Dating Her Brother’s Best Friend (Silver Spoon Single Serve)

2. Jeremy

CHAPTER 2

JEREMY

There's a curious smell in the air as I step into Midnight Brew, a familiar blend of fried food, wooden beams long steeped in hoppy beer, and just a hint of the year-round Halloween this town is known for.

It’s exactly the kind of place that feels like a second home—cozy, slightly chaotic, with that small-town charm you don't find anywhere else. I’ve got that jittery, too-much-coffee buzz going because I showed up early to get the prime table along the back wall.

I stroll past a group of regulars huddled around a high-top table near the bar. They're deep into some animated discussion over the merits of vintage cars, beer mugs clinking in their effusive gestures. I nod, raising a hand in a lazy salute. They nod back, mid-word, because here in Midnight Falls, everyone knows everyone and there’s something reassuringly friendly about that.

The back table is nestled right beside an old jukebox that's seen better days but has more character than any sleek, modern contraption. It starts to play an old classic at just the right volume.

I flop down and inhale deeply, signaling to the waitress to bring a basket of fries to the table while I wait. Asa and Caroline are going to laugh at my predictability, but they know I’m all about comfort zones. They should be here soon, each sibling as different as night and day. Asa, my best friend since we went through boot camp together, is as steady and reliable as a rock, while Caroline is the human equivalent of a live wire that sparks and lights up any room.

She fucking stole my goddamn heart years ago, and I’m not any closer to getting it back than I was back then. I’d risk my friendship with Asa in a heartbeat if I had any hope of winning her heart, but she’s never given me any indication she’s interested. In fact, it’s just the opposite. She’s independent to a fault and makes sure everyone knows she doesn’t need a man to take care of her.

Fifteen minutes until Asa and Caroline are supposed to arrive, I pull out my phone to make the time pass quicker. I’m sitting here flicking through my emails with the kind of detached interest reserved for repetitive chores. It’s mostly junk until I come to the last one. The subject line catches my attention. “Maybe dinner, maybe more?!” I blink several times as I quickly scan the email.

An involuntary chuckle escapes my lips. I bet it’s either Asa or my idiot brother, Sawyer, fucking with me. Has to be.

I type out an asshole response then delete it. What if it isn’t Asa or Sawyer? I don’t want to come off like an asshole and shoot down someone who’s brave enough to go for what they want. I read it again slowly and realize this email sounds serious. A thought suddenly occurs to me. Could it be Caroline? I can’t ignore how much I want it to be her. The thought that it could be Caroline sends a thrill of hope through me, stronger than any anonymous flattery possibly could. I shoot down the errant thought as quickly as it comes. There’s no way I’d be lucky enough to have her make the first move.

It takes two tries, but I finally come up with a response I’m happy with.

“Hey ???,

Thanks for reaching out! I’m really flattered by your offer. I know it took a lot of bravery to send the email. However, I must be honest with you. My heart already belongs to someone else. I hope you find your perfect someone soon. All the best!

Jeremy”

With a decisive tap, the email is whisked away into the ether. Just as I'm about to lay my cellphone on the table, the door swings open with a familiar creak. In walks Asa, tall and composed, wearing the leather jacket that saw its better days twenty years ago.

Right on his heels is Caroline, and honestly, she looks like she’s just come off a magazine cover with her hair all wild and carefree, wearing one of those summery dresses that hugs her curvy body in all the right ways.

I just sit there like an idiot soaking it all in. There’s a flutter in my chest, and an intense spark traveling south at the speed of light. It hits me fucking harder each time I see her. The piercing in my cock, a decision made in a moment of stupidity while at boot camp, suddenly brushes against the inside of my zipper. The insistent throb pisses me off more than anything since I can’t exactly do something about it until I get my head out of my ass and convince this gorgeous woman to give me a chance.

“Jeremy!” Caroline spots me and waves enthusiastically as ever. I stand up, almost knocking my phone to the floor, and greet them with a wide grin.

“Caroline,” I say, sliding out a chair for her with what I hope is a gallant flourish.

Asa snorts, clearly unimpressed by my gentlemanly efforts, and I rub my middle finger up the side of my head to demonstrate what I think about his view on the matter. Caroline laughs, a little bell-like sound that tinkles over the background music, and plops down opposite me.

“No way I’d miss a chance to hang out with you in the back corner of a pub,” Caroline teases, eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint I can’t help but respond to. “Plus, I have an ulterior motive.” That’s right. I almost managed to forget Simon, my nephew, has been causing more trouble at school.

“What did the little shit do now?” I roll my eyes, preparing myself for the bomb to drop.

Asa just shakes his head, glancing at the menu like he's never seen it before, even though I know he’s going to order the burger just like always.

“Uhh…” she says, biting her juicy bottom lip. “Simon’s pulled quite the stunt.”

Asa stands up, interrupting us. “While you discuss Simon’s latest antics, I’m going to hit the head.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” I mutter and ignore him as he walks away.

“Now, why don’t you explain to me what Simon did this time?” My mind races through guesses before she can fill me in. I should probably wait for my drink before I let her explain, but curiosity gets the best of me. “On a scale from minting his own currency to taking hostages, how bad is it?”

Caroline stifles a laugh. “He brought one of your brother’s drones to school.”

I let out a groan, rubbing the back of my neck. I’m betting the drone in question is from the top-secret lab at Sawyer’s company. “Tell me nobody’s in the hospital.”

“No casualties,” Caroline says with a dry chuckle. “But you’ve got a classroom in shambles and a gerbil with PTSD.”

The faint pull of a smirk tugs at my lips despite the mess. “How much do we owe the school for repairs and therapy for the gerbil?”

“I don’t think there is anything to replace, but he’s going to have to come in early a few days to work it off.”

My hand drops to the table with a slight thud. “That boy is going to kill me one day,” I mutter.

“He’s trying,” Caroline interjects, her voice losing its earlier lightness. “He needs guidance and maybe something to occupy his mind.” She pauses, staring into my eyes. "I really need you to talk to Sawyer about this, Jeremy. If Harmony has to call him one more time because he isn’t taking her seriously, she may actually strangle your brother, and then I’d have to help her hide the body."

I nod, the truth of it settling heavily on my shoulders. “You’re right. I’ll have a talk with my clueless brother. We need to find some outlets for him to work off his excess energy.” My brother has been burning the candle at both ends, trying to fulfill his duties as CEO of Head Aviation and a struggling single father, but he’s going to have to figure out how to give his son the attention he needs.

“Good,” she says, pulling her phone from her pocket. “And please, be gentle. He’s shaken, too. Seems he’s more worried about fixing the gerbil’s habitat than your brother’s wrath.”

“I’m always gentle.” I wiggle my eyebrows, watching as her stunning gray eyes widen. Something I can’t quite define flashes through her gaze before she blinks it way.

Her phone buzzes in her purse. “I’ve just got to check this email really quickly,” she says, more to herself than to me, eyes flitting across her screen. I nod, reaching for another fry without any real thought, letting her dive into whatever universe her email holds.

I watch her as she reads, noticing the obvious change in her. Her brow furrows, and her lips part slightly as her body tenses. Then, the telltale glisten of tears gathers in the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over. I’m thrown for a loop wondering what the fuck made her this upset.

She quickly blinks, swiping at her cheeks with the back of her hand, and forces a smile so fragile it could snap. “I need a moment, okay?” She stands abruptly, leaving her phone on the table and hurrying toward the bathroom.

It’s just me now, staring at her retreating back and trying to process what just happened. My gaze flits to her phone. I shouldn’t, I really shouldn’t. Yet, like a moth to a flame, I have to know what hurt her.

“I’m going to hell for this,” I mutter under my breath, gingerly retrieving her phone. It’s still open to the last email she read. I hesitate, gripping it until my knuckles blanch, then peer at the screen.

My stomach churns in a way that has nothing to do with skipping lunch. It’s my email, the one I sent rejecting a date with my anonymous admirer. The realization slams into me with the force of a freight train.

Everything suddenly connects like a snapped puzzle in my brain. Fucking hell. I can’t believe I was right about that goddamn anonymous email. Why the fuck didn’t I think this through before sending my response? She’s got goddamn feelings for me, and she thinks I’m in love with someone else. Sitting alone at the table, I’m overwhelmed with how spectacularly I’ve managed to fuck up this situation.

“Hey, Jeremy. Where’s Caroline?” Asa asks, glancing around the table like she’s going to pop up from under it.

I tilt my head toward the back of the pub. “Bathroom,” I say, trying not to let my face show that there’s more to the story than that. A steady breath in, a steady breath out. I don’t want to tip him off until I’ve had time to fix my fuck-up. I’m trying to stay composed here, the way a giraffe might feel while tiptoeing across a frozen pond.

Asa raises an eyebrow, probably sensing the undertone, but doesn’t press. “Did I miss anything interesting?”

“Nope,” I lie, trying to figure out how the fuck I’m going to fix this situation. Goddamn it.

Before Asa can question me more, our waitress swings by for our orders.

“What can I get y’all tonight?” she asks, her bored Texan drawl cutting the tension surrounding us.

“I’ll take the bacon cheeseburger, extra pickles,” Asa says, barely giving the menu a glance. He’s consistent in his questionable pickle preference.

“And I’ll go with the classic chicken wings. Spicy,” I add. My stomach is going to hate me later.

“Got it,” she says, jotting it down. “Anything to drink?”

“Whatever’s on draft.” Asa sits back in his chair.

“I’ll have the same,” I add, knowing full well I’ll need it to keep my nerves in check for the next conversation. “Can I also get a grilled chicken Caesar salad and diet Coke for my friend who stepped away from the table?” Okay, so I’ve paid attention to what she orders. I’ve been following her around like a lovesick puppy for as long as I can remember.

Just as I finish giving the order, Caroline reappears. She moves slowly, tentatively, her eyes red-rimmed and her expression subdued. Instantly, the noise of the surrounding pub fades to a dull hum, my entire focus now trained on her.

I stand, ready to offer some comfort or at least a few words to bring back her smile, but she beats me to it. “I’m sorry,” she says, her voice wavering but holding a quiet resolve. “I’m not feeling well. I think I need to head home.”

The sentence is barely out of her mouth before she’s grabbing her things, trying to slide past me. Instinctively, my hand reaches for her arm, a gentle plea to stay or at least to talk, but she’s quick, and before I can even register what’s happening, she’s breezing through the pub’s wooden door.

“Caroline, wait!” I call after her, the words not loud enough to cross the space between us. I fumble out of my seat and push my way to the door. But out in the Texas night, she’s already disappeared.

I stop under the pub’s sign, looking around for her, feeling a sense of helplessness settle into the pit of my stomach. I really fucked this whole goddamn situation up. I need to set things straight. It’s time to get what’s been left unsaid for far too long out in the open.

I drag myself back inside, the warmth and buzz of the pub now feeling a shade colder. Asa’s seated at our table observing me with a careful blend of curiosity and amusement as I flop back into my chair, my posture heavy with unspoken words.

“Did you catch her?” Asa asks, although I sense he knows the answer.

I shrug, trying to dismiss the concern lacing my thoughts. “Do you see her standing here?”

“No need to be a dickhead.” Asa leans back, fixing me with that steady gaze of his. “You know, it’s about time for you two to stop dancing around what you feel for each other.”

The statement hangs in the air around us. It takes a second for it to fully sink in, and when it does, I can’t hide my surprise. “Wait, what?” I stammer.

He shakes his head sadly. “C’mon, how long have I known you? You think I haven’t noticed you’re head over heels for my little sister? It’s been obvious for a while now.”

I blink, processing the words that shift everything slightly left of center. “You knew?” I ask, trying to cling to something solid as my thoughts spin around me.

Asa shrugs, feigning nonchalance but betraying a hint of affection for our shared history. “I’ve been waiting patiently for you to grow some balls and tell her how you truly feel.”

His bluntness is something I’ve always admired. Right now, it’s both a comfort and a kick that I probably deserve. “I didn’t realize it was so obvious,” I mutter, wondering why he hasn’t taken the opportunity to kick my ass yet. “I’m a goddamn idiot.”

Asa chuckles, but there’s zero pity in it. “Yes, you are,” he agrees, but there’s that familiar twinkle of mischief in his eyes. Then he fixes me with a look that manages to be both brotherly and daring. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

I draw in a deep breath, trying to anchor myself in the moment. “I think I need to talk to her, and soon. Tell her everything. No more hiding.”