Best Friend’s Brother: Best Friend's Brother Romance Read Online Free Page A

friends and people they hadn’t seen all summer.  To no one’s surprise, Zooey and Lauryn were still practically connected at the hip.  Lauryn raised her arm and waved at Ryan.
     
    Zooey’s eyes widened slightly.  Ryan wasn’t at all what she was expecting.  He looked...normal.  That was new for Lauryn.  She usually dated people with bright hair and tattoos.  Ryan was a tall man in a casual suit.  His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and he had on pressed slacks.  He looked like someone you’d seek out for real estate advice.  He also looked older than them.  He smiled when he caught sight of Lauryn and waved back.
     
    “Hello beautiful,” Ryan had a beard that connected to his sideburns and a mustache.  Lauryn looked absolutely taken by him.  Her eyes glistened when she found her way into his arms for a big hug.
     
    “Ry, this is my best friend in the entire universe,” Lauryn beamed and stretched out an arm for Zooey to come closer.  Zooey shyly made her way over to them and smiled.
     
    “Zooey.  I feel like I know you.  Lauryn’s always talking about you,” Ryan gave Zooey a kiss on her cheek, and then embraced her.  His hug was warm.  Zooey liked him already.
     
    “Where’s Jake?” Lauryn asked.
     
    “Last I saw he was talking to the hostess,” he perked his head up and looked around.  He looked at least half a foot taller than everyone around.  Zooey felt a strange feeling in her stomach.  It was jealousy, she knew, but she wasn’t going to be childish about it.  Jakob and Carla had history, and they were probably catching up.
     
    She wandered around with Lauryn and Ryan for a bit, listening to their stories about Argentina and how they met when Lauryn did her study abroad program the year before.  They had been together since just before she left.  He went to Argentina and spent some time with her for a few months while she was away. After so much between them, it seemed strange that Lauryn hadn’t really told anyone until recently.
     
    It wasn’t a secret relationship, but Lauryn was the kind of girl who would tell you what she wanted when she wanted.  The fact that it had taken her this long to tell Zooey meant either there was something Lauryn knew was special about him that she was saving for when he could meet her best friend, or there was something she wasn’t saying.  The look on Lauryn’s face gave it away.  She had been absolutely smitten with Ryan from the moment they met, and not wanting to jinx this one, hadn’t said anything to anyone until she was absolutely sure about him.
     
    Ryan was a doctor who had just turned 30.  He was the antithesis of Lauryn’s taste and style, but they had found each other, and everything seemed perfect.
     
    Zooey’s family had finally arrived, but Isaiah was asleep in his father’s arms.  It was almost 11, and Jake was still nowhere to be seen.  Zooey was starting to worry.  She drifted away from Lauryn and Ryan who were in a deep discussion with Kady about something, and she wandered about the property.
     
    “Zoo,” her heart skipped a beat when she heard her name.  She turned and saw Jakob.  He had just walked out of the house with a large tray of food.  He was walking over to the buffet with it.  “Look at you with your Godiva headband.”
     
    Jakob planted a soft kiss on her cheek and left her for a moment to put the food down.  Zooey stayed put.  She couldn’t think.  She almost couldn’t breathe.  All she could think was how happy she was to finally see him.
     
    Jakob made his way back to her.  He was a little underdressed too, with a polo shirt and pants.  His dog tags swung around his neck.
     
    “You look nice,” he smiled at her.  She thanked him.
     
    Zooey’s mind wandered to the night before.  They had been sitting under the moonlight with a few drinks.  It was a celebratory occasion since they hadn’t seen each other in so long.  Jakob was telling her about a friend he