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Claire is everything to him. At least, she used to be. Maybe Natalie’s the one who fills that spot for Joel now. Still, Claire will always be Joel’s little sister, and Joel will always see her that way, even though she’s twenty-six now.
He was furious when she left. He wanted to go to Greece just to kill the guy she was with, and I was afraid he would, which is why I didn’t offer to accompany him. If he finds out Claire is with someone new, someone right here in Chicago, he’s going to kill him.
He’s going to kill me.
At the very least, he’s going to punch me, maybe a few times. And then he’s never going to talk to me again.
I can’t stand the thought of it. I can’t stand the thought of losing my best friend who’s just like a brother to me, which is why I can’t bring myself to tell him that I’m going out with Claire.
I gulp down the rest of my beer.
“Are you okay?” Joel asks me after I’ve finished the bottle. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”
I can’t tell him.
“I’m fine,” I say with a forced smile. “Just… thinking about work. That’s all.”
Joel snorts. “Always thinking about work. Has it ever occurred to you that there’s more to life than just work?”
“Oh, stop it. You were a workaholic yourself until recently. Or have you forgotten that?”
“Yes, I was,” he admits. “Because I didn’t have anything better. But now I do.”
I nod. “Now you do.”
He takes a sip of his beer. “You know, I still can’t believe Natalie is going to be mine for the rest of my life. Sometimes, I think I don’t deserve her.”
“Of course you do.”
“You should have heard all these stories her parents had to tell about her, all the things she’s done. And their eyes were gleaming with pride when they talked. They love her. And now they love me, too. I felt it.”
I pat his shoulder. “Isn’t that nice?”
His parents died in a car accident when he was twelve. And I know he’s tried his best to be strong, and he has been. But I also know he still misses them. It’s good that he gets to experience how it feels to have parents again.
“That’s the thing,” Joel says. “She’s giving me the world, and all she gets in return is me.”
“She’s getting an amazing husband in return,” I point out. “One she loves very much. So I think it’s a fair bargain.”
He gives me a grin. “Thanks, man.”
He lifts his bottle of beer. I raise my empty one just so we can have a toast. Then I order another as Joel drinks.
“You know,” Joel tells me after putting his bottle down. “You really should get someone special of your own.”
I already have.
He sighs. “Too bad Natalie doesn’t have a sister.”
But you do.
“But she’s got friends,” Joel adds.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you trying to set me up on a date, Joel Parker? After all these years?”
“Well, it’s been too many years. You’re not getting younger, you know.”
I shake my head. “Don’t you worry about me. Or have you forgotten that you’ve got a wedding to get ready for?”
“Oh, I’m ready for the wedding. It’s the wedding that isn’t ready for me.”
“True.”
“And it’s your job to make sure it is.”
I give him a puzzled look. “Really? The last time I checked, I was the best man, not the wedding planner.”
“Well, you’re supposed to help me get some parts of it ready,” Joel says. “Speaking of which, you need to help me get a tux. You have a good tailor, don’t you?”
“I do. And I’ll help you.”
“Great.”
He takes another sip of his beer. I do the same with my fresh bottle.
“So, how about you and Claire?” Joel says suddenly.
I put my bottle down before I choke. “What?”
“You’re the best man. She’s the maid of honor.”
Oh, that.
“Have the two of you met to talk about the wedding yet?” he asks.
“No.”
Great. Now I’m lying to my best friend. And I don’t think I’ve ever lied to him before.
Joel looks at me. “But you will, right?”
“Yeah.” I take another sip. “We’ll take care of everything.”
Joel nods. “And you’ll take care of her?”
I don’t answer.
He sighs. “That’s the one thing I’m worried about, you know. That I won’t be able to take care of her anymore now that I’m getting married.”
“Claire can take care of herself,” I tell him.
“But will you keep an eye on her like you used to, even just when she’s here in Chicago?” Joel asks me.
A serious request. One made from one brother to another. One that can’t be denied.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Sure. Don’t worry about her. She’ll be fine. Everything will be fine.”
~
“It’s not fine,” Claire scolds me over the phone the next day. “You said you would tell Joel about us and you didn’t.”
