Her Best Friend's Brother by T. Dell (read the beginning after the end novel .TXT) 📕

teasing, because of course she knew, now, that those moments weren’t leading anywhere she wanted to go.

They stil wrote and texted and they had the occasionaly telephone cal. Once he even convinced her to try and talk him through baking cookies again.

Unfortunately they got very involved in debating the latest John Grisham novel, and Libby’s sincere belief that Mr.

Grisham was the exception to the rule of the book being better than the movie. Some things just translate better on the big screen. Nicholas Sparks was that way too, but Tony declined to comment on Mr. Sparks; stating that no respectable man had ever sat through The Notebook let alone read the book. But he said it in a way that made Libby suspected he had indeed seen the movie, and perhaps even read the book. They weren’t able to agree on a conclusion regarding John Grisham however because the forgotten cookies had burnt up, smoking Tony right out of the apartment. Libby seriously considered sending him a replacement batch of cookies, but she was unwiling to risk faling back into old and unhealthy habits with him again.

After the last of her final exams Libby turned slowly surveying her now basicaly empty dorm room. Suzy had left the night before so one whole side of their tiny room was barren. The other side was piled with boxes to be loaded into the smal U-Haul she was picking up in the morning.

How strange she thought—to be going home in the morning. Actualy make that later this morning Libby mused as she noticed the time— it was after 2:00 am. She was excited to see Mel, and her mom, and even Stuart-- her mom’s boyfriend. But stil it felt a bit strange to think of staying in her old bedroom in the apartment again. The phone rang-- shaking Libby out of her reverie. Tony’s name blinked on her caler ID. He had graduated from Columbia that afternoon. Libby flipped her phone open.

“Congratulations! How did it go?”

“It was great. The whole family was there. Lot of photos. Very embarrassing. How did you know it was me?

“I have caler ID. Why do you sound weird?” Tony’s was talking too fast, and he sounded strange.

“That would be because I am drunk.” Drunk!

Tony didn’t get drunk; at least she didn’t think he did. But she supposed that at 22 and after four years of colege this probably was not his first foray into adult beverages. “The family left hours ago the guys and I have been celebrating.

I’m home now. In my apartment I mean, not home in North Carolina. I wish you could have been here Lib.” Libby chuckled quietly. Tony drunk was just as charming as Tony sober. “I wish I had been too, but I had a late exam. I’l be home tomorrow night. Home in North Carolina.”

“Why are you stil awake?”

Libby laughed loudly at that. “You’re awake too! I was just going to bed actualy. I had more packing left than I thought, and then I needed a shower, and then I got a phone cal!” There was a long pause. “Tony? Are you stil there?”

“Yeah I’m here” his voice sounded a little deeper and thicker than before. “I interrupted you between the shower and your bed?”

“Umm yeah. But don’t worry about it.” Man, he was weird sometimes. “Tony? Helo?”

“Stil here Lib. Just trying to decide if I am drunk enough.”

“Drunk enough for what?”

“Tel me what you are wearing.” Libby’s hear leapt. This was definitely not in line with their new, if unspoken, rules of engagement. She would put a stop to it.

Tel him to take his tipsy butt to bed and sleep it off.

“A towel. I am wrapped in a red bath towel.” What had made her say that? Except it was true, but she hadn’t realy meant to tel him.

“I like red. Is your hair stil wet?”

“Umm yeah?” Was wet hair sexy?

“I have dreams of you with your hair wet wearing a pink blanket.” Yep, apparently wet hair was sexy.

“You dream about me?”

“Wil you get into the bed?”

“The towel wil make the sheets wet.” Libby was surprised he could hear her voice over the sound of her heart pounding.

“You could always take the towel off.” She could hear Tony’s breath with each word.

Tingles danced across her skin at the thought of him picturing her slipping the towel off and climbing between her sheets. “That does seem to be the sensible solution.”

“Libby?”

“Yes, Tony?”

“I wish I was drunker.”

What the hel? Wow he realy sucked at this.

“Wow you realy suck at this.”

Tony laughed loud and warm, and the sound gave her more tingles.

“Sorry Lib. And here I thought I was being so smooth.” He paused. “I was out of my mind last summer Libby, I couldn’t take it if you cut me out again. I need you in my life and this is a bad idea.”

“You’re right.” Libby sighed but she was sure that in the morning she would be glad he had a caled a stop to things. “I wish you were drunker too.” That earned her a groan.

“Are you in the bed?”

“Yes”

“Pul the covers up Lib. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath.” Libby did as she was told. “Go to sleep Libby. Good night.” And then he hung up. Libby threw her phone across the room.

Chapter Seven

“You’re dropping out!” Libby felt badly that she had just announced Mel’s less than excelent news to everyone in the bakery. “What are your parents going to say?” Mel and Libby had been al but inseparable over the summer and while Libby knew Mel wasn’t exactly looking forward to the start of classes she certainly hadn’t expected this.

“They already know Libby! They agree with me. I am not exactly the colegiate type you know. And if I withdraw now they can get a most of their tuition back. I’m not an idiot I have given this a lot of thought. If you promise to actualy listen I wil explain it to you.” Libby