniature chocolate chip cookies into it and stirred.

  “Oho!” Lauryn said. She wiggled her eyebrows; a peculiar habit she had definitely acquired from her brother. Then she made a face to show she didn’t approve of Zooey’s snack choice.

  “It’s not like that. He was...the fireworks kind of…”

  “Oh crap, that’s right!” Lauryn said wide-eyed. “He’s ok. He’d just rather not hear or be around them. I’m so glad he doesn’t have to go back to that place.”

  “I understand. I didn’t ask though. I just...held him until they stopped.”

  Lauryn smiled. This reminded her of when she had found the letter that Kady had written to Zooey. Zooey didn’t realize, but she was returning the favor.

  “You’re a great friend Zoe. I’m so glad my brother has you,” she said, stealing a yogurt-free cookie.

  “He doesn’t have me,” they made their way to the porch, leaving the front door open, and sat on the wicker chair by the living room window. “I don’t really think he wants me.”

  “Are you kidding? He’s…” Lauryn started. Then she stopped herself. “Stop worrying, and just sit down and talk to him. You can literally leave me sitting here.”

  Lauryn was ever the romantic, and ever the instigator. Zooey couldn’t imagine life without all the trouble the two of them had gotten into when they were younger. Lauryn was willing to do whatever it took, even get in trouble, if it was for something as noble as true love.

  “Ok Miracle Max,” Zooey laughed. The Princess Bride was their favorite movie to watch together. Jakob only watched it for Inigo’s revenge story, but more often times than not, he groaned when they took over the TV to rewatch it. It just occurred to Zooey that the lead, Cary Elwes, had eyes just as blue as Jakob had. She was sure that he secretly liked it. Sometimes he would say, “As you wish” if she asked him to do anything for her. That didn’t seem significant until now.

  They sat in silence for a while. Listening for the birds, and the cars that drove by. It was a nice summer afternoon.

  There was a low buzz, and Lauryn dug around in the tight pocket of her pants to get out her phone.

  “Yellow? Yes. Mhmm….Yes I am. Sure. It’s for you,” Lauryn handed her cell phone to Zooey. She looked on the screen before putting it to her ear. The call was coming from Lauryn’s house.

  “Hello?”

  It was Jake.

  “Hey. I wanted to apologize for last night,” he sounded so close. And if he was calling from his house, then he actually was. He could have come over to talk.

  “No. I imposed. You wanted to be alone.”

  “I didn’t want to be alone, Zoo. I just didn’t want to be there at that time. I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “That’s ok.”

  “What are you doing today? Let me make it up to you.”

  Zooey paused. The answer was yes, she knew she was going to say yes...but if she responded immediately then it would have given everything away. She didn’t want to be so sure about him if he didn’t seem to be sure about her.

  “Nothing to make up, but I’d like to see you,” she replied honestly.

  “Great. We could go for a walk to Piedmont Point, if you’re up for it.”

  Piedmont Point was the largest rock formation in the area. There were hiking trails from all around that led up to the peak. This wasn’t an everyday walk; this was something that would take over an hour to do. Zooey had never hiked before, despite Lauryn and even her own mother begging her to come sometimes. Zooey had given into yoga when Lauryn started doing it with Kady, but the hiking thing was something she was always scared of. No matter how long she knew her best friend, the idea of walking alone with someone for hours made her uneasy. What could be said? What could happen?

  “I’ve never been.”

  “I know.”

  “It’s a pretty long trail.”

  “I know.”

  “Fine. I’ll come.”

  There was static on the phone for a moment, and then,

  “I know. We can go in an hour to make it before sunset.”

  He hung up the phone without another word. Zooey smiled to herself, forgetting that she was around company.

  “So am I walking home...or are you gonna give me a ride?” Lauryn smirked. Zooey blushed, and handed her her phone.

  “I’ll give you a ride. Going hiking with Jake.”

  Lauryn kept the wide smile on her face, like she had orchestrated the whole thing.

  Chapter Four

  “I tell you, gonna fall out that window one day,” Lauryn hopped out of Zooey’s little jeep and looked up at her brother. He was upstairs in his room, leaning over the window and watching them.

  “Only if I know you’d be here to catch me, dear sister,” he said in a pompous English accent. Lauryn scoffed.

  “I wouldn’t be.”

  “Always charming sis! I love ya!” he laughed and blew her a kiss. She caught it and smiled. She turned to hug Zooey.

  “I’m gonna see what Ryan is up to today. You crazy kids have fun!” she stepped inside the house, leaving Zooey outside leaning on her car. Jake was no longer at the window, he was probably making his way down to her.

  Sure enough, the dark green door of the Savage home was open once again. Jake had a large ARMY bag with him. Zooey packed light. She brought some water, and a few snacks, but Jake looked like he was prepared to disappear for a day or two. That wouldn’t have been all that terrible, Zooey thought as he made his way closer to her.

  She turned around, and opened the passenger door.

  “Chivalrous,” he said, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before sliding into the seat of the jeep. He leaned over and pulled up the lock on her door while he closed the door that had just been opened for him.
>
  Zooey got into the car, asked that he put on a seatbelt, and the two made their way to the Piedmont Point hiking trail.

  They made it in good time. The sun wasn’t too close to setting, but it wasn’t beating down on them either. Zooey tried not to get too awkward around him. It was weird for her to be. She never was before.

  “I really like out here,” she took in her surroundings. It was a short forest trail that led out into a desert. Piedmont Point could be seen from any direction, so it was impossible to get lost. Zooey was beginning to understand all the fuss the people in her life made over this place.

  Jake smiled nervously at her, but kept his head down.

  “Really sorry about last ni-”