Accidentally in Love with My Best Friend's Brother

(Song: “I Should’ve Cheated by Keyshia Cole) Kiara I arrive at my favorite coffee shop and find my best friend, Candice, already sitting at our table drinking a frappe. When she sees me, she waves me over with a huge grin on her face. "Damn Candy, you couldn't wait for me?" I scowl playfully at her. She scoffs. "Girl, you know I had to get my caffeine. My boss is killing me with these extra hours." I hang my purse on the back of the chair and go to order. Thankfully, there isn't a long line like usual. Samantha, the barista, greets me with a smile. "Hey Kiara, what can I get you today?" "The usual. A venti vanilla Latte. Two extra pumps of vanilla. Extra hot. Stirred. Add whip cream, please." Yes, don't judge me. I come here so often they know me by name. When you are a writer, coffee becomes your best friend. After my drink is up, I thank Samantha and sit down at our table. Candice is on her phone, and judging by the grin on her face, she's texting her girlfriend. "How's Pat doing?" "Huh?" She's still looking down, her fingers moving a mile a minute. "How is Patricia doing?" I ask a little louder this time. She finally slips her phone back into her purse. "She's good, busy as hell as usual. I just can't wait to fly out next month to visit her." They started dating just before Patricia left for her internship. I can tell the distance is getting to Candy, but she would never admit it. She wants so badly for their relationship to work. Changing the subject to avoid upsetting her, I ask, "so you said you had something to tell me?" She looks confused, but then her green eyes widen with recognition. "Oh yeah. So guess what! My brother is moving back here from Texas. Supposedly, he's finally found an executive position here." My family and I moved to Virginia my senior year of high school. I met Candice in English class on my first day, and we've been tighter than peanut butter and jelly ever since. Throughout our four years of friendship, I've never met her older brother. I've heard plenty about him, though. How he's a huge f**k-up. A selfish asshole. He graduated high school, and abandoned his family to chase after an impossible dream, forcing Candace to step up and finish raising their little brother. She even had to work a part time job in high school to pay the bills because their mom is an alcoholic and completely incapable of managing anything herself. There are always two sides to a story though, and he's never been given the chance to tell his. "How are you feeling about it?" I ask, savoring my perfectly-crafted latte. She grimaces. "I just can't find it in my heart to forgive him. He knew that my mom has been drinking since Dad left when Jeremiah was a baby, and still he abandoned us too." "Maybe give him a chance to explain, see things from his perspective-" "Ki, are you seriously taking his side right now? You don't even know him. He's a dog, a selfish asshole, and a-" "I know. I know. A f**k-up," I sigh deeply, "I'm not taking his side. All I'm saying is just give him a chance to explain himself." She huffs. "Fine. I'll give him five f*****g minutes, that's all." She pauses to take a long sip of her frappe. "Are you coming on Friday?" "To what?" "My mom wants to throw him a welcome home party at the house. There will be plenty of food, I know that's a requirement for you," she laughs. "Uh yeah, I guess I'll be there. It's not like I have anything else to do." I was going to tell her about how I just broke up with my boyfriend after I found him cheating with my sister, but I don't want to hear the, "I told you so". At least, not today. She's been telling me for the past year to dump him, but I didn't realize how much of a bum he really was until after the s**t-colored glasses were forcefully removed from my eyes when I caught him f*****g my sister in MY bed. In MY apartment. Flashback* I open the door to my apartment to find Jordan's clothes scattered all over the living room carpet. "Ugh, not again," I mutter, picking them up and carrying them to the hamper in the bedroom. And then all of a sudden, I hear something that stops me dead in my tracks. I can't move or speak as the sounds of pleasure echo through the hallway from my bedroom. "Oh Jordan, give it to me harder!" I hear a feminine voice shout. It sounds like my sister's voice, but it couldn't be. Lavender has done some f****d up s**t in the past, but she wouldn't cross the line like this. "Yes baby, you feel so good," my boyfriend grunts, "I love you so much, Lav." Oh f**k no! I barge through the door to find Lavender naked on all fours with Jordan pausing mid-stroke to stare at me in shock. He's behind her, his body dripping with perspiration. "Oh s**t, Kiara, I thought you were at work!" I furrow my brows, continuing to stand in the doorway, as I process the disgusting scene in front of me. I toss Jordan the clothes in my hand as Lavender slips on the dress discarded on the floor. This can't be my sister, it just can't be. There has to be another female in this city with purple and black braids, who looks exactly like me, and has "Daddy's slut" tatted on her lower back. Jordan and I have been dating for two years. Two years of my f*****g life flushed down the toilet. He took my virginity. I proudly introduced him to my family. I let him move in and live with me. Three months ago, he lost his job, but I gave him grace and let him stay here even though he hasn't been doing s**t but play video games. Around the same time, my sister got out of jail for beating the s**t out of some chick at the strip club she worked at. My parents refused to let her move back in with them and she had nowhere else to stay, so I stupidly let her stay with us while she got back on her feet. So no, this must be a nightmare. They wouldn't do this to me. I've been too nice, way too f*****g nice to deserve this. "How long has this been going on?" I hiss through clenched teeth. "Uh, I don't know," Jordan answers, nervously tugging on one of his dreadlocks. "Two years." I snap my attention to Lavender. The little slut has a smirk on her face. Ever since we were kids, I was the "nerd" and she dropped out of school as soon as it was legal. My parents are decent people, but she just couldn't stop herself from getting in trouble. Whatever Lavender wants, Lavender gets. I just didn't think she would go this far and hurt me. I've always been there for her, always defended her even when she was in the wrong, and this is the thanks I get from my little sister? My blood boils in my veins as I glare at her. "Why..why would you do this to me?" My voice quivers, but I keep my head held high. Even though my heart is breaking, I won't let either of them see me cry. The smirk stays plastered on her face. "Because I'm tired of living in your shadow. You are Mom and Dad's shining little star and they act like I'm their biggest disappointment. Well, look at me now, sis! I've been f*****g your boyfriend behind your back for two years, and he loves it. Every time I'm out of jail, he runs to me." She wraps her arm around Jordan's waist. "Tell her what you told me, baby. Tell her that you think she's boring and I make you feel so much better than she can." Her words are salt in my wounds, but I continue to hide the unbearable pain now searing through my body. My now ex-boyfriend refuses to meet my gaze. "Kiara, I...I can explain," he murmurs. "Explain what?" I snap. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't say what she said you did!" "I...I can't." I nod my head up and down, laughing hysterically. "Okay then." Walking out of the room, I throw the door open to the hall closet and pull the black case from the shelf. I unlock it and pull out the Glock 19, popping in the preloaded magazine and switching off the safety. With my finger on the trigger, I return to the room to find them sitting on edge of the bed, my bed, casually holding each other. Jordan's eyes widen with panic as he looks down at the weapon in my hand. "K-Kiara, what are you doing with that?" he stammers. They both hold up their hands defensively. "Kiara, we can talk about this," he continues in a pleading voice. Those brown eyes that I adore, well up until twenty minutes ago, are now filled with terror and regret. I hold the gun at my side. "Nah, I'm boring, remember? You have a degree in f*****g accounting, Jordan! Tell me what's so exciting about your life?" I sneer. And you," I pause to glare at my whorish sister, "you better go beg Mom and Dad for a place to stay because you'll no longer be residing here starting today." She has the audacity to roll her eyes. "Kiara, stop being so dramatic. Put the gun down and we can talk about this like adults." Did she think she was acting like an adult when she was f*****g my boyfriend for "revenge"? "Baby, I love you. This was just a mistake. I don't even know how this started. I just..." "Just what, Jordan? Tripped into her v****a?" I'm sure the neighbors can hear me shouting, but I don't give a f**k. I feel numb, but somehow I can still feel the weighed gun in my hand. My finger itches to pull the trigger. I just want them gone. Out of my life forever. "I'm done talking. I'm going to give you both until the count of five to get the f**k out of my apartment before I blow your brains all over the wall." The way I'm feeling right now, it's not just a threat. It's a promise. "Kiara-" I cut him off. "Five...four." They scramble towards the door and I follow them with the gun pointed towards their backs. "Three!" "Let's go Lav, she needs some time to cool off," I hear Jordan tells her, but his voice sounds distant. Blood pumps loudly in my ears, my entire body burning with rage. "Two! And leave the keys!" They throw on their shoes, tossing their keys on the kitchen island before darting out the door. The door slams shut, leaving me utterly alone. I'm able to put the safety back on and place the gun in its case before the emotions erupt from me like a violent storm. I slump to the floor, my vision blurred from the never ending stream of tears. End of flashback* That was three days ago, and I still haven't been able to sleep in my apartment. Instead, I've been sleeping in my car to avoid going home. For Jordan to cheat on me was one thing, but to defile my apartment, the place I felt safe and comfortable in, is unforgivable. Why couldn't he f**k her in a hotel room? Oh yeah, because they're both broke bums. I can't even look in my bedroom without seeing him and my sister together. It's f*****g torture, and I can't wait for my lease to be up next month so I can move. I'm content sleeping in my car until then. After Candy and I say our goodbyes, I reluctantly pull into the parking garage of my apartment. Thinking about the incident again has fresh tears falling, and I use my new sanctuary that is my car to fall apart again.