Smug Bastard - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,3

I lost my mind.

When it came to my sister, he was probably not far off.

“Sorry,” I whispered to Goat, scrubbing his ear. “Okay, Kase, I pulled over. Now tell my what the hell is going on?”

“Soooo, I got a call from Amie.”

“If you seriously made me pull over about wedding—”

“Kins, let me finish,” she scolded, clearing her throat. “Amie called me because Kyle was on the phone with someone else. She thought I’d want to know.” She giggled. My sister never giggled. She was happy, full of energy, and could be sweet, but she usually channeled it into controlling everything, especially her need to be the best at everything. She always was, even being gorgeous with a perfect body. Guys loved her, girls wanted to be her, and she always got whatever she set her mind on. So, she was not someone who giggled like a schoolgirl. This made a strange knot twist in my gut. “I still can’t believe Kyle kept in contact with him and didn’t tell me.” She puffed out a stream of air. “I hear his name and I become…” I could almost imagine her fanning herself. “I mean, he was the only guy who could do this to me… who still can do this to me it seems.”

The knot coiled tighter.

Just one person made her act like this. Even years later. The one she was never able to get pining and drooling after her, no matter how much she pursued him. Kasey told everyone they were boyfriend and girlfriend, and they even went to prom together. But from what I recalled, he looked tortured the entire time and never called her his girlfriend, leaving immediately after graduation.

“Kasey…” I swallowed, sweat trickled down my spine as my skin was covered with goosebumps, sensing doom heading my way.

“I guess Kyle invited him to the wedding, and he was going to come, but his bike broke down right outside of Pasadena. Do you know where that is?” She barely paused before she went on. “Anyway, I told Amie you were driving right by there.”

“Not exactly by there,” I muttered. Technically it wasn’t far, but in traffic? It could be well over an hour from where I was.

“And you would have no problem picking him up since you were driving this way as well. I mean, what are the odds?” She chirped with thrilled awe. “Kyle called him back and told him you are coming to get him. I’ll text you the address where he had to take his bike.”

“Kas—”

“I can’t believe he will be coming. I haven’t seen him since graduation. My stomach is in knots. It’s been so long. Like, nine years.”

“Kase—”

“You know how much I liked him, Kins? I still think he’s the one. I think about him all the time. The one that got away…”

I tipped my head back onto my seat, my fingers pinching my nose. The one? The guy was an asshole. He treated her and every other girl who fell at his feet like trash. He even had a nickname, which seemed to simply encourage his behavior. I was five years younger and did not see what the fuss was about. He was the total bad boy with all the charming personality traits that went along with it. Gruff, arrogant, rude, and a total womanizer. The friendship between my brother and him was an odd-couple kind of thing. They met playing football, and for some reason, became really good friends. My sister was gaga over him, embarrassing herself by flirting outrageously, while I gagged and rolled my eyes. I felt I was the only one who saw him for what he truly was.

A genuine pig.

“Please, please, please, Kins,” Kasey pleaded into the phone. “He won’t come otherwise, and I feel this is kismet. I’m supposed to see him again.”

“Kismet?” I snorted. “Come on. He was a jerk to you. Why do you seem to forget that part?”

“He wasn’t. He just didn’t want to do anything to screw up his friendship with Kyle. But we’ve grown up. Things are different.”

“He might be married with kids by now.” Though I couldn’t see the guy I remembered ever settling down with one girl.

“No. He’s not. I guess he recently broke up with someone.” Her voice went up two octaves. “See? Kismet. I just ended things with Peter. Please, Kins. Do this for me.”

Ugh, Peter. Someone my sister dated for four and half years, after meeting him at college. He was so cookie cutter he made