My Best Friend's Brother

8: Double Date

Karter

Glancing at myMf in the mirror, I'm wearing a blue button-down dress shirt with skinny jeans. I look fancy-casual, playful even. My hair is gelled back and I think I look fine. I grab my phone and head out my room. I walk downstairs to see Marie sitting on one of the couches with her phone in her hand.

"How the tables have turned. Yesterday I got ready before you and today you got ready before me! How ironic" my comment catches her attention and she smile at me.

She gets up and I take a proper look at what she's wearing. She's wearing a blue fitted blue frock, with a high collar and short sleeves. With beige heels and a black hanging clutch. She looks like she has little to no makeup on and her hair is natural. Wow even with such simplicity this girl manages to look gorgeous.

"Ready Allan?" She asks.

"Yup" All the sudden Marie looks at herMf and then at me.

"We're somewhat matching. Blue-Blue"

I observe both our clothes, "Yeah except mine is lighter and yours is darker"

"Yeah. Come on let’s go."

The car ride was short as the restaurant Taylor had chosen was only a few miles from my house.

We park in the parking lot; I get out first and open the door for Marie and then lace our fingers together.

This is going to sound so cliché but whenever we touch, I feel this spark inside me. Is that even possible?

Marie

We enter the restaurant which looks really nice and expensive. The waiter guiDavid Karter and I to Tay and Adam's table. However, the place was a little crowded so two people couldn't walk side by side, but one in front so eventually I had to let go of Karter's hand, sighing in disappointment.

The waiter takes us to the very end, where it is not crowded at all, takes us to a secluded area. He points at the table, politely smiles at us and leaves. Karter and I walk towards the table and Taylor is first to notice us and soon gets up, Adam following behind her. Looking at her now, I just realized how much I missed her. It's been a good 4 months since I last saw her. I even missed Adam. Before Taylor's tour we'd always hang together in NY, Taylor, me, Adam and Sam. Nope. Not going to let him ruin this moment.

I reach the table and Taylor and I quickly reach up to one another and hug. It literally felt like forever, it was one of those hugs with your best friend when you haven't seen them in forever and you just want to spend as much time with them. Finally, we pull away.

"I missed you so much Marie"

"I missed you too T"

Next, I walk over to Adam. "My Man!"

"Rodrigo" Adam grins at me.

And then we hug for a good 3 minutes. To be honest out of all of Taylor's boyfriend's I love Adam the most and I feel like he is the one who actually treats her right. She Daviderves him. We pull away and then I speak.

"Guys this is Karter, Karter this is Taylor and Adam"

Karter smiles at them and shakes their hands. We're sitting in a booth. So, Adam and Taylor on one side and Karter and I on the other. Me sitting opposite to Tay and Karter opposite to Adam.

"Karter, are you in the music or acting industry? Cause you look very familiar" Adam asks.

"Yeah you do. Not only cause you're Emily’s brother but you look familiar" Taylor adds.

"Actually, I'm the owner of Bang Records."

"Oh no wonder! So, you're probably used to working with huge artists"

"Yup. It has it's perks."

"You know Karter, Marie has a beautiful voice."

"Tay!" I scold.

"Does she now?" Karter says and looks at me.

"Nope I don't. She's lying" I glare at Taylor.

"Nope I'm not. She's just shy. Ask Adam. Doesn't Marie have a great voice"

"She actually does, Tay is right"

"Guys" I mumble.

"C'mon M. You should sing for Karter one day and he might just sign you. Oh, and she always writes!"

"Taylor" I say sternly.

"Okay, okay"

"Well Marie one day you have to sing for me"

"Maybe"

"So, Karter how long have you and Marie been together?"

I choke on my wine as an evil grin appears on Taylor's face.

"We're not..."

"We aren't dating. “ Karter says plainly “Yet" Karter whispers the last word looking at me. I look to Taylor and she didn't notice. Thank the heavens otherwise I'd never hear the end of this. And what does he mean yet? Does he plan on asking me out? I'll say no right? Right?

"M? Could you come with me to the ladies’ room?" Tay asks and I nod and we both excuse ourMves and head to the ladies’ room.

Once we enter, we see that it's empty and Taylor starts squealing.

"Oh My God! M, he's so handsome. He seems like such a decent guy and the way he looks at you. He totally has the hots for you Marie!"

"Shut up Tay. No, he doesn't. Yes, he's a nice guy, but he's almost 30, what would he possibly like in a young, inexperienced girl like me? I mean I'm not even that pretty"

"You know your insecurity is literally one of the most annoying things about you!" Taylor grabs me and makes me stand in front of the mirror.

"Look at yourMf M, you're beautiful. Karter knows that. Even if he hasn't said anything yet. I'm sure all he thinks about is you."

"He called me beautiful yesterday." I mumble and turn my head away.

Taylor comes and stands in front of me, "What was that?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"He took me out to meet his four best friend's and their girlfriends. And remember my college/ high school friend Grace? The new face of Victoria Secret? She was one of the guys girlfriend's and we're in touch now. The girls kept telling me how Karter's looking at me and then we went to the club where Karter basically scared away a guy who wanted to dance with me, saying he wasn't good enough for me and calling me beautiful and the most beautiful girl in the club. Then a slow song came and we were almost leaning and we could have kissed. I don't know" I let out a breath because I said all that so fast.

"Okay first Marie, breathe" she chuckles.

"Just like your songs" I smirk.

"Just breathe" she says and places her arms on my shoulders and I do as I'm told.

"Marie, he really likes you. The reason why he sent that guy away was because he was jealous M. I'm telling you!"

"But that day we were talking about our pasts and I told him about Sam and how he cheated on me and he told me about his college sweetheart and fiancé until one and a half years who not only cheated on him but said she only used him for money. And since then he can't commit or open up to people"

"But he told you all that, he opened up to you"

"I know, that's what he said. That something about me just makes him trust me and he can tell me stuff"

"M, he barely knows you and he's telling all this personal s**t in his life. You really need to understand this. Karter. Likes. You. Marie. And I can tell you like him too. He's a good guy M. I know he won't hurt you and if he does Emily and I will kill him for sure. Speaking of which are you sure you don't want me to at least punch that d**k in the balls?"

I smile as I realize who she's talking about, "No Taylor. I'm fine! Now shouldn't we get going? The guys will get suspicious?"

"Oh yeah!"

We head to the table to see that our food is already there.

"So M did Tay tell you? We're getting an apartment together!"

"No, she didn't, she's too involved in my non-existent love life to tell me about her very real one. I'm so happy for you guys!" I say and smile and both of them.

"Marie and I already reached that stage in our relationship before the first date. Didn't we honey?" Karter jokes.

Both Tay and Adam laugh at this while I just playfully roll my eyes at him.

"So how long are you guys here in London?"

"We're actually leaving tomorrow."

"What?"

"I'm sorry M, I didn't know you were in London otherwise I would have called you sooner."

"So when will I be seeing you guys next?"

"Well you know I love visiting England, so we'll see each other often. Plus, we have face time. And your entire family lives in NY, so you will come for the holidays. Don't worry M!"

"Yeah I guess." I say sadly.

"Come here you" Tay pulls me in her arms and we hug for a while. "I'll see you soon. Plus, I know you're in good hands here!"

"It's just that I'm so far away from you and Emily and Gracie. But I'm fine. I'll miss you Taylor. Don't you dare die out on me again okay?"

She laughs and kisses my head, "I won't." Due to the age difference and Taylor's maturity, she's always been like an older sister for me.

I then go hug Adam, "Take care of Tay for me okay?"

"Always Rodrigo" and with that he messes my hair.

"Oh, and Adam, remember, you break her heart, I break your face" he just smiles and nods at me.

"Karter, I expect you to take care of Marie and you hurt her, you'll just see how crazy I can be" Taylor points to Karter.

"Don't Worry Taylor. I'll take care of her." He smiles at me.

We say our final goodbyes and head our separate ways.