One Simple Step (Journey #3)

“Yes, Al, it’s me,” she said dryly in that way of hers that I loved. “I missed you, too.”


“I can’t believe you’re really here. You really are, right?”

She reached up, prying my fingers off of her neck and gave me a wide smile. “Mmhmm, and I brought the hubby with me.” She pointed a thumb over her shoulder, and I immediately saw Chase sitting on the couch, giving me that signature Chase wink. And who was that...

“Oh my God, Ben?”

My feet were immediately lifted off the ground, and I was twirled around in circles until I felt dizzy. “What are you doing here? How are you here? Did you guys come together?” I blew out a breath as my eyes started to focus after all of the spinning, and Ben collapsed onto the couch next to me.

“Well, Leah called Mom to tell her that her and Chase were planning a little trip down here, so I figured I would tag along. It isn’t every day I get to visit with my little sis, and get a vacation. Did you miss me, kid?” He reached over and stuck his hand in my hair; I’m sure making it into even more of a tangled mess. It was something he had done ever since I could remember, and it drove me nuts, but at the same time was so comforting. It reminded me of home.

“Of course, but don’t think I’m dumb. I know Mom put you up to this. Did she think I needed checking up on or something?” I eyed the three of them, and of course got an eye roll from Leah. I had actually missed those.

“Ally, I have two kids at home, who I love to pieces, and work a full-time, ass kicking job, but it’s nice to have a break every once in a while. Don’t you think I need a vacation with my sexy husband sometimes?” Chase snorted, and reached over to pull her on to his lap, burying his nose in her hair.

They still to this day acted like newlyweds. It was refreshing, and I was glad my best friend had found her happily ever after. Theirs was the real deal.

“And what better place to visit than where my best friend is? Now, Ben here, he might possibly be doing a little bit of spying action for your mom, but what’s the big deal? You look like you’re doing really well, and apparently, you are.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me.

“Care to explain where you were all night? We got in around five this morning, and I know you weren’t up before then. Remy wouldn’t spill anything.” Leah shot a dirty look at Remy, who just smiled brightly in return.

“I was...” My eyes darted back and forth between her and Ben.

Out of my two brothers, Ben and Owen, Ben had secretly always been my favorite.

Where Owen was the more outgoing of the two, and our personalities were really similar, Ben was the complete opposite. He was quiet and reserved, studied his ass off in school instead of being a social butterfly like me, or a sports nut like Owen, and continued that way into college.

He finished his accounting degree in record time, and was then instantly hired at one of the biggest companies in Indiana. To say I was proud of my big brother was a definite understatement.

“I think we can talk about that later,” I replied to Leah out of the side of my mouth, pointing my head in Ben’s direction.

Ben might be quiet, but he was also protective, just like Owen. Although the two of them had been a few years ahead of me in school, they somehow always knew my whereabouts, every single one of my friends, and whom I was dating or even interested in dating during high school.

So, where my parents had been more than supportive about my shotgun wedding to Teddy, Ben and Owen had been pretty pissed off. The few holidays or visits that we made to Indiana were really awkward. It had actually been a little funny to see Teddy squirm under their glares, their giant frames and personalities intimidating to pretty much anyone.

“Well, even if you did come to spy on me, I’m glad you’re all here. Especially you, Ben. I’ve missed having my big brother around. I just wish I would’ve known, I could’ve tried to get my schedule switched around at work a little bit so we could hang out more.”

“Yeah, she has an in with the boss,” Remy piped up. “He would do anything for her. Isn’t that right, Al?”

I gave Remy a look, but promptly ignored her. We weren’t getting into that right now. Leah would give me the third degree if Nick was brought up, and probably want to meet him right this second, when I didn’t even know what was going on between the two of us. I mean, technically, I was still married. Did that make me a whore?

Leah never really took a liking to Teddy, even though he was Chase’s best friend. She thought he was a man whore, and nothing else. Her attitude towards Teddy had been one of the reasons I hadn’t informed her that we were getting married, and instead forced Chase to bring her out to Vegas.

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