To My Brother's Cocky Best Friend Read online

  To My Brother’s Cocky Best Friend

  J. S. Cooper

  Copyright © 2020 by J. S. Cooper

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Blurb

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from To My Immature Ex Boyfriend

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by J. S. Cooper

  Blurb

  To My Brother’s Cocky Best Friend,

  Tyler Redwood, you might be my brother’s best friend, but I find you to be insufferable, cocky, arrogant, immature, and totally annoying. You are not God’s gift to women and certainly not a gift to me. No, I don’t need you to wrap yourself in a bow. And even if you did, I would not be unwrapping it. I have no interest in seeing or touching your six-pack and no, I don’t need you to teach me the hidden lessons of the Kama Sutra. Go and find another woman to bother. I am not interested at all. Not even a little bit.

  Olivia

  * * *

  Olivia,

  I have seven words for you: That’s not what you said last night.

  Tyler

  Prologue

  Two Years Ago

  * * *

  Olivia,

  Derrick tells me you’re coming home for Christmas. I’d love to take you to a show. The Nutcracker is going to be showing at the Bob Carr theater. Want to go?

  Tyler

  * * *

  Hey Tyler,

  I am coming home for Christmas. You missed me, huh? Not sure how I feel about The Nutcracker, but I wouldn’t mind hitting up the Christmas parade in downtown Orlando. You know how much I love a parade.

  Olivia

  * * *

  Olivia,

  I do seem to remember you dressing up in many skimpy outfits, so I guess I love a good parade as well.

  Tyler

  * * *

  Tyler,

  Those outfits were not for a parade but rather for nights out at the club with my friends. The only reason you saw them was because you were always in my house.

  Olivia

  * * *

  Olivia,

  I wasn’t complaining. I loved seeing you half-dressed. You can send a photo now if you want.

  Tyler

  P.S. I know you want to.

  * * *

  Tyler,

  Send you a photo of what?

  Olivia

  * * *

  Olivia,

  Well, if you’re taking requests:

  1. Breasts

  2. You touching yourself

  3. Your face

  Tyler

  * * *

  Tyler,

  Are you out of your mind? Don’t answer that. I already know that you are.

  Olivia

  * * *

  Olivia,

  So, is that a yes? :)

  Tyler

  * * *

  Tyler,

  In your dreams.

  Olivia

  * * *

  Olivia,

  You know that’s true. I can’t wait to see you by the way. I have something to tell you.

  Tyler

  * * *

  Tyler,

  What do you have to tell me?

  Olivia

  * * *

  Olivia,

  It’s best said in person. Unless you want to call me tonight and then maybe I’ll be persuaded to tell you.

  Tyler

  * * *

  Tyler,

  No, I’m not calling you for phone sex.

  Olivia

  * * *

  Olivia,

  What a pity.

  Tyler

  * * *

  Olivia,

  Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to make the parade any longer. Have a great Christmas.

  Tyler

  * * *

  Tyler,

  Raincheck?

  Olivia

  Chapter 1

  Olivia

  * * *

  “Have you ever done anything really forbidden?” Birdy, my co-worker and friend, whispered loudly. She glanced towards our boss Tate’s office before turning her big blue eyes back to me.

  “What do you mean by really forbidden?” I supposed I should have spoken a bit quieter, but it wasn’t like there were any supervisors in the office. Tate was at some meeting with another tech company, and Jagger, our other manager, and our co-worker Magnolia were planning their wedding and had taken the afternoon off to look at wedding venues. But even if they’d been there, I still probably wouldn’t have whispered. Our small office felt like a family, and when you were around family, you tended to be loud and boisterous. Birdy and I had been working at Cool Credit for less than a year, but it felt like forever (in a good way). I was super grateful that all five employees—me, Birdy, Magnolia, Millie, and Jane—were all great friends and enjoyed spending time together outside of the office as well.

  “You know, forbiiiiiiiidden.” Birdy stretched out the word as if that were an appropriate answer to my question. Sometimes she really tested my patience, but she was always entertaining, so I forgave her.

  “Like, jail-worthy forbidden or X-rated forbidden?”

  “What’s X-rated forbidden?” Jane and Millie jumped into the conversation as they made their way over to us from the kitchen. Jane had a box of doughnuts in her hand. Naturally, I grabbed one and bit into it.

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Birdy asked me if I’ve ever done anything ‘really forbidden.’” I wiped some crumbs off of my lips as I spoke. “And I’m trying to ascertain what she means by really forbidden.”

  “Oh, shit, Birdy. What did you do?” Millie immediately questioned her and all eyes were now on a blushing Birdy.

  “Well, first of all, what’s with the $100 SAT word of the day? What does ‘ascertain’ mean?” Birdy asked.

  “Birdy, explain what you mean by forbidden?” I took another bite of doughnut. “You brought up the subject and we all want to know, how deep down the hole have you gone?”

  “Oh shit, you didn’t hook up with your second cousin or something, did you?” Jane gasped. I laughed at the quick shake of Birdy’s head.

  “Second cousins aren’t forbidden, but no.” She leaned in towards us. “I guess when I say forbidden, I mean kinda naughty, or well, really naughty. Like if people knew, you’d be in a whole heap of trouble.”

  “No, I’ve never done anything like that, but I sure as hell want to know what you did.” I could see that the other girls were also fascinated by what she’d just said. “What are you not telling us, Birdy?” With her long blond hair, wide eyes, and guileless expression, she looked completely innocent, and I wondered if she was exaggerating. What could she possibly have done? I was about to ask her another question when my phone rang.

  “Hold one second, girls.” I answered it quickly. “Hello?”

  “Hey Chubby Checker, what’s happening?” My brother Derrick’s laughter resounded down the pho
ne and I reminded myself to keep my tone polite and not call him an asshole.

  “I told you to not call me Chubby Checker anymore,” I growled into the phone. Now all the girls were staring at me. “What’s up, Derrick?”

  “Hey, just wanted to remind you that Tyler and I are coming to town tomorrow night.”

  “Okay.” My heart beat erratically, but I was going to ignore that and the fact that my face was warming. I didn’t care that my brother was coming to visit me with his best friend. Nope, I didn’t care at all. The same best friend that had made plans to meet up with me two years ago at Christmas and then canceled at the last minute. The same best friend that I hadn’t heard from in years.

  “Will you be picking us up from the airport?”

  “Nope.” I chuckled as if he’d said something really funny.

  “Will you be sending a car?”

  “Are you joking?” I laughed even louder now. “What do you think? That I’m made of money?”

  “She said no to both,” Derrick said to someone else. I heard a soft husky chuckle in the background.

  “Who are you talking to?” I asked him, but then I heard a muffled noise and a smooth deeper voice spoke into the phone.

  “Your worst nightmare.”

  My stomach exploded with butterflies. Tyler Redwood was the bane of my existence, or at least he had been when we were children. He’d been in my life for as long as I could remember. He and my older brother Derrick had been best friends since they were six and I was four, and I’d grown up having him around the house. When we were younger, he’d always treated me like a princess and then he’d turned 16 and become an asshole. He and Derrick had ignored me and treated me as if I didn’t exist, which would have been okay if he hadn’t turned out to be absolutely gorgeous and my first crush.

  I sighed. “I had a feeling today was going to be a bad day. What’s up, gremlin?”

  “What’s up, Frodo?”

  “What’s up, Gollum?”

  “What’s up, Dobby?”

  “Enough, Tyler, what do you want?”

  “To have a billion dollars. To have a Porsche. To—”

  “You have a Porsche.”

  “Oh, yeah, I do.” He laughed. “Which I let you ride in back in the day.”

  “And?”

  “And now you’re not returning the favor.”

  “I don’t have a Porsche to drive you around in unless you buy me one.”

  “What will you give me if I do?” His voice lowered, and I rolled my eyes. My friends were staring at me with a mixture of confusion and curiosity on their faces.

  “Nothing. What is it you two want? I’m at work.”

  “Too busy to talk, huh? Well, this is a first. I seem to remember you being a very talkative girl.”

  “Tyler.”

  “Send us your address and we’ll take a taxi from the airport to your place.”

  “To my place? I thought we decided that you guys were staring at a hotel?”

  “I thought it would be more fun to stay at your apartment. That way we can have a more authentic experience. Maybe play some spin the bottle or something.”

  “Put my brother back on the phone, now,” I growled, annoyed and flustered. There was no way I could survive in my small-ass studio with those two getting on my nerves. I could hear Tyler laughing as he handed Derrick back the phone.

  “What’s up, sis?”

  “Why did you put Tyler on the phone?”

  “Why not?”

  “Derrick, I’m at work. I do not need to talk to your idiotic best friend about nonsensical stuff.”

  “He was just trying to convince you to pick us up. You haven’t seen either of us in over a year.”

  “Hmm, and what’s this about you guys staying at my place? I told you that’s not on the table. I have a studio. There is nowhere for you guys to sleep.”

  “It’ll be fine, sis. It will be like when we were young and camped out.”

  “I didn’t enjoy camping, remember?”

  “Yes, I remember you being a spoiled brat.”

  “You’re such an asshole.”

  “Is that any way to talk to your older brother? What would Mom and Dad say if they heard you talking like that?”

  “What do you want, Derrick?”

  “So, I’m taking it that that's a no on the airport pickup and on staying with you?”

  “Wow, you’re getting smarter, big bro.”

  “Is that how you’re treating me now?”

  “Yup!” I laughed. “Love you though. Call me when you land.”

  “Okay, Chubby Checker. See you later.”

  “Ciao.” I hung up the phone. “My brother was expecting me to pick him and his friend up at the airport,” I explained to Birdy, Jane, and Millie. “I don’t even have a car, which he knows.”

  “Sounds like you guys enjoying teasing each other,” Jane noted. “You spoke to the best friend as well?”

  “Yeah, Tyler and my brother have been best friends for years. He’s almost like a surrogate brother. Just that he’s white.”

  “And not a relative.” Birdy grinned. “You can hook up with him if you want.”

  “I’m not hooking up with him, eww. He’s super gross.”

  “You’re protesting a bit too much,” Millie pointed out. “Is he hot?”

  “If you like the Tom Brady look.” I shrugged.

  “I like the Tom Brady anything.” Birdy grinned. “That face, that chest—yeah, baby. Sign me up.”

  “You can have him. He’s one of the cockiest, most immature guys I know.”

  “I bet he’s not as immature as my ex,” Birdy replied. “He could give a two-year-old a run for his money.”

  “Yeah, maybe not that immature then.” I bit down on my lower lip. “But he just has this way of riling me up that gets me so flustered and annoyed.”

  “Do you date white guys, then?” Millie asked, a half-smile on her face. “I hope that’s not a weird question, but I had some Black friends in college who told me they only dated Black guys.”

  “Not a weird question.” I shook my head and smiled, so she didn’t feel uncomfortable. “I’m an equal opportunity dater. If you’re hot and nice, I’ll date you. And I have some guys in the past that will tell you I’ll date you even if you’re not hot and nice,” I added with a rueful smile.

  “I’ve dated some real losers, too.” Birdy nodded. “Trust me, I know how you feel.”

  “I just want to meet one nice guy. A gentleman who’s sweet and kind and loving and open-minded and compassionate who loves me for me.”

  “You’re not asking for much, then.” Jane laughed. “Don’t get me wrong. I love Tate, but he’s not perfect.” Jane was now dating our boss, Tate, and they had a really special relationship, but I could already tell he wasn’t the perfect boyfriend. At least not in my eyes. He was way too full of himself and bossy. I knew that he would get on my nerves, no matter how good-looking he was, but I wasn’t going to tell Jane that.

  “Yeah, I know no man is perfect,” I told her, “but I can hope and wish.”

  “You and me both.” Birdy let out a deep sigh. “Can you believe we’re the last two single girls that work in the office?”

  “I know, right? I’m happy for you girls.” I looked at Millie and Jane, who both now had boyfriends. “But I want to find love as well.”

  “You will,” Jane said confidently. “You both will.”

  “Yeah, maybe one day.” I nodded. “Anyway, what were we talking about before the call? Oh, yeah, Birdy, you were going to tell us about the totally crazy and forbidden thing that you did.”

  “Well, did I say it was totally crazy, and did I say it was me?” She played with her long blonde hair and blushed. Birdy had one of those faces that gave absolutely everything away.

  “Birdy, are you going to tell us or not?” I tapped my watch. “We have work to do.”

  “Well, y’all,” she lowered her voice, “what if I was to tell you that I slep
t with a priest?”

  “You what?” My jaw dropped. “You did not.” I looked over at Jane and I could see that she was just as shocked as I was. Then I looked at Millie who was mouthing something that looked like, “I told you she’s a freak.”

  “And what if I told you that I was wearing—” Birdy started laughing. “Sorry, y’all. I can’t continue. If you could see your faces!” She shook her head. “April Fools.”

  “Birdy, it’s December.” I rolled my eyes. “You can’t do April Fools in December. Is that really it?”

  “Well, not really, but I don’t want to tell you girls now.” She blushed. “I’ll tell you later when I’ve got a bit of liquid courage inside of me.”

  I ran my hands through my shoulder-length curls and sighed. “I’m getting back to work. I’m trying to leave early so I can go to the hairdressers tonight.”

  “Oh, what are you getting done?” Millie asked with a smile as she played with her red frizzy curls. “I need to go myself.”

  “Just a blowout.” I hoped they didn’t ask why I wanted to get a blowout the day before my brother and his best friend were coming. It wasn’t as if I wanted to look my absolute best. I didn’t tell the girls, I was also getting my eyebrows and upper lip waxed. And planned on buying a new push-up bra and maybe some Spanx. It had absolutely nothing to do with Tyler Redwood, though. Absolutely nothing at all.