As we all left Brooke's house, I stayed on the porch to talk to her for a minute. She looked up at me with those gorgeous green eyes I had fallen in love with so long ago.
This short girl who could hold her own in a fight, out drink me, and could light up any room with her smile, owned not only my heart but my soul. I'm a hopeless romantic, I know.
Of course she saw me as family. That's how she saw all of us. I was fine with it for now, because she wasn't interested in a romantic relationship just yet. That was ok with me as long as I didn't have to see her go off and marry somebody else. It might just kill me.
I hugged her again which felt like the millionth time today, but it would never be enough. I laid my cheek on her hair and I felt her relax in my arms.
I couldn't stand to be away from her anymore. It had been just about two years since we had seen her but I had taken it the hardest.
Brooke was a best friend to us all, but I was actually in love with her. And I always would be.
She squeezed me and looked up at me. "What're you thinking about, Jimmy?"
About how much I wanted to be her husband and I wanted her in my bed (Not like that...not yet anyway).
"I can't wait until the party, Duckie. It's been so long since we had fun together. Getting wasted just isn't the same without the life of the party."
Brooke threw her head back and laughed. "Oh please, Jimbo. Everybody knows that that is definately you."
My God, her smile was breathtaking.
"JIMMY! LET'S GO!!" Brian yelled.
Brian and I had ridden here together in my car. I turned to him and gave him the dirtiest look I could muster. He only smirked and got into the passenger seat.
I turned back to Brooke. She was smiling at Brian. She hugged me one more time. "I'll see you tonight. Bye Jimmy"
She headed back into her house pulling Titan with her.
I made my way back to the car and got into the driver's seat. I sat back and took a deep breath. Damn, I really did have it bad for her. I had missed her like crazy over the past couple of years but seeing her again today was pure torture. She had looked so professional, so beautiful and it only reminded me that she was starting a new life.
Brian hit my arm and I glared at him. "Ok what the fuck was that for?"
"Stop beating yourself up over this, bro. We get to be with our Brookie again. It'll be like old times."
"No," I said shaking my head. "No it isn't. Brian, she's starting an important job. A career."
I started the car and pulled out of Brooke's driveway heading towards my house.
"She's no longer our little Brookie. She's grown up, man. Brooke is going to find a nice, decent guy and she is going to settle down and have a good life with somebody who actually deserves her. And I have to sit back and watch because she sees me like she sees all of us: as her brother."
Brian groaned and hit me again.
"Watch it, dude!" I said. "Don't hit the driver. I could run us into a tree."
"No you wouldn't. You love this car too much." Brian said. "Anyway. Do you really think you don't deserve her, Jimmy?"
I only shrugged. It was true though, I didn't.
"Come on, dude. You have known her longer than the rest of us. You know everything about her and she loves you. You're her favorite and we all know it."
I gave him a sideways glance as I turned onto my street.
"Just show her," he continued. "Show her you see her as more than just your little 'Duckie'. Let her know how you feel. She loves you alot Jimmy. We all see it."
I pulled up to my house and turned off the engine. "She loves us all."
Brian got out and headed for the front door. I followed.
He said, "Well, yeah of course. But if she were to fall in love with any of us, it'd be you. Tonight, at the party, the rest of us will try to give you two space. Start treating her like the woman she has become. It'll all work out."
By now we were both seated on my couch. I leaned back and placed my long legs on the coffee table.
Would this work? Could I really have her like I'd dreamed for so long? I looked over at Brian and he was only smiling at me.
"What?" I asked.
He kicked my leg, "Dude. You're freaking out over nothing. She isn't even looking for a guy right now. If you get her BEFORE she can accidently stumble upon somebody else, it'll all be good."

Notes

Sorry it's so short, but I think its a good one.