Forever is Right Now

**Zacky’s POV**

The next day I watched Brian interact with Ember, I can’t believe that I almost broke our bro-code last night out of frustration. I just hated seeing her hurt. Especially because of him, but that night at The Cat’s Cradle, he proved that he’s not the one for her. He has to tell her that though, I can’t break her heart any further.

Matt clapped a hand on my shoulder, “Hey man, you alright?”

I jumped a bit coming back into focus, “What? Yeah, I’m fine.” I mumbled looking at Gates with a newly discovered resentment.

“Zacky…if you keep looking at them like that, someone’s gonna notice,” Matt told me softly.

“I almost told her something that I promise Brian I wouldn’t,” I mumbled back to Matt. “Fuck it I need a smoke.” I made my way out of the house and sat in a lawn chair before I pulled out my pack and lighter.

As I took a drag off the cigarette Shads came out and sat next to me, “What did you promise Brian that you wouldn’t tell Ember?”

I sighed and rubbed my face being careful with my lit cigarette before taking another drag, “You remember those chicks that helped us with the ‘Beast and the Harlot’ video?”

“Yeah,” he said curiously.

“Remember how we took Gates out for the bachelor party, we started off at Johnny’s bar and then you left because Simone was hormonal and needed you home?” I eased into the story.

“Okay…what happened after I went home?” He asked me rubbing a hand over his face knowing that he probably wouldn’t like the answer.

“Brian wanted to go to the strip club…THAT strip club,” I took a minute before continuing noticing the fire light behind Matt’s eyes. “He ran into Casey…”

“Did he sleep with her?” Matt interjected lacing his fingers as he leaned on his knees and stared at the ground, trying to focus on anything other than what I was telling him.

“I don’t know, he, Johnny, and Jimmy stayed longer than I did. I saw Tennessee and she wanted to catch up, but we didn’t do anything, just had a drink and then went for a walk catching up.” I quickly added on so he wouldn’t ask me the same question he had about Brian.

He nodded slowly, “This is so fucked.” I couldn’t disagree with him as I took another drag and inhaled deeply. “And you almost told her…”

I sighed, “I almost told her that he met up with Casey. From what Johnny said, he got her number and has been texting her.”

Matt growled and was instantly on his feet pacing, “I’m going to kill that motherfucker.”

I put my cigarette out in the ashtray that was sitting on an end table then stood up and looked at Matt in the eye, “I don’t know what’s going on fully. All I know is I can’t break Ember’s heart anymore than it already is.”

Matt nodded curtly and moved past me going back into the house, “Brian. I need to talk to you, NOW outside.” Brian raised an eyebrow and looked at me narrowed his eyes then followed Matt out the front door. Fuck what had I done.

Ember looked after her brother and Brian in shock before looking at me questioningly and I just shrugged acting like I didn’t know what was going on. Great another lie…she’s going to kick my balls all the way to China.

**Brian POV**

The second I’d arrived for the pow-wow I looked for an opportunity to talk to Ember. That opportunity presented itself when Johnny got sidetracked which gave us all a little bit of a leeway to stretch our legs. Zack and Matt had gone out back after Zacky had been staring daggers at me while I pulled Ember aside. “Hey,” I said calmly.

“Hey,” She smiled slightly giving off a little bit of a nervous vibe.

“I’m sorry for what happened last night and I want you to forgive me,” I sped out and looked in her eyes.

She bit her lip, chewing on it a bit, “Brian…” she sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t tell if this is what you want or if it’s what Papa G told you to say.”

I looked in her eyes a bit hurt, “Of course it’s what I want, but yeah my dad talked some sense into me last night when he got home from the search party trying to find you.”

“Brian…you didn’t come after me last night,” she said averting her eyes away. “You broke everything off last night, I’ve already contacted the wedding planner and told her the wedding’s off.”

I was about to say something in return but Matt came back in the house, “Brian, I need to talk to you NOW, outside.” I winced as he walked out the front door and noticed Zacky standing in the doorway looking guilty and I narrowed my eyes.

“I’ll be right back Em, please…we’re not done, please think about forgiving me,” I begged her and kissed her forehead before walking out after Matt.

As soon as the door was closed Matt was in my face, “Who the fuck do you think you are? Do you think you can just cheat on my little sister and get away with it?”

I looked at Matt wide-eyed, “Who the fuck am I cheating on her with?”

“I was told about the rest of the bachelor party, after I left. After Zacky met up with Tennessee. Johnny told him that you met up with Casey, that you got her number and have been texting her,” He said matter of factly giving me a death look basically telling me not to lie to him.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, “I was drunk that night. Very, very, very drunk.”

“Do you not remember how fucking crazy Casey was? Do you not remember how manipulative she was?” Matt asked me as though I was stupid.

“Of course I remember how vindictive she can be, I was with her for 6 fucking months,” I replied defensively.

“Then why the fuck would you go to that club of ALL clubs in Orange County? Why the FUCK would you cheat on Ember? Did you sleep with Casey?” Matt asked me straight out, no pain killers.

I looked down silently, yeah I’d slept with Casey but for fucks sake I didn’t remember it. I just remember waking up next to her that following morning. What the fuck was I supposed to tell Matt. Zack had broken our bro-code and I know it was my actions last night that pushed him to do so.

“I’m waiting,” Matt said as he folded his arms over his puffed out chest.

“Yeah,” I mumbled not meeting his eyes. Instantly I felt his fist make contact with my jaw and I damn near fell to the ground. I bounced back and was met with another attempt of a punch but I dodged and tried to hold Matt’s hands away from me. “Matt, stop!”

Immediately I saw the fire in his eyes grow as Ember raced out trying to step between us, “Matt stop! What the fuck is going on?”

The rest of our crew stood at the door watching us our breathing heavy as we stared off, Matt squared his shoulders, “Tell her what’s going on Gates.” I just stared at him unable to believe that he was asking me to hurt his sister. “If you don’t fucking tell her right the fuck now, I will.”

Ember looked at me confused, “Tell me what?”

I sighed, dropping my gaze to the sidewalk, “Remember the night of my bachelor party. How I didn’t come home…until like 5.” She nodded slowly as if unsure what I was getting at. “I lied to you about where I was.”

She took a step away from me and immediately I felt her defenses go up like a fucking barricade surrounding her, “What do you mean, Brian?” I stayed silent for a minute and sighed. “BRIAN. What the fuck do you mean you lied to me?” She seethed.

“I mean that I wasn’t alone. I went back to Casey’s house,” I replied softly.

“That bitch from the video shoot a few years back?” she said incredulously. “Why the fuck did you even run into her? You guys have coexisted in this town for 3 years and have never ran into each other. Why the fuck now?”

“I told the guys I wanted to go back to that strip club,” I ran a hand through my hair. Ember had obviously heard enough and turned around going back into the house, “Ember!” I called after her.

I saw the guys slowly go back inside and I realized that I’d lost my best friend and my dumbass had just lost my girlfriend whom I loved more than anything else in this world within a week. I’m a fucking winner I sighed and took out my smokes and lit up a cig.

Zacky lingered behind the others and came up to my side, “I’m sorry Gates.”

“Why be sorry, now you can make a move on her,” I said shortly not meeting his gaze.

Zacky sighed and ran a hand over his face, “It wasn’t like that man. You’ve acted different towards Ember since that night, you guys haven’t hooked up, you guys haven’t really talked except for the day Jimmy…” he trailed off.

I laughed a disheartened laugh and took another drag from my cigarette, “So that gives you the fucking right to betray me?”

He shook his head, “You betrayed us first Gates. The point is that you guys need to figure shit out before you get married.”

“She already told the wedding planner the wedding was off. Before even talking to me,” I shook my head finishing my cigarette. “What does that tell you?”

“It tells me that you both have a lot of shit to overcome and process and deal with, but you guys can beat the odds. Because I’ve seen you guys beat the odds before,” Zacky told me and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Just give her time. You get your shit together, she’ll get her shit together and you guys can come back together.”

I nodded and shook my head looking to the heavens, Jimmy if you can hear me, I need your help right now. I fucked up bad and I need my best friend to tell me how to fix things.

Notes