My Best Friend’s Brother – a short romance story

It’s a terrible cliché, I know. But I’m in love with my best friend’s brother. Every teenager I know fell for their best friend’s big brother. Only, I did the opposite. I fell for my best friend’s little brother.

I mean he’s not really little, of course. Just a few years younger than Stella and I. In high school that felt like ages. But as I grew up, so did Jeremy Sewell. I’d always been into nerdy guys, actually, so it wasn’t the typical nerdy girl falls for best friend’s jock brother, either. Jeremy was into video games, computers, science, comics. Stella used to get so fed up with him following us around all the time. When we were in middle school and even the beginnings of high school, I shared that disdain.

But then, I started to not mind having him around so much. And when I’d gone to visit the Sewell’s during spring break from college – there was Jeremy, all grown up. Still too young for me, of course. But I noticed how the lanky kid who used to follow us around was now filling out, shoulders broadening, face sharpening into the lines of the man he would become.

He noticed me noticing, too. I was 19 then, Jeremy was 16. Still off-limits.

Who are you kidding, he’ll always be off limits! Stella will never approve. Which brings me back to my current predicament. Standing in the hallway of the hotel where Springfield High is having its ten-year reunion. A hallway that is empty except for me and Jeremy Sewell.

“You know this is probably a terrible idea,” I say breathlessly.

Jeremy shrugs and shoves the hotel key card into the slot. He pushes the door open. “Does that mean you’re not coming in?”

This is my ten-year reunion, not his. What is he even doing here? And with a hotel room to boot? Fee, this is a terrible idea, I remind myself. Why did I even come up here?

My mind spins. Oh, yeah. Because I saw him from across the room, dark eyes rimmed by dark glasses, hair just as disheveled as ever, and that adorable half-smile that always made my stomach flip. As soon as he saw me, those dark eyes lit up and I felt like I was the only woman in the world. When was the last time anyone had ever looked at me like that? Uh, right, a quarter to never, of course.

I bite my lip.

“Look, if it’s that big of a deal, I won’t hold it against you. I know how Stell can be. It might be a little kerfuffle, or it could turn into this whole thing where she holds a grudge for all eternity. You never know which one you’re gonna get, cause she’s persnickety like that.”

“Jer-Jer, still with the thousand-dollar vocabulary.”

He rolls his eyes, but I can see a hint of sheepishness there still. Like I’ve embarrassed him. “Don’t call me that, huh? We’re all grown up now.” He shifts and his tight shirt pulls tighter, showing me the outline of pecs and abs, and when he shrugs, the fabric lifts just enough for me to catch a glimpse of the curve of a hip I want so badly to sink my teeth into.

“Screw it. Get in there.” I pounce, wrapping my arms and legs around him without another thought.

He catches me easily, like I knew he would, and scoops me up. We barely clear the door, and it closes with a soft click.

Then his mouth is on mine and all thoughts of my best friend flee. He pushes me against the wall and God, this first taste of him… it’s everything I’d ever dreamed of. Spice and a hint of wine. I grind against him, creating delicious friction. He groans into my mouth and I nip at his bottom lip.

“Fee…” he moans my name. He licks his lips.

And hearing him call me by my childhood nickname undoes me, making me brazen. “I want you,” I confess. “I’ve always wanted you.” No sense hiding it now. Sure, this might be a one-off, but still, what’s the point in playing coy? In pretending this isn’t exactly what I want.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

And, boy, does he mean it.

The night is one for the books, I tell ya. Long, luxurious kisses, sweet caresses, outstanding orgasms.

Hours later, when I’m snuggled up in bed, Jeremy smiles over at me.

“Well, that was… something else.” I’m suddenly feeling shy again, staring at him over my naked body. Jeremy Sewell. The one guy I know I should have said no to. I sigh and return his smile.

I drop my hands and shift so I’m sitting. Jeremy sits with me. “Indubitably.” He boops my nose with the tip of his finger, and I can’t help but smile.

“There you go with that vocabulary again,” I tease. I can’t help it. And the teasing feels good. There’s an ease between us, one that I’ve never had with a partner before. Relationships since college have been a series of disappointing short-term experiences with guys who don’t know how to talk to me. Like I’m intimidating or something. But Jeremy doesn’t seem the least bit daunted by my being a badass lady boss.

“Ah, come on now, you know you like me ’cause of my big, um, brain.” He chuckles, and his broad shoulders shake. He flips his hair out of his face, but he’s not looking at me now.

I reach for him, pulling his face up until his gaze meets mine. “I do, you know. You’re just the right mix of nerdy, sweet, and hot.” My voice is soft, earnest. I want him to know I mean it. Even if this doesn’t go anywhere. Even if we have to be awkward around one another every time we’re in close proximity. Because unless Stella breaks up our friendship over this, I’m sure to see Jeremy again.

He turns his cheek and kisses my palm. “Thanks.” He holds my hand against him for a moment, and then shifts, letting go and getting up. “I’m going to go clean up a bit. Care to join me?”

“I’ll be there in just a few.”

He nods, and then heads to the bathroom.

When Jeremy is out of sight, I hunt down my clutch and retrieve my phone to text Stella. I did a bad. Please don’t hate me.

Her response is immediate. He got to you, didn’t he?

I cringe.

A laughing emoji quickly follows. Then one of her sticking out her tongue. I can’t believe you let my baby brother get it.

Wait a minute… how does she know?!

“Jeremy!” I scold. He pops his head out from the bathroom.

“What?” The confusion on his face at my sudden outburst is plain.  

“You told your sister!”

He shrugs. “Of course I did. You didn’t think I’d go behind her back and pursue her best friend, did you? Come on, Fee, Stell and I have always been close. You and I couldn’t be a thing if she wasn’t on board, and you know it.”

My brain is playing catch up. I don’t have to be worried Stella is going to be pissed at me, or be afraid to tell her the whole story, or, or, well all the other million things I was terrified about… And Jeremy just said… “Wait. We’re a thing?”

He pauses in the doorway to the bathroom, backlit like an Adonis. “Yeah, Fee. If you want to be. We’re definitely a thing.”

“Why didn’t you tell me she already knew when I was bemoaning it earlier?”

He ducks his head a moment, refusing to look me in the eye.

“Jeremy,” I warn, using my best boardroom voice. The one reserved for high-level execs who think they can get away with anything.

He mumbles something that I can’t hear.

After another few moments of silence, he finally stands up to his full height and looks me dead in the eye. “Because I had to know that I was important enough to you to face my sister’s wrath if she disapproved. Otherwise, this will never work.”

He’s not talking about sex. He’s not talking about a one-night stand, or a fling. He’s talking about the Big Leagues. About a long-term relationship. About the possibility of forever.

As the realization hits me, I smile. I feel the urge to fight the sudden desire to run into his arms. But that’s old Felicia talking. That’s don’t get too close, or you’ll get burned again Felicia. Not I just slept with the one guy I’ve been in love with since I was twenty Felicia. And this Felicia, well, she has high expectations for her just a little too nerdy to be cool boyfriend Jeremy Sewell.

I sprint from the bed and he wraps his arms around me as soon as I’m within reach.

“You are, Jer. You’re worth Stel’s wrath. You’re worth fighting for,” I say, feeling a sudden tightness in my chest.

He clears his throat. “I might need you to remind me of that every once in a while, ’kay?”

“Any day that ends in -y.”

He chuckles and places a kiss on my forehead. He trails sweet caresses with his lips along my face until his mouth meets mine in a sweet, searing kiss.

Tomorrow we’ll worry about logistics. About making our lives outside this room mesh. About how to navigate work and family and, well, life. But for the rest of tonight, all I want is to love him, and be loved in return.