The Inconvenient Love (Better With You #4)

by Briar Prescott

Six years later…

Bruh

It’s incredible how something can be new and familiar all at once. Isac tastes the same. Summer and peppermint. But he feels all new.

“Is this some overprotective big brother bullshit again?” he asks slowly. Any big brother would be horrified by the thoughts that are banging around in my brain right now, so I really, really don’t think that’s it.

“What?” he asks with a grin that is so relaxed it’s bordering on lazy. “I don’t get a taste?” “By all means.” I push myself up on my elbows, mimicking his earlier position, because, what? I don’t get to watch?

Now that I know what Isac tastes like and what he looks like writhing underneath me… How can I talk myself out of wanting him?

“This is a terrible idea,” I whisper. “I know,” he replies, lips never leaving my skin.

“I seem to have a bit of a problem,” Max says after a little while, cheek pressed against his arm. “I can’t seem to keep my hands off you.”

“You’re twenty-five. I’ll be thirty-seven in a few months.”

Hot

“You’ve got the refractory period of a guy half your age. I’m very impressed your elderly penis works this well.”

“So… This is… This is happening,” Anders finally says and swallows audibly. “And that’s a thing. And we barged in, and you are naked.

Condoms and lube are very important, obviously, and I can see that”—he takes a lightning-quick look toward the bed, looking a tad green in the face while he’s at it—“that yes, you have those. Very good. Excellent job. But the most crucial part of all is the sock.

I'm dying

If you can roll on a condom, a sock on a door handle is easy, and then next time, we’re all okay. Just very, very okay!”

I’m sure seeing you two isn’t going to make him drink.” He considers it for a second. “Not a lot, at least.”

I tried to figure out if I should shout at you for sleeping with my little brother”—he turns to Isac—“or you for sleeping with my best friend.”

We need to spend a lot of time together, otherwise it’ll be weird. And by spend time together, I mean you can’t fondle each other’s butts in front of me, okay?”

And when he reaches out his hand and pulls me to my feet, I do my best to ignore the flutters in my belly. The kind I, in my long history of relationships, have never felt before.

You’re too invested, a little voice in the back of my head whispers. Fuck off, another voice counters. Much louder.

It’s familiar territory. I’ve been here before, his body a map I’ve already memorized.

This is what I dreamed about for years. Seeing Max like this. Vulnerable and intimate and mine.

“Where are you?” This time it takes him a bit longer to reply. “Outside your building.” This is quickly followed by a second message. “But not in a pathetic way.”

“Go on a date with me.” He doesn’t look too surprised, but he studies me for the longest time before he simply says, “Okay.”

Max looks at me, his lips slowly stretching into a wide smile. “That turns you on?” Anders makes a choking sound and stuffs fingers into his ears, chanting “Lalala” under his breath.

“He didn’t say that,” Anders mutters. “It’s just a regular Saturday evening, and your little brother isn’t talking about boning your best friend.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask when he still hasn’t said anything. “Because I can’t not look at you.”

“Well, I’m happy for you. It’s what you’ve always wanted.” “Right,” I agree. Not as much as I want you.

I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him. Same mistake, different year.

What the hell do you want me to say? That I’m in love with you and want nothing more than for us to be together? What’s the point? I’m leaving.

“Yeah, that would have been a good start because I fucking love you, too, so it would be really fucking nice if you wouldn’t try and pimp me out to random guys, okay?”

“Stop with the freaking sarcasm, you ass. Some of us are doing this thing for the first time! You think I just go around falling for people left and right? News flash! I don’t. It’s only ever been you!”

“Is,” he whispers, and I look at him because I can’t do anything else. “I love you,” he says. I close my eyes, trying to contain my emotions, but I really, really can’t. “I fucking love you too,” I say.

“Because it’s a key to my apartment?” he prompts. “And I want you to have it?” “Oh.” My heart rate escalates rapidly. “Look, I know you’re not going to be using it every day, but I’m making a point. I want you here. Whenever you can be. Okay?”

“Stop it,” Max whispers and pulls me into a tight hug. “Stop what?” I murmur into his neck. “Stop looking so heartbroken. This is not the end. It’s not even a pause. I’ll miss you like crazy, but this is temporary, okay? We’ll see each other soon. I promise.”

“I want you in my mouth.” He sounds strained now, a cord that’s on the verge of snapping. “God, Max. I miss your taste.”

You can’t have it all. Life doesn’t work that way. What you can do is choose. Choose the thing you value more than anything else.” He leans back and looks at me. “If you want it all, you’re essentially saying that everything is of equal value, nothing is more or less important in life, so in the end, you devalue the actually valuable.” He tilts his head to the side. “What’s actually valuable to you, Max?”

“You’re the love of my life,” he says, snuggling against me. I smile and let the words settle in. “Took you long enough to catch up.”

I always knew I was gonna fall in love with an uptight lawyer who has an unhealthy obsession with rules and dress codes,” Jamie says.

“Did you also know I’d end up sharing my life with a—"Anders makes a gagging sound “—a jock?”

All thanks to Isac. Because life is infinitely better with him.

ALL MY BABIES TOGETHER