Her Best Friend's Brother (3 page)

This was dumb. There was no reason for her to start second guessing herself now. They were closer than they used to be. She used to be his kid’s sister best friend.

And now she was his friend. As much as it pained her to hear him put her in the category of good-friend at least she was in
a category
. She was not going to start second guessing herself now. And the dress was … perfect.

Chapter two

It was probably too much. No. She looked fantastic. Looking into the ful length mirror in Mel’s bedroom Libby couldn’t quite convince herself. Libby had spent more time getting ready that morning than Melanie did, and Mel was a bridesmaid! Of course Mel had basicaly just stepped into the elegant gold shift style bridesmaid dress, clipped a few strategic locks of hair back, and applied a little make up with practiced ease. It took about two minutes for Mel to look as though she had stepped out of one of her fashion magazines. Libby on the other hand had subjected herself to over an hour of fidgeting while Mel tucked, and pinned, and puled her curls until they looked to be gathered effortlessly away from her face save for a few carefree strands that had
escaped
. Mel had also done her make up for her. The finished product looking back at her from the mirror was far more dramatic than Libby had envisioned, but she realy did look fantastic.

At 5’7” Libby tended to avoid heels, but she was glad Mel had insisted on the cute little spiky heels, and anyway Tony was pretty tal— definitely over six feet.

“It isn’t too much. And Tony is going to flip.” Mel’s reflection appeared behind her in the mirror. She had always been a little too good at reading Libby’s expressions.

“No. I was just making sure everything was in place.” Libby denied uselessly as she backed away from the mirror. Further discussion was made blessedly impossible as there was someone knocking on the door.

“Are you two ready yet? For crying out loud if we don’t leave now we’l be late!” Tony’s exasperated voice sounded from the other side of the door. Mel was supposed to be early for bridal party photos and Tony was driving them over so that Mel could ride with the other girls in the limo after the ceremony. So while they weren’t exactly late they probably did need to leave.

“Hold onto your shirt brother!” Mel holered back as she handed Libby a beaded purse, and tucked her own clutch under her arm. “We have plenty of time, but let’s go.” Mel puled open the door and stroled down the stairs to the front door. Libby staled before the doorway. She had never seen Tony in a suit and tie before. His normaly shaggy hair had been trimmed short, and while she loved to watch him habitualy brush his hair out of his eyes this new style made him look … wel like an adult. An incredibly hot adult. Libby took a moment to concentrate on not alowing her tongue to hang out of her mouth.

Tony took one look at her and let out a soft whistle. “Libby McKay… al grown up.” Had he realy just whistled at her? What should she say? Why was he staring at her that way? “Are you ready Lib?” Tony crooked his elbow towards her and Libby realized that of course—he was waiting for her to move forward. Silently, since she couldn’t trust her voice, Libby tucked her hand under his arm and alowed herself to be led to the car.

At the church Mel was whisked away for photos leaving Libby and Tony with 45 minutes until the ceremony.

He looked questioningly down at her feet. “Are those shoes okay for walking? Main Street is only one block that way.

I thought we could take a walk and check out the Christmas window displays.”

Ridiculously pleased that Tony had given any thought to spending time with her— even just a walk down Main Street Libby replied. “The shoes are fine, but this Main Street Libby replied. “The shoes are fine, but this wrap isn’t exactly December appropriate.” Libby puled the thin wrap closer around her body emphasizing that despite that it was a mild evening there was stil quite a chil in the air.

Tony nodded thoughtfuly for half a moment and then wordlessly shrugged out of his wool pea coat and draped it over her shoulders. “Let’s go.” He touched his hand to her back and nudged her towards Main Street.

They walked quietly at first. Not touching because Libby was just about swalowed up in Tony’s coat, but stil they walked side by side close enough for Libby to smel his cologne. After a few minutes of comfortable silence Tony said. “So, stil thinking about Track and Field in the spring?”

“Try outs are right after winter break. I have been running most days at the indoor track at the Y. I like the distance runs the best. I’m working on my mile, but I am practicing sprints too.”

“Does Mel go with you? Or someone else? It would probably help to have a coach with a stopwatch. I know Sam Tucker was pretty big into track back when I went to school there.”

Sam Tucker was a senior, and he was on the track team. It surprised Libby that Tony would remember him since he would have been a sophomore when Tony was a senior. Sam and Libby had gone out a few times including the homecoming dance a couple months earlier. They had a good time, but had both agreed that they weren’t seriously interested in each other.

“I usualy go pretty early, and you know Mel only wakes up early for important things… like sales. But I have an old stop watch and can time myself and I do okay.”

“So Sam doesn’t take you running?”

“Umm… no.” Why were they talking about Sam Tucker? Talking about Sam was sort of kiling the nice pseudo-date buzz Libby had going a moment ago.

Tony nodded and checked his watch. “We should probably start back if we want good seats.” Tony slipped one arm around her waist and turned her around to head back towards the church.

“Hey Kid! Look up!” A man a coming out of a shop door grinned and pointed up. Sure enough hanging just over their heads from the awning in front of a consignment shop was a sprig of mistletoe.

The arm that Tony had innocently rested around her waist the moment before was now heavy and warm as he drew Libby closely into his chest. Tony dipped his face down to hers and whispered “Merry Christmas Lib” against her lips. Gently, he brushed his mouth against hers and then slowly and tenderly he was moving his lips with hers. As kisses went it was relatively innocent. Not that Libby had a lot of experience, but there was no insistence, and no tongue. Al the same Libby felt her stomach flip over and al her bones seemed to want to melt away. Long before she was ready for it to end someone let out a loud wolf whistle, and Tony puled away. “We better hurry.” Tony shoved his hands into his pockets and walked quickly half a step ahead of Libby al the way back to the church. Libby was left wondering if something had gone wrong. Personaly she thought that was just about as perfect as a kiss could get, but again—she hadn’t had a whole lot of experience.

He was being rude he knew. But he walked faster He was being rude he knew. But he walked faster anyway. The sooner they were surrounded by relatives the easier keeping his hands to himself would be. And until then he made fists in his pockets—just in case. This was trouble. Libby was his baby sister’s best friend, and he could probably be arrested for the thoughts he was having right now. But the way she looked tonight he was having a very difficult time convincing his body that she was only 16.

Sure lately he had been thinking that they might be good together, but not for a few more years. Four years wouldn’t seem like such a big difference when they were a little older. She was stil a kid for crying out loud. Of course he had been younger than she was doing a hel of a lot more than some mistletoe kissing, but that was realy not the point. Did she have any idea how she looked in that dress.

She was basicaly walking sin. It covered much more than any of the swim suits he had seen her wear year after year, and for that matter it covered more than those skimpy pajama shorts he had been tortured with last summer. And yet somehow it was much more… shal we say
effective
.

When they reached the steps to the church Tony slowed down and fel back into step beside Libby. “Looks like we made it in time”.

“With plenty of time to spare too.” Libby seemed a little miffed with him. Although he had been very rude most of the walk back here, so he probably deserved it. Libby lifted the hem of her dress slightly as she climbed the steps.

And that scandalous skirt fel open revealing one long perfect leg clear up to her slim, toned thigh. Tony stifled a groan.

They should have had to ask for ID before seling her that dress. It was a wonder she had time to buy a dress at al let alone find one so…. A horrible thought took root in his brain. Her invite to the wedding had been terribly last minute. Maybe she hadn’t had time buy a new dress.

Homecoming couldn’t have been more than 8 or so weeks ago. Maybe that was what the dress from. Mel had been annoyingly vocal about how cute Libby and Sam looked together at the dance. It was possible Libby had bought this siren’s dress for Sam Tucker. That particular thought came with a punch to his gut. Sam Tucker with his sleek black truck and tinted windows. There was only one good reason for a teenage boy to have tinted windows. The very thought of Sam Tucker seeing Libby, his Libby, in this dress made Tony so angry he couldn’t think.

“Have I told you how much I like your dress?” Tony leaned over to whisper in Libby’s ear when they were settled in a pew waiting for the ceremony to start.

“You whistled at me before we left.” Libby couldn’t help her teasing smile. “I’d say that translates to
like
. I haven’t ever been whistled at before.” Tony decided not to mention that 15 minutes ago a stranger had whistled at her when she was in his arms under the mistletoe. He took a deep breath and tried again. It was suddenly very important that he know if Libby had worn this beautiful dress for Sam Tucker. “I guess Mel was lucky you could get a dress on such short notice. Or maybe you already had it—from homecoming or something?”

“Homecoming? This would have been way overboard for a homecoming dance. Mel picked it out yesterday actualy, and she lent me her store discount.”

“That’s good.” Sounding genuinely pleased Tony relaxed into his seat and draped one are across the back of the pew.

The wedding was very beautiful. And if anyone had asked her the details of the ceremony later Libby would have had nothing to say. You see it was basicaly impossible to concentrate on anything other than Tony’s warm arm on the back of her seat, and how the tips of his fingers would occasionaly brush against her bare shoulder sending bolts of electricity through her nervous system.

There weren’t a lot of options for elegant affairs in Lindstown, but there was very nice hotel in the center of town with a big bal room, and that is where they headed for the reception. Mel of course rode over in the limo with the bridal party, so Tony and Libby rode together in his car.

And that pseudo-date feeling snuck its way back into Libby’s head. Libby had been on a few dates, but ‘date-talk’ was pointless between her and Tony since they already knew each other inside and out. That didn’t mean that they rode in awkward silence though. There was always and easiness between them. Even when they were silent it was never realy truly awkward.

“I have decided to start compiling an anthology of short stories. I have some new ideas, and with a little work a few of my older pieces could realy be something.” They were discussing his writing. He talked passionately about were discussing his writing. He talked passionately about his creative writing professor, and about a writing group he had joined that was ful of peer critiques which were apparently tremendously helpful. Libby smiled and listened.

This was how she liked Tony: ful of excitement and plans, and sure of himself. This was her Tony. “I haven’t given up on a real novel though. I have a hundred ideas. I am leaning towards a detective series. Thrilers. Real best seler list stuff, but I think getting my feet wet with some short stories is smart.” Tony guided his car into a spot at the hotel. “I’m boring you aren’t I?” He said it with humor but there was sincerity too. He hadn’t meant to ramble on and he didn’t have many private moments with Libby and now their 15 minute car ride was over and she hadn’t gotten a word in edgewise.

“You never bore me.” Libby giggled softly at the very idea of being bored and being with Tony at the same time. “Wil I get to read it?”

And there it was, that only-for-Libby smile. Tony covered her hand with his. “You wil be the very first. I promise.”

It was a perfect night. Everywhere she looked Libby was charmed by the silver and gold Christmas themed decorations. Of course, she was seated with Marchetti family, but it didn’t escape her that she ended up in the chair next to Tony rather than the one next to her
date
, Mel. They were served a beautiful fancy meal with more forks than she had any idea what to do with, but she could hardly feel uncomfortable sharing a meal with the Marchetti’s. No matter what the trappings.

When the band started to play great aunt somebody-or-another came and stole the family away for photos. Even then— when she was left alone at the table, smiling dumbly at her goblet of ice water, she stil didn’t have any time to feel awkward. Because the minute Tony’s arm left the back of her chair she had plenty of attention.

She danced once with one of the groom’s friends but he stepped on her toes, and his hand was a little too low on her back. So she was happy to oblige when Mel’s cousin Nick cut in. Nick was probably two years younger than her, but he kept his hands to himself and he was a good dancer.

Besides he confided in her that he had been stuck at a
kid’s
table
. And if there was anything Libby could sympathize with it was being labeled as a
kid
. After laughing with Nick through the electric slide Libby found herself with Frankie.

Frankie Marchetti was one of many, many Marchetti cousins, but Libby had met him once or twice before when she tagged along to family functions. She thought he was maybe one year older than Tony, and he was very good looking. Tal like Tony was, but with a darker complexion and slightly too beefy muscles Frankie was from one of the more Italian branches of the family tree. But he was a good dancer even if he did hold her a little too close.