Deal With My Best Friend

Handsome Devil

Brooks smiled softly and his smile only grew brighter the second he saw me.

His presence, like every room he ever walked into, attracted eyes from every corner.

Women of every age admired him from head to toe.

But let's be honest... if you were here in the room with us, you'd be drooling over him too.

And why wouldn't we? I mean they...they! not me. I don't drool over him, I swear.

Sigh—He was undeniably a handsome—handsome?

No!

What am I talking about?

He's hot, ok?

He's hot as f**k, there... I admit it.

Sigh— if you could only picture him in your head you'd understand me.

Brooks is tall like a damn tree.

Which is why he makes fun of me and my posture because I'm way shorter than he is by a whole damn foot.

I used to be taller than him when we were kids, and I would taunt him, calling him Peewee.

But— There was a summer when we both left our town on vacation.

He left for Cancun, to spend the summer with his grandma, and I left for Tequila to visit my grandparents. And yes, there's an actual town named Tequila—look it up. Go visit, you'll love it, trust me!

Nonetheless, when we both returned I was shocked to find he had a mean growth sperg and a glow up. He went from a chunky and short kid to a handsome devil with a hot body worthy of drooling over.

Apparently, his grandma had made him work like crazy on her ranch, taking care of her cattle and herding her sheep, learning to properly cut wood, reap, and sow. You name it.

I've met Mrs. Vargas, she's the sweetest, but she cannot see you sitting for too long before making you get up to do some chores.

As Brooks and I grew up, I realized I was only growing short of him coming up only to his damn shoulder.

This just made Brooks more sure of himself, giving him the confidence to mock me and call me shorty.

Now... Don't get me started on his hair. He has dark, black hair, so silky that it makes you want to run your fingers through it.

He has this natural wave that most girls would kill for, or... pay hundreds of dollars at the salon to get.

And that sun-kissed skin, which gives away his hard-working days on his dad's farm.

But what I love the most about him is that sharp jawline all along with that signature smile that comes with a perfect pair of flirty dimples. And those muscles in all the right places.

Even in high school, Brooks was a ladies' magnet. The golden boy of our school, our football team's superstar, and the best athlete in the entire school.

And he didn't hold back at his dad's ranch. Just like he could tackle the toughest guy out on the football field, he could catch and tame even the wildest of steeds, and lasso the stubbornest cattle.

Every girl had a crush on him back home... Including me. But I never dared to cross that line of friendship with him, staying in the friend zone, and nothing more.

It appeared that he had only become more attractive as the years had passed.

"Aaaaand, I'm doing it again

I'm checking him out. God, Eliana you're evil. Pure evil, sinister, you damn... adulteror." I scolded myself, unable to look away from his handsome figure.

His smile widened

Without another second to lose, I run to him, throwing my hands tightly around his neck and hugging him tightly.

His deep voice resonates with a hearty chuckle as he lifts me, hugging me tightly against him.

"Damn girl... you've been fasting or somethin'? You're so dang skinny!" He says, making me chuckle.

"Nice to see you too, you ginormous log!" I said making him burst into laughter.

"I missed you short stack." He says, putting me down and ruffling my hair.

I rolled my eyes, making him give me a playful push on my shoulder.

"So what made you suddenly show up to party with us tonight, huh? Finally divorced that loser, Carl or somethin'?" He says, making me fold my hands in front of my chest and raise my right brow.

"I'm kidding doll. Where is that suckered anyway? I want to say hi to him." He asked, looking around the club among the dozens of people dancing in the amphitheater.

"He's not here tonight. He went to his niece's welcome home party." I said feeling a bit guilty about not being there tonight.

He gave that look... that look that made me feel exposed, as if he knew and sensed I was either lying... or keeping something from him.

"Oh? A new niece, huh? And why weren't you invited? Shouldn't you be there with Steven instead of here?" He says, deliberately calling Calvin by a different name.

"His name is Calvin, Brooks. You know that. And you're right... I should be there with him except... I wanted to see you guys and spend time with you guys for a change. I..."

"Bullshit! Tell him the truth, honey–" Shannon says, making my eyes widen in shock.

"What? What is she talking about, Eliana?" He asks, genuinely concerned.

I felt my heart speeding, my cheeks burning with humiliation and my throat stuck without a word.

"I... n–nothing. She's just drunk, don't mind her." I dismissed her with a wave.

"Bullshit. Eliana is going to ask Calvin to divorce her." She says, making my eyes widen more.

I cover her mouth, hoping that Brooks didn't hear her properly or all hell would break loose.

But it's too late.

Brooks is furious. The veins in his neck, that murderous look in his eyes, and the white knuckles tell me he's ready to leave this place and get his hands bloody.

He grabs my hand, pulling me into a separate room, away from the crowd, and shuts the door furiously.

He punches the door, not caring that he just bloodied his knuckles and dirtied his expensive new suit.

His hands rest against the door, fisted, restrained as he breathes heavily.

"Brooks, I—"

"I told you he'd hurt you. I told you he'd break your heart, but did you LISTEN?" He asked angrily, turning to meet my eyes.

I gulped. Feeling resentment and worry.

I know he cares so much about me, and he's furious... but I'm more concerned about the blood and pain on his hand than having to explain anything to him regarding Calvin right now.