Some Kind of Paradise

By Heather Mar-Gerrison

Brooklyn was getting married to his childhood sweetheart Sandy...
I had mixed feelings about it – Brooklyn was my brother’s best friend and I’d always had a bit of a crush on him – but he was three years older than me and therefore kind of out of my league – particularly with my brother breathing down his neck... Oh, and there was the small fact that he was also straight.
We’d always got on really well though – and there was that kiss in the garden on my brother’s eighteenth birthday... I’ll never forget that – it gave me hope that maybe he wasn’t as straight as he thought he was.
Anyway, of course I was invited – since my brother was to be the best man and I was, on the one hand, delighted to go – to share in the best day of his life – even if it was up there with the worst days of mine – Nana’s funeral... fluffy getting run over... Yes, I was in love with the groom; had been since I was thirteen and he was first brought round by my big brother after they met at college. This guy had been the man of my dreams since then and I knew I’d be in love with him forever – and he was marrying someone else... bummer huh?
This is number four of the Boys Next Door series. These guys are a new group of friends, with the usual helping of adorable guys, a little drama and just enough naughty bits to keep you turning the pages...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather Mar-Gerrison
• Release date: Jun 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310652851

Heather Mar-Gerrison

I love to write M/M romance and as a sucker for a HEA, you're guaranteed one in my books. #happyheatherafters

Book preview

Prologue

Madison

Brooklyn was getting married to his childhood sweetheart Sandy…

I had mixed feelings about it. Brooklyn was my brother’s best friend and I’d always had a bit of a crush on him – but he was three years older than me and therefore kind of out of my league – particularly with my brother breathing down his neck… Oh, and there was the small fact that he was also straight.

We’d always got on really well though – and there was that kiss in the garden on my brother’s eighteenth birthday… I’ll never forget that. It gave me hope that maybe he wasn’t as straight as he thought he was.

Anyway, of course I was invited – since my brother was to be the best man and I was, on the one hand, delighted to go; to share in the best day of his life, even if it was up there with the worst days of mine – Nana’s funeral… fluffy getting run over… Yes, I was in love with the groom. I had been since I was thirteen and he was first brought round by my big brother after they met at college. This guy had been the man of my dreams since then and I knew I’d be in love with him forever – but he was marrying someone else… bummer huh?

*

So, there I was – miserably counting down the days with a feeling of dread and a heavy heart. The wedding was now only six days away, I was in the town centre absently stirring my latte and staring out of the window across to New Look, and trying to decide between the two pairs of jeans I’d just been trying on in there when something caught my eye. It was a very loved-up couple snogging each other outside the shop. I was a little disgusted at the amount of tongue he was thrusting (yes – thrusting. There was really no other word for it) down her throat. Ew, I thought, seriously get a room… That’s so totally gross.

It was then that I noticed with a thrill of horror who she was. Holy Fuck! Is that Sandy?

I immediately got my phone out and snapped a photo of them – in fact I snapped about twenty, just to be sure.

The only thing now was – what did I do with my evidence? If I went and told Brooklyn he’d certainly never forgive me for breaking his heart. Okay, she’d still be out of the running, but that didn’t really leave any room for me – the fiancé outer….

I decided to call my brother instead.

His cheery voice came through the receiver loud and clear, Hey Shortcake. What’s up?

I was so stressed, it didn’t even irritate me that he was calling me Shortcake, I’m having a nervous breakdown. I said breathlessly.

I knew he’d be rolling his eyes at my drama, What’s happened – broke a nail? He sniggered. Ever since I came out he’s been making stupid comments like that.

I decided to be the grown-up between the two of us and ignored his childish comment, No, I said primly, I’m having a coffee. I was trying to decide between two pairs of jeans and then there were these really great shoes… The shoes really were great – I just wasn’t sure if I could afford those as well as the jeans…

I didn’t get far with my explanation before he was taking the mickey out of me again. He sucked in a breath over his teeth, Wow, he said, that’s a toughie. He let out a snort of mirth at my expense.

Hilarious, I deadpanned, And I was just staring off into space trying to figure out which pair would match my new cropped top when this couple spoiled my vision.

Look, Mads, it’s really nice to talk to you and everything, but where are you going with this? he asked, beginning to sound slightly irritable, I’m at work you know? Some of us do you know?

I sighed, I was gonna have to stop beating around the bush and get to the point, It was some dude with an unfeasibly long tongue and Sandy.

Sandy? That had gotten his attention…

Yes, Sandy, I said beginning to sound a little hysterical even to myself, and she was on the receiving end of the unfeasibly long tongue, if you catch my drift.

"She was kissing the guy?" He really didn’t believe me.

I could have screamed. "Well, duh." I can’t help it, whenever Steve and I get into a conversation it always manages to revert us to being about nine…

"Are you sure?" See, I told you he didn’t believe me…

Do you want me to send you the pictures? I asked sarcastically.

He paused momentarily and I knew he was thinking about what to do for the best. He surprised me with his next words, "Actually – yes. Please do. We can’t have our boy marrying her if she’s seeing someone else… What the hell’s wrong with her? Why would she do that?"

I thought about his questions for longer than I should have done and then I answered him far more candidly than I should too. Honestly? I have no idea, I said, "I sure wouldn’t…"

No, you wouldn’t, he said softly, Send the pics over and I’ll work out what to do.

I sent them all – it took a while.

He called me back after half an hour. Oh, my God, dude, he said, "It really is her." He sounded absolutely stunned.

I rolled my eyes, "I know that." Jeez, sometimes…

He paused, I wasn’t sure if you’d been mistaken – you know – wishful thinking and all that? I could tell he was grinning.

I took a deep breath and tried to fight the lump in my throat, I want him to be happy, I said, yes, I have strong feelings for him… What was wrong with me today? Blurting out all my best-kept-secret-feelings to my brother? "But I wouldn’t make something up just to try to get him to like me better… I’m not that pathetic. I know it’s never gonna happen…"

I never said you were pathetic, Shortcake, he said kindly, And he likes you well enough anyway… he trailed off, making me wonder if he’d ever said anything about me – but again, that was just wishful thinking… I guess he just got caught up with her, somehow…

I didn’t make any comment about what he said with regard to Brooklyn liking me. I knew he liked me, but that wasn’t really enough… Please, I groaned, trying to change the subject, "my name isn’t Shortcake – and I’m not that short anymore, anyway…"

He chuckled. Sorry mate, he said, you’ll always be Shortcake to me.

I rolled my eyes. Great, I groaned, I’ll probably always be Shortcake to Brooklyn too.

There was silence at his end. Finally, he spoke. Yeah, maybe, was all he said.

Chapter 1 – The bombshell

Brooklyn

Yo buddy, Whassup? I heard Steve take a deep breath at his end of the phone and instantly knew something was bothering him – call me psychic if you will – but I think it’s just that we’ve been best mates for a very long time.

Are you busy, mate?

Well, I’ve got to go out in about half an hour. I’ve got to go and pick up Sandy – some stupid rehearsal thing at the hotel, that I need like a hole in the head, like we really need it, but you know what girls are like.

I wasn’t all that sure that all girls were like Sandy, if I’m honest, since she’d been my only girlfriend from way back when were little more than kids.

Sandy was all about having everything done her way – and I was all for an easy life, so I went along with everything she said.

Steve cleared his throat, "Right – um, well, have you got a few minutes, like, right now?"

He sounded weird, which made me feel uncomfortable. I couldn’t let him down if something was wrong. Course I have. Come on over. I frowned as I ended the call. What the hell was wrong with him?

He was around in record time. I answered the door. He looked so serious, I was beginning to really freak out, Oh, my God. Who died? I asked.

He shook his head, No one died, He said but he was still not smiling or looking any less serious, I think you should sit down.

What the fuck? Seriously, dude, I urged, tell me what’s going on. You’re really beginning to freak me out.

He nodded, running his hands through his hair that was exactly the same shade of red as his brother’s. A really rich red, that was somehow adorable and sexy all at once on Madison and did absolutely nothing for me on Steve… Weird. I know, he said, I’m really sorry and there’s no easy way to break this to you. It’s Sandy.

Sandy? My heart lurched. What the hell had happened to her while I’d been thinking about (or rather lusting after) Steve’s brother? What’s happened to her?

Nothing mate. You just... He rummaged in his jacket pocket and passed me his phone, You just need to see this.

Frowning, I took it off him and suddenly it all made sense. I was looking at a picture of Sandy with that guy she worked with. Cameron or something like that I think his name was; it was the one she never stopped talking about, anyway – and I could see why, now... He was ten different kinds of hot… Oh, I said, the light dawning, Right. I see. I nodded, wondering vaguely why I didn’t feel more… well, anything really. I kind of looked at it as if I was looking at someone else’s life about to go down the toilet – but actually, it was mine. I looked back up at Steve, Well, uh, thanks, I guess. This changes things, doesn’t it? He