Broken Embrace

  Erin stiffened, straightening her back. "You don't know anything about me or my mom, so don't act like you do."

  "Something is going on. I see the way he tries to talk to you at school, and I know you had to have had a good reason for dropping water polo. You love being in the water. That, I know, Erin, so why don't you be straight with me before you ask me to lie to your dad."

  She shook her head and turned to walk away from him. "Take me home."

  "Come on, Erin…I'm sorry, stop, please just…" He grabbed her arm. "I'm sorry. Can you just stop—talk to me?"

  Erin jerked her arm out of his grasp and swiped at the tears drying on her face.

  "I see that you're going through something."

  "I just lost my mother so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out."

  "No, sorry, nice try, but I know you better than that. This started before your mom's death." He sighed and dropped his hands to his sides. "I'm worried about you. Everyone is worried about you."

  "Is that why you asked me out? Did my dad tell you to spy on me?"

  "Erin, seriously? Are you seriously asking me that?"

  "Yes!" she said, choking up again, scared of his answer. "Why else would you want to be with me?"

  "What? Why would you say that?" When she didn't answer, he said, "I asked you out because you're incredible…and I like you. I like hanging out with you, and I care about you." He reached out for her, but she resisted. "I've spilled my guts in a damn parking lot. Can you give me a break here?"

  Erin smiled in spite of her tears and gave in, leaning into his chest as he engulfed her in the warmest hug she'd had since her mom died. "I'm sorry he ruined our night."

  "Nothing is ruined. Don't give him so much power over you, Erin."

  She nodded and relaxed into him, letting him chase the chill away.

  "I won't say anything if you don't want me to, but if Coach so much as looks at you again, I'm going straight to your dad and telling him everything."

  ~

  Brian glanced at his new watch as he climbed out of the car. "You're a half hour early," he said, smiling until the expression on Matty's face caught his attention. "What happened?"

  Erin scoffed. "Nothing happened, Dad, except the movie ended so we came home. Why do you always expect something bad to happen?"

  Matt gave a half-hearted smile. "I need to get home. Thanks, Erin. I'll call you tomorrow."

  Erin stood on her tip-toes and gave him a friendly hug. "Thank you for the movie. I had a great time."

  He stepped back and said, "You're welcome." Then he glanced at Brian, Melissa, and Cody and gave a little wave. "See you guys later."

  Brian watched as Matt strapped himself into his old pickup and drove away. He couldn't shake the unnerving feeling that something was off. What went down? Why weren't they talking? "Erin!"

  "Dad, I'm right here. You don't need to scream at me."

  "Did something happen at the movies? What's going on?"

  She rolled her eyes. "Nothing happened. We had a good time. Can we not turn it into something it wasn't?"

  "Okay, smartass, get in the house." He led Melissa and Cody inside behind Erin and watched as both kids climbed the stairs.

  "What's up with you?" Melissa asked Brian.

  "Matty was acting weird. Guilty about something. What do you think happened?"

  Melissa smirked. "I think you're a paranoid father looking for something where there's nothing."

  He narrowed his eyes at her. "He didn't seem weird to you?"

  "Yes, he seemed a little nervous about hugging your daughter in front of you, but considering your reaction, I can see why." She chuckled at his expression. "Erin seemed perfectly fine. There's no point in worrying needlessly."

  Brian grinned. "Okay, I guess my Spidey sense is running on overdrive." He closed the front door behind them and waved toward the kitchen. "Feel like a cup of coffee?"

  "No." She shook her head. "I shouldn't. I told Ali I'd meet her in the morning. We have an early appointment with the seamstress for her last gown fitting."

  "Oh, right. Do I need to do anything with that dress for Erin?"

  "No, I took her on Wednesday for her last fitting. She's all set. But you need to meet for your last tux fitting. Did Johnny give you the appointment times?"

  "Yes, we're meeting on Monday." He lowered himself down on the couch. "How are the plans going?"

  "Perfectly." Melissa smiled. "It's going to be the most beautiful wedding—and Ali in her dress. She radiates happiness these days."

  "It's good to see her happy. Bennett, too. Geez, he's almost unbearable to hang out with."

  Melissa laughed at the expression on his face. "It's nice though, isn't it?" Her smile faded a little, and her eyes drifted toward the Christmas tree. "It's nice to see two people in love…seeing them happy."

  "What about you, Lis? You're not gushing like the two of them."

  "What are you talking about?"

  He lifted his hand in question and stared at her. "What am I talking about? Aren't you getting married in a couple of months, too?"

  Her mouth formed into an O, and she said, "Yes, but I have a while before the craziness starts."

  "Melissa?" He shrugged, lifting both hands this time. "Are you happy? You sound so nonchalant about the whole thing."

  "Yes, of course I'm happy, but it's Ali's time. I don't want to deter away from her day."

  "You're a freaking liar." He pointed at her. "You're full of shit right now. Why are you marrying this guy, Lis, when it's clear you're questioning the whole thing?"

  She frowned and shook her head. "I'm going. Thanks again, Brian, for your support."

  He stood and followed her to the door. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

  She turned and glared at him over her shoulder. "God, you're a jerk sometimes."

  "I am supporting you! That's what this is, Melissa. I wouldn't be your friend if I didn't call you out when I see you making a mistake. You're not happy. He's not right for you. And damn it, I hope you're honest with yourself before you walk down the aisle with him."

  "You don't know what you're talking about."

  "The hell I don't." He wagged a finger at her. "Don't forget, I know you better than anyone else on this planet. I've seen inside your soul. You can't hide yourself from me."

  She turned, facing him. "You don't know anything about me! Don't you dare pretend like this is you protecting me. This isn't about me, and it's not about Chase. It's about you."

  "Yeah, this is about me, being a good friend to you."

  "No! This is about you and you being unhappy!" She poked his chest. "You can't stand to see me happy. You can't stand being the one who's alone now while I'm the one with the happy ending."

  Brian closed his eyes and took a step back, shaking his head. Ouch. Yeah, he was alone…and she was moving forward without him…and that's what he deserved.

  He opened his eyes to see Melissa with her hand over her mouth. "Brian," she mumbled. "I'm sorry." Her eyes reflected tears of horror.

  "It's okay. I deserved that."

  "No, you didn't." She gripped him in a tight hug, slinging her arms around his neck. "I'm so sorry. That was hateful."

  He pulled her close, inhaling her scent and embracing the ache that came with the knowledge that he'd never hold her as his ever again. He'd lost her.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  "You know how it goes, man." Johnny shrugged. "Can't do anything about it while you're suspended."

  "Pisses me off." Brian ran his fingers through his hair and looked up at the bright blue sky. It was an unusually warm late-December day. "We've been working on that case for months."

  "It's no longer a local matter. Child porn cases get turned over to ICE and Homeland Security. For all we know, this could include child sex-trafficking."

  "Did you call Chief Morgan in Sebastopol and let him know?"

  "He's not happy about it either, and they won't give him any updates."


  "Did Ackerman talk to you at all before ICE moved him? Did we get anything?"

  "No." Johnny frowned. "The guy would not say a freaking word. I'd pay every dollar in my bank account to know who he's protecting."

  "Hey, guys," Ali said, walking out onto the patio with a huge smile.

  Brian tried to smile in return. "Hey, Al."

  "What's crawled up your butt?" she said. "You look like you lost your best friend."

  "Ugh, stupid case we're working—well, at least I was working on it before getting suspended."

  She sucked air through her teeth. "Sorry about the suspension."

  Brian waved a hand at her. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault. My own stupid temper."

  "You need to stay away from Frank Jeffries, Brian."

  "He's lucky I didn't get my hands on him after what he did to Melissa."

  "Stay away from him." Ali stared him down and said, "Maybe you should stay clear of Melissa, too."

  "Why do I need to stay away from Melissa?"

  "She told me you tried talking her out of marrying Chase. That's very unfair of you."

  Johnny's eyes grew wide. "Why in the hell would you do something like that?"

  "I don't like the guy." Brian shrugged. "He's not a nice guy."

  "You have no reason to say that. You don't even know him," Ali said.

  "I've seen enough. My gut is never wrong." Brian stood from his patio chair and paced over toward the garden gate. "It doesn't feel right, and I don't think it feels right to her either."

  Ali walked up beside him. "That's not for you to decide, Brian. You need to leave it alone."

  "Can you talk to her, Ali?" Brian turned to face her. "She listens to you. She trusts your judgment."

  "Oh no, forget it. My wedding is tomorrow, and you're asking me to talk Melissa out of her wedding to Chase." Her eyebrows lifted so high, they blended in with her bangs. "You just need to admit it, Brian. The only reason you don't want her to marry Chase is because you're still in love with her—and you'll never get your shot if she marries him."

  "No…don't, Ali, that's not…" He stared into her eyes. "I'm worried about her."

  Ali leaned forward, getting in his face. "No, you don't, Brian!" she shouted, poking his chest. "How dare you? How dare you ask me this after you broke my sister's heart?"

  Brian stepped back, reeling from her reaction. Ali had never yelled at him before. Melissa yes, but never Alison.

  "If you can't look me in the eye and be honest about her, then don't you dare."

  "Be honest about what?" Brian asked with a shrug.

  "Your feelings, you son of a bitch!" She pushed on his chest again, and he took another step back from her. "Stop playing games with her future. Who the hell do you think you are?"

  "Ali, that's not what I'm trying to do." He took a step back. "You don't understand."

  "No, Brian! There is nothing more to it. You either love her or you don't. If you don't, stay the hell out of her way. If you do, get off your ass and do something about it. Either way, stop screwing with her life!"

  "Whoa, sweetheart," Johnny said. "Don't get yourself—"

  "No!" Ali said, and her eyes filled with tears. The sight of it killed Brian. How had this conversation become so off balance? Ali turned her glare at Johnny. "Brian knows I'm right, but he's not man enough to admit it."

  "What the hell is going on?" They all turned toward Melissa's voice. She pushed through the sliding glass door and looked from one to the other.

  "Oh shit," Brian said, wide eyed.

  "Ali, what is wrong?" Melissa asked when her sister's face crumpled. When Melissa rushed to Ali's side, Brian stood frozen as the sisters embraced each other. "What happened?" Melissa asked, looking at Johnny.

  Johnny gestured to the door. "Brian, man, if you value your life, you'll get the hell out of here while you still can."

  Brian nodded. "Thanks, man. Ali, I'm sorry, please just—"

  "Brian!" Johnny shouted.

  "Sorry, call me later," Brian said before turning and walking into the house.

  "Holy hell," Brian whispered as he climbed into his car a few moments later. "The pressure of planning a wedding has done a number on her." He sat behind the wheel and waited, not sure he wanted to leave. He didn't want Ali angry at him. Seeing her that upset grated on him. She'd never said anything to him about Melissa after he and Julie had gotten married. He had no idea how she felt.

  When Melissa stepped out of the house, he got out of the car and approached her. "Is she okay?"

  "What the hell did you say to her?" Melissa folded her arms across her chest and glared at him.

  "She didn't tell you?"

  "No, she won't tell me and neither will Johnny."

  "Is she okay? Have I been kicked out of the wedding?"

  Melissa scoffed. "You're the Best Man. She wouldn't do that. She's under a lot of pressure." Melissa pursed her lips then grinned. "And I think she's pregnant."

  "No kidding? Pregnant? Wow! That's awesome."

  "I'm not sure, but the symptoms say so. She hasn't figured it out yet. I planned to ask her about it today."

  "How do you know?"

  "We've both been sick. She's too distracted with the wedding to connect the dots."

  "You're not pregnant are you?" he asked, his stomach lurching at the thought.

  "No, I'm not pregnant."

  "Are you sure?"

  Melissa's cheeks turned pink, and she lowered her eyes. "I wish I were."

  "Bennett is going to be thrilled," Brian said, unable to pull the stupid smile from his face.

  Melissa smiled, too. "He is. I sure hope I'm right. It'll be hard. Micah is only a year old. She's not ready to do it again, but she loves Johnny, and she'd love to have a little girl."

  He chuckled. "Nobody is ever ready for a baby. If you wait until you're ready, it'll never happen."

  Melissa closed her eyes for a moment then opened them and said, "So what did you say to upset her? I haven't seen her that upset since Micah was kidnapped."

  "Uh…I'll tell you after the wedding. We don't need both Parker sisters hating me tomorrow."

  "Ali doesn't hate you."

  "She's closer than she's ever been."

  "Which makes me more curious."

  He leaned against his car and tucked his hands in his pockets. "Lis, I have to ask again…are you sure you want to marry this guy?"

  Melissa dropped her hands on her hips. "What the hell did you say to Ali?"

  Brian righted himself. "Forget it."

  "Fine, Brian, but you're telling me tomorrow."

  "We'll see," he teased, sliding into the driver's seat.

  She turned and walked away, leaving him staring after her.

  "God damn, she's gorgeous. God damn, I love her…" Brian sighed and shook his head as he started the car. Now what, Brian? What are you going to do about it? The thought took his breath away. He rested back into the seat and closed his eyes, trying to get his bearings. His head was so full of questions, and his heart was so… Damn it. He brought his hand to his chest and tried to rub away the flutter he felt there.

  He looked down at his watch and at the subtle reminder of a hard-learned lesson. Embrace every moment, for each is a gift. Time was precious; he knew that all too well after losing so much.

  Is it possible to have another chance with Melissa?

  He smiled half-heartedly and turned onto the road. "One way to find out," he mumbled. "I'm done wanting her and not getting what I want."

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Ali was the most beautiful bride and in the perfect dress, it took Melissa's breath away, then seeing Johnny, in his tux…and his radiant smile, their happiness was infectious. Going back and forth from the bride's chamber to the groom's, she felt giddy with excitement. She shared a secret with her sister. Melissa surprised Ali that morning with a pregnancy test, and she made Ali pee on the stick, which proved her suspicions to be true.

  Ali planned to tell Johnny o
nce they were locked in their hotel room after the reception. It was killing Melissa not to share the news. She wanted to announce it to the world, but she couldn't for another couple of hours.

  While the bride and groom said their vows, Melissa had to stand directly across from Brian, and it felt like they were living in a strange sort of surreal reality. At least it was surreal to her. Brian was staring at her, and, as much as she wanted to, she couldn't ignore him. His bright eyes drew her in. His playful smile teased her, and whenever she relaxed, her gaze naturally landed on him.

  He looked breathtaking in his tux, his curls freshly cut and his face freshly shaven. Seeing him like that was a sight. Not that she didn't love him in jeans and t-shirts, but cleaned up, he weakened her knees. She turned toward Chase, who was sitting in the first row, next to her mother. He was glaring at Brian, not a smile to be had for Ali and Johnny. This saddened Melissa. Why did Chase have to be such a sourpuss on the day she only wanted happiness for her family? The contrast between Brian's contagious smile and Chase's glare was blaring to her. How had she fallen for two men who were so completely different? Could that have been on purpose? Had she subconsciously been looking for someone thoroughly different from Brian?

  She glanced at Brian, and he made a face at her. She couldn't resist smiling at him. He gave her a big, toothy grin, and Melissa remembered what he'd asked her the day before. Why was he so concerned with her marrying Chase? Brian didn't want her. Maybe he just didn't want anyone else to have her either. Too damn bad. It was her turn to be happy. It was her turn for babies, and it was her turn to make a family. Brian got his, still has it…only without Julie. He'll find someone else one day.

  Oh God. This made Melissa's stomach coil. Could she bear to watch Brian fall in love with someone else? She'd had a long time to get used to him being with Julie, but to do it again… And what about the kids? She was close to them. What if they had a stepmom? Where would that leave her?

  Melissa's eyes grew moist, and she turned slightly to peek at Erin, who was standing next to her. She looked so pretty in her golden-yellow dress, with her long, thick, curly, dark hair. She could have been her mother's twin. Melissa turned back toward Brian, and when their eyes met, his looked misty, too. He nodded at her and smiled before lowering his gaze. When he glanced back up, Melissa almost lost her breath at the realization of her own feelings.