Love Sex & Other Games (Part 1) by Cheryl McIntyre Page A

this isn’t humor I feel.
    “Here’s something only my dear little brother and I know,” I say saluting him. He rises, uneasy, but I ignore him and keep going. “That year, before I left for college, I entrusted Miles—one third of our conjoined trio—with the secret that I was deeply, hopelessly, madly in love with our best friend.” My voice cracks, emotion trying to clog my throat, but I choke it down. I’ve had years to come to terms with this. Not that I’ve gotten over it— obviously —but I’ve accepted it. Mostly.
    “I told him I was going to go make something of myself so that when I came back, I’d be worthy of her. Then,” I meet Miles eyes over the heads of his wedding party, “I asked you to take care of her for me. And you sure did, didn’t you, baby bro?”
    “Cooper,” he says, his voice full of warning. For what? He’s already done his worst. There’s nothing he can do to me that could ever hurt more. I keep my gaze set on him. I refuse to look at Rosie, to see the expression on her face. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. She vowed to love my brother until the day she dies.
    “What?” I ask, feigning ignorance. “I was asked to toast the beautiful couple.” I pick up my glass of champagne and hold it high. “To the lovely bride and the man who was worthy of her love. Take care of her.”
    I empty my glass, toss the microphone to Leslie, and then I walk out of the reception hall and into the cool night air.
     
     
    ~*~
     
     
    Emerson
     
     
    Oh, the irony .
    I sit totally still, stunned by Cooper’s speech. I guess because while everyone else is entertained or shocked or angry over what he just did—choosing the day of my sister’s wedding to reveal his feelings for her—I am in awe. In awe that a man could be so brave to stand before his friends and family and speak the truth, revealing what’s been hidden inside of his heart. In awe that he knows exactly how he feels, and feels it so deeply .
    I sympathize with him. Sorry he had held onto all those feelings until it was too late. And, to be totally honest, I’m jealous.
    There is no way in hell I could do what he did. No matter how much I’ve always wanted to.
    My eyes shift between my sister’s face, full of a multitude of emotions, none of which I can place, and Miles, his expression clear and easy to read. Guilty, anxious, and angry. I drop my gaze, unable to watch them any longer. Leslie, my sister’s best female friend since freshman year of college, rushes to her side. Several of the bridesmaids join them and they trail off into the hallway toward the bathrooms. My mother’s heals click across the floor as she brings up the rear.
    I have no idea why everyone is chasing after Rosie like she’s just received bad news. She’s married. She’s happy. Cooper’s words should mean little to her, yet she’s acting as if her entire reception has been ruined.
    Miles heads for the open bar, his posse of groomsmen surrounding him—everyone except Cooper. I feel a stronger urge to chase him than I do my own sister, but I’ve been doing that my whole life…
    And me, I’m left alone at the bridal table, staring down at Cooper’s abandoned chair. I notice his cell phone laying forgotten on the floor. He must have dropped it during his speech. Or maybe when he was trying to singlehandedly consume the contents of the bar.
    Now I know why .
    I toe off one shoe, then the other, leaving them under the table, and duck my head as I stand, hoping to sneak away without being bombarded by great aunts and distant cousins with questions I don’t have answers to. By Cooper’s seat, I kneel, scooping up his phone and the bottle of whiskey he stowed just beyond the draping tablecloth, and discreetly head toward the exit.
    The air is brisk, the sky clear. The forecast had called for rain today, but as luck would have it, it ended up being a gorgeous day for a wedding. I sigh, my breath billowing out in front