Free Her Best Friend's Brother by T. J. Dell

She could hear Tony’s breath with each word.
    Tingles danced across her skin at the thought of him picturing her slipping the towel off and climbing between her sheets. “That does seem to be the sensible solution.”
    “Libby?”
    “Yes, Tony?”
    “I wish I was drunker.”
    What the hel? Wow he realy sucked at this.
    “Wow you realy suck at this.”
    Tony laughed loud and warm, and the sound gave her more tingles.
    “Sorry Lib. And here I thought I was being so smooth.” He paused. “I was out of my mind last summer Libby, I couldn’t take it if you cut me out again. I need you in my life and this is a bad idea.”
    “You’re right.” Libby sighed but she was sure that in the morning she would be glad he had a caled a stop to things. “I wish you were drunker too.” That earned her a groan.
    “Are you in the bed?”
    “Yes”
    “Pul the covers up Lib. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath.” Libby did as she was told. “Go to sleep Libby. Good night.” And then he hung up. Libby threw her phone across the room.

Chapter Seven
    “You’re dropping out!” Libby felt badly that she had just announced Mel’s less than excelent news to everyone in the bakery. “What are your parents going to say?” Mel and Libby had been al but inseparable over the summer and while Libby knew Mel wasn’t exactly looking forward to the start of classes she certainly hadn’t expected this.
    “They already know Libby! They agree with me. I am not exactly the colegiate type you know. And if I withdraw now they can get a most of their tuition back. I’m not an idiot I have given this a lot of thought. If you promise to actualy listen I wil explain it to you.” Libby felt bad for yeling. “Of course.”
    “Do you remember the tie I made for John last spring when Frank got married?” Mel’s cousin Frankie had gotten married the spring before. Melanie had found what she proclaimed was the perfect dress in the perfect shade of lilac, but she had been extremely disappointed when John hadn’t been able to find a tie that matched her dress. This had seemed, to Libby, a tad ridiculous— but that was just Mel’s way. So, Mel had taken it upon herself to make John a tie that went perfectly with her dress.
    “John got so many complements on it, and a couple of his frat brothers even offered to buy it off him. Not that he would sel it of course. When his Fraternity threw their end of the year formal I designed at least a dozen new ties for them. Mom and Dad agreed to loan me the amount the colege refunds them for this year’s tuition, and I am going to move in with John in New York.”
    Libby was reasonably sure that some piece of vital information had been lost somewhere, but years of patience had taught her how to coax the information out of her friend. “Okay. So what is the money for?”
    “Supplies sily.”
    Okay maybe she was little out of practice. Libby silently counted to ten. “What sort of supplies?”
    “Oh mostly silks, and some satins. And I wil need a better sewing machine. And John has a friend that is going to set up a web site for me, so I wil have to pay him…”
    “You are quitting school to make neckties?”
    “Not just neckties. Scarves, and pocket hankies.
    And I am looking into a leather working class to decide if I want to try my hand at belts. I am starting with men’s accessories because I think there is more room in that market. Plus John’s mom is a surgeon and she promised to talk me up to her surgeon friends, and most of them are men. When the brand get’s going I would like to do something with women’s accessories.”
    “You’re moving to New York!”
    “Catch up Libby.” Mel’s was smiling again. “I love John, and I am tired of only having one weekend a month together. It’s going to be great. You are in Florida most of the time anyway. We can probably see each other even more with John’s airline hook up. I want to do this Libby. I finaly found something I am good