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

at.”
    “You are good at lots of things.” Libby chewed on her bottom lip while she processed everything Mel had said. “I think it’s great, but you might want to take some business classes, design classes. Make sure you are realy prepared to succeed.” That was Libby’s plan anyway. She wanted her degree in business so she could open her own café and bakery.
    “Nah. I am kind of making this up as I go. Tony has a friend in law school that can probably point me in the right direction while I am getting set up. But now that I figured out what I want to do I don’t want to wait another three years to get started!”
    Libby nodded dumbly. “When did this happen?”
    “Weren’t you listening? My cousin got married and…”
    “Not that Mel. I was actualy talking to myself. I was just wondering when I got left behind. You are going to be in New York with your career, and Tony is in New Jersey with his career, and I am left behind.”
    “Geez! Pity party much? Mel tossed her crumpled napkin at Libby. You aren’t left behind you are going back to Florida next week, and you have lots of friends there, and you actualy like school. Libby I was miserable last year.
    You were in Talahassee, and John was in New York. Can you please try and be happy for me? “
    “I am Mel. If I were a man I would buy al my neckwear from you.”
    “Okay good. Now that that is settled— do you want to help me move? John and Parker are going to be here tomorrow morning, and we are renting a truck and driving back. You could spend the weekend. Parker is.”
    “I’d love to Mel, but I have a lot to do before Monday. I wil come by in the morning and help you pack though.” Libby wanted to say yes. That she would love to help Mel move, and see the fabulous town house where John lived. But she needed to start back to Florida on Monday, and Tony was going to be home for the weekend.
    He had told her so himself.
    “Wel I suppose I should have given you more notice.” Melanie seemed to be studying Libby’s face. She blew her bangs out of her face and started talking again.
    “Tony is coming home tomorrow night.” Libby wasn’t sure how to respond, so she decided to play it cool and ignore her nosy interfering friend. Mel was completely undiscouraged. “You never realy told me what happened with Parker.”
    “What? Nothing happened with Parker. We went out those few times with you and John, and now we are just friends.”
    “And with Tony?”
    “Nothing ever happened with him either. We are just friends. It is better this way. You were right he is too old for me anyway.”
    Mel nodded thoughtfuly. “So you aren’t going to tel me what you fought about last year?”
    “Parker and I never fight. We get along realy wel.” Libby purposely misinterpreted her question.
    Mel nodded again. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe you are being left behind a little bit, but you are doing it to yourself. When was the last time you went out on a date Libby?”
    Libby sighed in surrender. For the first time in twelve years Mel was obsessing on someone else’s love life. She had realy crappy timing. “I go out Mel. As you just pointed out I do live in Florida, so that is where I do the majority of my going out.”
    Relief spread across Mel’s face. “Okay! So dish.
    Who are we dating?”
    Damn. “Wel it isn’t serious but Brian and I spent a lot of time together last semester.” That wasn’t exactly a lie. Brian had sacrificed most of his Thursday nights helping her pass freshman accounting. And it wasn’t serious, mostly, because Brian was hopelessly devoted to his girlfriend. Not that she was disappointed seeing as Brian was a bit dul. He would probably make a briliant accountant one day, but he was stil dul.
    They chatted a little longer with Libby being as diplomatic as possible when the topic of Brian came up.
    When Mel hopped up and announced she was going home to pack Libby was glad to have some time alone with her thoughts. She needed to