BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS

EMILY My wineglass fell to the floor when he walked in. The chatter in the room died down as all eyes turned to me. My mouth was open in shock, and the sound of my heartbeat could be heard from across the room. I knew that face, I knew how those lips tasted. I can still faintly feel the outline of his hands on my neck when he had slammed me to the wall just nights ago. “Babe, are you hurt? What happened?” my fiancée Jeremy asked, his face etched with concern. Yes .. I’m fine, I stuttered. He held my arm and led me towards the door… “I can’t believe you made it,” he said, laughing towards the man standing by the door. Do they know each other, but how? “Emily, meet my brother Daniel,” Jeremy said “Brother” The word felt like a kick to the gut Daniel was the elusive brother, the one who, he said, was never around. I finally found my words, “Dan.. Daniel? My face felt hot, my hands were trembling, and I removed them from Jeremy’s palm so he couldn’t feel them. I turned toward Jeremy. “I thought you said his name was Beck.” “Oh, that… he laughed, “it was a childhood name that just stuck”. Daniel walked further in, and the air seemed to have seized. He had the same sharp jawline and dark hair, but where my boyfriend was easygoing, Daniel carried himself like he was always two steps ahead of everyone else. His gaze landed on me. Slow, deliberate recognition flashed in his eyes. His smirk widened, sharp and cruel. Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom, I said to Jeremy He looked between us,” Oh, okay.” I turned and walked fast to the kitchen, my heart beating fast. It was him- the guy I had the most amazing night with just three days ago, he wasn’t just a stranger. He is my fiancé's brother. How did this happen? I picked up my phone from the kitchen counter and immediately dialed Celine’s number. She would know what to do. Hello… Her voice cut through my fogged brain My hands on my chest ….Celine, he isn’t just a stranger anymore,” I cried I knew she would understand that she was my best friend for a reason “What do you mean he isn’t a stranger? ..He is Jeremy’s brother.” “Isn’t that Beck?” she said…. Noooo, Beck is just a stupid nickname they called him when they were younger. I said, pressing my hands, pressing my neck. “Do you think he recognized you? “He sure as hell did, he even smirked at me.” “I’m so in trouble, Jeremy must not find out, he will blow a gasket and the wedding will be over”. …Oh my God, what are we going to do? “You have to speak to him and tell him not to say a word.” “Do you think that would work?” I said shakenly I could hear loud voices, clinking glasses, and laughter spilling from the living room where his family gathered. “I have to go; everyone will be looking for me.” “Babeeeee,” I could hear Jeremy calling for me from the other room “Coming,” I answered back “I would have to call you back to tell you how it went or call you to come pick my crumbling pieces”. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” she laughed and ended the call. I took a deep breath, rubbed my palms on my jeans shorts, then turned, only to run smack into a hard chest. God let it not be Jeremy, I would take anyone just not him. I looked up, and my eyes landed on Daniel’s grey eyes “Told you we would see each other again.” He smirked Oh my God, this is a disaster The words registered in my head…. what do you mean by that? “Did you know who I was that night? I asked Have I been set up? Was all this a trap? I could feel my breath cutting… “Calm down, I didn’t know you were my brother's fiancée, but I knew I wasn’t done with you. I had plans of tracking you down, but the universe seems to be in my favor. I wasn’t expecting you to be placed in my lap”. He smirked He took a step towards me, and I took a step backward He placed his hands on the wall behind me, bent his head, and whispered in my ears I broke out in sweat, and the hairs on my hands rose “I’m not done with you.” “No,” I shookly said, “you have to be, you can’t tell Jeremy what happened between us, you can’t even tell him you know me”. “Is that so? He smiled That smile that scared me “What would I get if I did that?” he said What? Nothing,” I said “I don’t dish out my kindness for free,” he looked like he was about to turn away and go. “Okay, what do you want? “A repeat performance,” he smirked “That is never happening,” I sputtered “Never say never,” he whispered darkly into my ears I pushed him, then sneaked under his hands and walked quickly to the dining room. I couldn’t bear to be alone with him for one more second. I walked straight back to the dining room and sat next to Jeremy. “Babe, where have you been? Why are you breathing so hard… “Nothing, I’m fine. I was just in the kitchen. Celine had called me to freak out about something,” I lied. Daniel walked back and took the seat opposite me Conversation picked up. Rose, their mum, looked adoringly towards Daniel “How was Seattle ? she said to Daniel. Daniel looked straight at me and smirked, “It was memorable, and there is something I intend to pursue intensely”. “Isn’t that right, Emily? All eyes turned to me. I wanted to fall to the ground and hide. Why was he doing this? I just told him to pretend as if he did not know me, not speak pointedly to me …. “Emily .. how? What do you mean Jeremy asked him. “Do you guys know each other? His eyes went from me to Daniel suspiciously. I could feel my heart skip.