Stuck with My Best Friend's Brother: A Friends to Lovers Sweet Romance, page 1
Stuck with my Best Friend's Brother
A Friends to Lovers Sweet Romance
Gina Cooper
Copyright © 2024 by GINA COOPER
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings and products are intended or should be inferred.
Contents
1. Chapter One
Callie
2. Chapter Two
Nick
3. Chapter Three
Callie
4. Chapter Four
Nick
5. Chapter Five
Callie
6. Chapter Six
Nick
7. Chapter Seven
Callie
8. Chapter Eight
Nick
9. Chapter Nine
Callie
10. Chapter Ten
Nick
11. Chapter Eleven
Callie
12. Chapter Twelve
Nick
13. Chapter Thirteen
Callie
14. Chapter Fourteen
Nick
15. Chapter Fifteen
Callie
16. Chapter Sixteen
Nick
Chapter One
Callie
Six Months Ago…
I’ve swallowed a lot of hard pills in my life, but never as difficult as this. My best friend, my confidante, my soul sister is leaving to start her new life in Dallas. She and her brother, Nick, got the opportunity of a lifetime when their longtime friend, Trevor, said he’d invest in their failing business to keep it afloat.
I am so happy for the two of them. Honestly, I am thrilled that their dream won’t be burned into dust. They had opened a coffee-shop-slash-deli in our small town of Andrews, Texas, which was booming at first, but over the last few months, business had really started to slow down.
Trevor suggested he invest in their business and then they open some smaller locations across Dallas to bring their revenue back up. I don’t think Anna or Nick ever thought they would franchise their small-town coffee shop, but it’s the one way to save them from closing their doors. Now they’re packing up their things and moving to Dallas, leaving me all by myself.
My adoptive parents passed away, one after the other, within the last few years. When Anna left her ex-fiancé after he cheated on her, it was perfect timing: my adoptive parents were gone and she moved in with me. She was my rock, the one person I knew would never leave me.
Now she’s leaving me all alone. It’s hard to say goodbye and I feel a lump in my throat every time I think about it. Anna has been the closest thing I ever had to family. We talked, laughed, and cried together like sisters. Our conversations were always heartfelt and never dull, which is why it hurts so much right now.
Despite how hard it is for me to come to terms with her leaving, deep down I know moving away is the best decision for her and Nick’s business. It’s what they have worked so hard for over this past year, and now their dream has finally become reality. Even though I’m sad that they will be far away from me, I’m also proud of them for chasing their dreams and making them possible.
I know when the time comes we will all find our way back to each other.
So before Anna left, I promised her that if they ever needed any help at Goodie’s Grind, I would be there. I told her that even though I work as a hairstylist every day, I would be willing to help out at the coffee shop, train the new staff members, and be there for extra support if they ever needed it. It’s not like I’m not at the coffee shop every day anyway. I love that place so much.
It was a small thing really, but it made us both feel a little bit better about all the changes ahead of us.
So, on this beautiful Saturday morning, I’m taking the short walk from my house to Goodie’s Grind. The sun is shining and I can feel the warmth of the summer air against my skin as I walk through town. As I approach the shop, I notice that there are more people out front than usual. It seems like new customers have started coming in already—a good sign right off the bat.
Anna had told me that Trevor was putting some new advertisements up on the interstate, and even offered to run some Facebook ads. He wants to do whatever he can to help them succeed.
As I open the door, the pleasant aroma of coffee beans and pastries fills my nose. My eyes scan the shop. There are four new employees bustling around making drinks and helping customers with order placement. Anna and Nick stand in the back watching everything unfold from beside their espresso machine.
I had no idea they were back in town. They must have been working hard the last few days while they’ve been in Dallas.
I make my way over to both Anna and Nick and give them a big hug hello. We talked for a few minutes about how things are going so far and what they need help with now that they’re finally getting settled in Dallas. They tell me that while all of their employees know how to make basic espresso drinks, none of them really know how to make more complicated speciality drinks like lattes or cappuccinos.
For the next couple of hours, that’s exactly what we did. We had fun teaching our new baristas all kinds of tips and tricks to make their jobs a lot easier. Plus, when Anna and Nick aren’t here any longer, they’re going to need to be confident in knowing what they’re doing.
Finally, after a really enjoyable few hours, it’s time to take Anna to get her belongings back at my house. We all head out together, me walking in front and them following closely behind.
I open the door to the small two-bedroom house that I had previously shared with Anna. Stepping inside, I’m hit with a wave of nostalgia as I see all of the memories we’ve made together over the years plastered on the walls. Photos from beach trips, movie nights, dinners at our favorite restaurant—everything we did together seems to be imprinted in this little place.
Anna begins to take down some of the things she left behind when she rushed off last week and places them into a few boxes by the door ready to take away with her. Gradually all my friends are leaving for their own separate journeys—journeys that I can’t join them on.
But even though I’m not going along on their adventures physically, I know that wherever they may go or whatever kind of life they may lead, I will always remain connected through my friendship with each one of them, no matter what happens in life ahead of us.
Nick went off to tidy up some things at his house, leaving Anna and me alone. I went into the kitchen and made more coffee; we had a lot of packing to do to get her ready to go back to Dallas.
Anna and I sit on the couch, sipping on our coffee and enjoying each other’s company as the early evening sun shines through the windows. It’s comforting to know that even though she’s leaving, our friendship isn’t going to fade away and that we’ll still find a way to stay connected despite the distance. It’s only a few hours’ drive, but man it feels like it’s a long way away.
As we talk, I can’t help but notice Anna’s eyes drifting toward the door, like she’s waiting for something or someone.
“Who are you hoping will come through that door?” I asked, giving her a playful nudge.
Anna rolls her eyes and chuckles. “Oh, shut up, Callie. It’s just... there’s this guy I’ve been talking to, and I think he might stop by later.” Anna’s being completely playful right now, and I laugh.
“A guy, huh? I wonder if his name is Trevor or something.” I grin, waggling my eyebrows.
“Yeah, that might be him. He said he’d come by and help me load everything up in his car. He’s great, Callie. Honestly, I never thought I’d be with him. I had a crush on him sure, but man he blows my mind every single time we’re together.”
I nod, happy for her. “That’s great, Anna. You deserve someone who treats you right.”
She grins and as she does I notice how much things have changed for her. Her entire life is turning around for the better and I’m happy that it has... I just wish it would be my turn to find happiness sometime soon. I feel so alone, and with everyone leaving I think I can’t help but feel that way.
We chat for a little while longer, and sure enough, just as the sun starts to set, there’s a knock on the door. Anna springs up to answer it, but we both know who’s there—Trevor.
Trevor comes inside and I help him and Anna load all of her belongings into his car. He seems excited to have her going with him and I don’t blame him. I’d be excited if the person I care for was moving to my city too. Ugh, it’s just another reminder that I am still single. Single and ready to mingle, but only for the right person.
As Anna closes the trunk of Trevor’s car, she turns to me and thanks me for everything. I smile and tell her it was my pleasure. She means a lot to me and I just want her to be happy, even if it means she’s moving hours away.
As they drive away, I head back over to Goodie’s Grind. One of the newer girls is closing up, and she looks like a deer in the headlights earlier. The least I can do is head over there and see if
I make the short walk over to the coffee shop and as soon as I open the door I’m hit with a familiar scent. The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills my nostrils and instantly makes me feel better. I make my way to the counter and start preparing my usual order, a caramel latte with an extra shot of espresso. Just as I take a sip, I hear the door open.
I glance up and see him. The man I’ve been secretly admiring for months. He’s tall with broad shoulders and a chiseled jawline. His hair is a dark brown, styled perfectly, and his piercing blue eyes are gazing directly at me. It just so happens to be the man who is also leaving town.
He walks up to the counter and I feel my heart start to race. “I didn’t expect to see you here so late,” Nick says. His voice is deep and smooth, sending shivers down my spine.
“Yeah, well, you guys asked me to make sure everyone was okay here,” I reply, trying to keep my cool. “Tiana is new, so I thought I’d help her close up.”
“That’s awfully kind of you. You’re really taking this seriously, so thank you for that,” he says.
“There’s no reason to thank me, Nick. I always want to pitch in and help whenever I can. Did you want something to drink while you’re here?” I ask as I lean up against the counter.
“Yeah, a coffee with cream and sugar.” He smiles lightly and my heart tingles.
As I begin to prepare his order, I can feel his eyes on me the entire time and I can’t help but blush. As I hand him his coffee, our hands touch and I feel a spark.
“Thanks,” he says with a grin while he rakes his eyes up and down my body.
“No problem, we’re okay here to close up if you need to get going soon,” I say as I nervously try to look away.
“I know, but I wanted to come in and check on things. I’m actually glad I got to see you tonight. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to tell you I’m going to miss being in town and seeing your beautiful face,” he says with a wink.
My eyes widen in surprise and I feel my cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink. “You think I’m beautiful?” I ask in disbelief. Does Nick have some sort of crush on me too or something?
He nods his head slowly and smiles. “I’ve always thought that my sister had a gorgeous best friend. Just never said anything about it,” he admits sheepishly.
My mouth drops open in shock and then a small smile tugs at my lips. It turns out Nick isn’t just the handsome guy who’s leaving town after all. He’s actually interested in me too, or at least I think he is.
We talk for a few more minutes before Nick has to run off, but not before saying how much he’ll miss seeing me around town every day now that they’re both leaving for Dallas.
As he leaves the coffee shop and I help Tiana with the closing procedures, I can’t help but wonder if life may have something special in store for Nick and me yet.
I hope so. I really freaking do.
Chapter Two
Nick
Present Day…
Dallas doesn’t offer me the same calmness and serenity that being back home does, but it’s not too bad. I’m not very fond of the traffic or the constant noise, but there are certain things I’ve grown to love. Especially late at night when I’m working and want something to eat. In Dallas, we can order through GrubHub or UberEats. There are plenty of options and I’m not limited like I am back in Andrews.
I feel a buzz in my pocket and I know it’s Trevor. He’s my newfound business partner and best friend, who is also dating my younger sister, Anna. Their romance sort of came from left field, but I’m not mad about it at all. I’m glad the two of them found love. I don’t know two people who deserve it more than them.
We planned to meet this afternoon at the apartment, but we both thought it would only be fitting to check out the store we’re opening sometime within the next couple of weeks.
Stepping out of my car, I spot Trevor as expected, greeting me with a handshake with a smile on his face. “Hey Nick, glad you made it.”
I smile back and give him a curt nod. “Yeah, sorry about the traffic.”
He laughs and pats me on the back, welcoming me into the store. “It’s not perfect, but it’s damn near close. The contractors did a great job getting everything done swiftly, and I took all of Anna’s designs into consideration.”
I take a quick look around and I can’t deny how impressed I am. The shop looks great, and I can already visualize the perfect lattes we’ll be serving our customers. It looks so much better than our location back in Andrews, but there’s a big difference here. Anna and I were working on a tight budget when we opened the first location of Goodie’s Grind back home. Here, Trevor’s paying for everything.
The interior is super unique. The walls are made of exposed brick and each window has intricate ironwork outlining it. On the back wall hangs an ornate iron sign with the shop’s logo, and a menu surrounding it. A unique combination of industrial-style decor and modern contemporary touches creates an atmosphere that I’m sure will be inviting to everyone who steps foot through the doors.
There are two seating areas—one adorned with comfortable oversized couches, cushioned chairs, coffee tables, and designer lighting fixtures. The other includes several tables and chairs, perfect for college students who need to get some studying done, or who are having casual conversations with their peers while enjoying a delicious cup of coffee or pastry.
A kitchen counter and display case take up another corner of the room, which will be filled with pastries baked fresh daily from Anna and our mother’s recipes as well as sampling cups for customers to enjoy various coffees on offer in-house. God, how I wish our mother was here to see this. She would have been so proud of us.
I can’t help but feel grateful to my best friend. Without him, we wouldn’t have been able to pull any of this off. But more importantly, I’m excited to open our doors soon so that people in the Dallas metro area can experience the small-town flair that is integrated into the Goodie’s Grind brand.
We’re located in Central Dallas where small-business owners like ourselves thrive. Our customers are a mixture of everyday people, busy moms, and even college students. We thrive on making our products affordable for everyone, no matter the cost.
Trevor suggested we raise some of our prices so we can make his investment back sooner, but Anna essentially scolded him and told him the reason we couldn’t do it. Once he understood why we wouldn’t raise our prices he pumped on the brakes and listened to our needs.
Trevor knows we respect his opinion, but, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Trevor is phenomenal with marketing and he starts briefing me on our strategy for the store.
He knows that I’m knowledgeable in digital marketing since I’ve been taking some online courses, so he suggests various ad ideas, from Facebook to TikTok to community outreach campaigns.
After brainstorming for an hour or two we start to wrap things up, but not without going through our grand-opening list which consists of decorations inside and outside of the store, and providing free drinks and snacks. It’ll end up costing us a pretty penny, but we all believe it’s going to pay off.
We finish off our meeting, deciding that tomorrow would be an excellent day to start doubling our ad budget in preparation for the upcoming grand opening.
“Hey, Nick. I have to tell you something. You know Anna and I have been getting close for the past few months, right?”
I act visibly shocked and then force a laugh.“Of course, I have. What about it?”
“I proposed to Anna last night and she said yes.”
My mouth drops open and I’m rendered speechless for a moment. “Are you serious? That’s great news! Congratulations! Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Anna’s elated to be engaged, but she wanted to wait to tell you until she could see you in person. She wants to show off her ring and all that. So, you’d better act surprised when you see her next.”
