The Friendship Pact (Winston Brothers) Read online

  Contents

  Contents

  Title Page

  Also by J.L. Beck

  Also by Stacey Lewis

  Copyright

  Note to Readers

  Newsletter

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  The Baby Arrangement

  The Baby Mistake

  The Baby Contract

  About the Authors

  Punishing Their Virgin

  Teasing Daddy's Best Friend

  Their Best Friend's Little Sister

  Taking What's His (Bad Boy Alpha's #1)

  The Billionaire's Nanny

  Their Spoiled Princess

  Mr. Alpha (Mr. Series #1)

  Mr. Heartbreaker (Mr. Series #2)

  His Obsession

  Their Spoiled Virgin

  Their Spoiled Brat

  Hung

  Off Limits

  Big Bad Daddies: A MFM Romance

  Seducing the Virgin (Sold to the Billionaire #1)

  Seduced by the Billionaire (Sold to the Billionaire #2)

  Taken by the Billionaire (Sold to the Billionaire #3)

  Lumberjack Love

  Babysitting Love (A Single Dad Romance #1)

  C#ck Tease (My Dad's Best Friend Romance #1)

  Extra Credit

  Their Virgin

  Bossy (An Office Romance #1)

  Dirty Deeds (An Office Romance #2)

  Stepbrother Daddy

  Filthy (A Stepbrother Romance #1)

  Royal Prick (A Stepbrother Romance #2)

  Dangerous Ties (A Ties Novel #1)

  Severed Ties (A Ties Novel #2)

  Bittersweet Reunion (The Complete Series 1-5)

  Nashville Secrets

  Save Me From Myself

  Everything I Shouldn’t

  Pretending He’s You (re-releasing mid-2018)

  Everybody but Us (releasing late 2018)

  Nashville U (as Stacey Mosteller)

  Looking for Trouble

  Looking for Pleasure (releasing mid-2018)

  Novella's

  Never Wanted More

  Written with J.L. Beck

  Big Bad Daddies: A MFM Romance

  The Baby Arrangement (The Winston Brothers #1)

  Copyright © 2018 by JL Beck & Stacey Lewis

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Cover Design and Formatting by Stacey Lewis

  Thank you for purchasing this book.

  You rock for supporting indie authors! We hope that you enjoy this book, and look forward to reading your reviews.

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  Best Friends forever. That’s what we said. I met Reed Winston when we were kids and I moved in next door to him, his two rowdy brothers, and his sweet parents. We’ve always been friends, and his whole family was there for me when my parents died in a car accident almost two years ago. Losing my parents almost killed me. They were my rock, the only family I had, and losing them was like losing a piece of my soul. But in my lowest moment, the Winstons’ fought hard and I was able to stay with them instead of having to move to a different state to live with an aunt and uncle I barely knew. They took me in even though they didn’t have to, and gave me a home filled to the brim with love.

  Living with them didn’t stop me from falling in love with their son though. If anything, being so close to him day in and day out made my feelings so much stronger. Reed claimed my heart before he even knew he was doing it, and I’m going to share with you the night I realized that Reed Winston was the one for me. The one where he went from my crush to my everything.

  That particular night wasn’t like anything I’d experienced before. It was my first date with Danny Roberts, one of the hottest guys in school. He was a heartbreaker, but I didn’t care. I just wanted someone to tell me I was pretty and maybe give me my first kiss. The only reason I said I’d go out with him was to make Reed jealous. I wanted to push him over the edge and make him admit he had feelings for me too

  “So, this date you’re going on…” Reed plops down on my bed, his bright blue eyes staring up into mine. His voice has the power to make me weak in the knees, and when you add the way his thick, rich brown hair flops over his forehead when he leans towards me, well, it’s like he was built to make girls stupid.

  As much as I want to stretch out beside him, I can’t let his voice and his handsome face distract me. I have a date. A real one. My first one. I’m not about to let him ruin it. Not when he doesn’t want me. Someone else does, so it’s time to let go of my childish crush.

  “What about it?” I try to act nonchalant as I pull a dress out of my closet and hold it against my body, tilting my head and eyeing myself in the mirror. I know I’m far from perfect. My body is still filling out, but dressing up for a date makes me feel pretty, and that’s all that matters to me tonight.

  My mom always told me I was the prettiest little girl she’d ever seen. I’m going to hold onto that thought for as long as I can. The memories I have of her voice have long since started to fade, making all the little things I do still remember that much more important.

  Reed sighs, his smoldering gaze meeting mine in the mirror. “I don’t like it, Fallon. I don’t like him, and I definitely don't think this date is a good idea. You’re not old enough to date.”

  My face falls, and I clench my hands into fists, the fabric of the dress wrinkling in my grasp. “I don’t really care what you think, Reed. You should just be happy for me, instead of coming in here to tell me how I shouldn’t go.”

  The look I give him basically says he needs to either shut his mouth now, or get the hell out of my room. I tell myself I don’t care what he has to say. Me going on a date, or not going on one, isn’t any of his business. If he doesn’t want me to go, he should give me a reason to cancel. One that’s not just “I don’t like it.”

  “I am happy for you.” Reed tries to cover up his anger, but I know him well enough to know he’s pissed, and not just because of the words he said just a few seconds ago.

  Exasperation makes my next words sound more harsh than I intend, but I can’t stop myself fro
m saying, “I didn’t tell you that you were too young to date Laura.” I say her word like it’s a curse, like the name is something nasty in my mouth. Him spending the last few months with his tongue down her throat and his hand down her pants has just about killed me.

  Reed rolls his eyes, a slight smirk pulling at his way-too-kissable lips. “I’m older than you, Fallon, and I’m a guy. I know what guys want and a girl like you is exactly what they’re all looking for.” I can feel my blood pressure rising at his chauvinistic words. Reed doesn’t understand how I feel, partly because I haven’t told him, and partly because I know he won’t understand. He doesn’t see me as anything more than the little sister he never had…or wanted.

  “Whatever, Reed. Get out of my room so that I can get ready.” When he doesn’t make a move for the door I point towards it, giving him a dirty look. He finally stands when he sees the look on my face, obviously seeing how serious I am about kicking him out.

  He stops directly in front of me, his breath fanning against my cheek when he leans in. He’s so close my heartbeat starts pounding in my chest. Is this it? Is he finally going to kiss me? No. None of that happens, and when he says, “I’m just trying to watch out for you,” my heart breaks just a little more.

  “Try less then. I don’t need you to protect me, Reed. I need you to be my friend.” It hurts so much to say that word when I know it’s the last thing I want him to be.

  In my eyes, Reed would never be just a friend. He’s my crush, the first boy I ever thought of kissing, and the man I’ll never have a chance with, because I’m too scared to make the first move. What if I kiss him and he rejects me? I’m not sure our relationship will survive the humiliation.

  “I am your friend, Fallon. I’ll always be here to watch over you, even when you don’t want me too. That’s what friends do.” His smile is dazzling, and his deep blue eyes are locked on mine, making me want to lean into him, but I don’t. I can’t.

  “Sure, Reed,” I placate him. “Now get out. I need to finish getting ready.”

  This time he listens, walking out of my bedroom and closing the door behind him without another word.

  I want fling myself on my bed and cry, but honestly, what good will that do? It won’t change anything. Reed is never going to be mine, and I am never going to be his. The sooner I accept that, the easier things will be between us.

  He has no idea the feelings I harbor for him, and he probably never will. Tonight I’m determined to find a way to let go of the crush I have on Reed Winston.

  Tonight I’m going to give up on the idea of us ever being more than just friends.

  It’s strange how angry knowing she’s going on a date with that douche canoe tonight makes me. Normally I never get mad, but this time it seems like what she’s doing is personal. As much as I want to forbid her from going, I don’t. Instead, I bite my tongue and go outside to throw the football around with Ryker and Remy, to stop myself from going back inside the house to tell her she couldn’t go on a date with that idiot.

  “You’re going tonight right?” Ryker interrupts my thoughts with a question. I nod, throwing the football back to him. He tosses it to Remy who tosses it back to me.

  “Fallon’s going too?” Remy quips. I narrow my eyes at him. My brothers don’t know how much Fallon means to me. She’s more than the best friend she claims to be but I’ll never confess it. Not to her, and definitely not to my brothers.

  “Yup. She’s going with that asshat Danny. I guess he asked her out on a date or something.” I shrug my shoulders pretending not to care even though deep down I fucking do. Knowing I’m going to graduate this year, while Fallon will still have another year here without me watching over her with eagle eyes kills me.

  “That’s what I heard.” Ryker agrees, not even trying to hide his smirk. “I also heard he’s not much of a gentlemen, so I’ll be keeping an eye on them tonight.”

  Freezing, I hope I didn’t hear what just came out of his mouth. “What did you just say?” I barely catch the ball as it’s thrown back to me, tightening my grip on the pigskin when it almost slips through my fumbling fingers.

  “I said,” he draws out the word into two syllables, “I’m going to watch over them tonight. I don’t trust him, especially not after the things Eric and Adam heard him say about the last girl he took out on a ‘date.’” He uses two fingers on each hand to make quotes when he says the word “date” and I finally understand the meaning of the phrase “seeing red.”

  Before I realize it, I’m taking a defiant step towards Ryker, intent on forcing him to tell me what he’s heard. I knew this date thing was a bad idea. His eyes widen when he sees what I’m sure is the crazy in my own, and I stop. This is my brother. He can watch over her too, right? I mean I’m not her babysitter, and Ryker is almost as close to her as I am.

  Ryker continues before I can say anything else. “We all know you’ll be too busy with your tongue down Laura’s throat. How are you going to keep an eye on her and keep Laura happy? She’s already so damn jealous of your friendship with Fallon she can barely see straight. Remy and I can watch over her while you do your thing.”

  My teeth grind together, because even if I don’t want to admit it, Ryker is right. Laura always has me distracted with something, and forcing myself to keep an eye on Fallon on top of it is going to be hard as hell. That still doesn’t mean I want Ryker and Remy watching over her.

  It’s my job. As her friend. As her almost brother…It’s my job to protect her.

  “It’s fine.” I wave off his words. “I’m going to tell Laura I’m staying home. That way I can chill with you guys and see how this whole dating thing goes.”

  The look on my brothers’ faces tells me they my idea is going to backfire and I’m not sure why I even bother lying to them. One day this whole mess will make sense, right? Maybe one day I’ll have the balls to tell Fallon how I feel about her. Today is not that day though.

  “So you’re okay with the date then?” Ryker taunts, and my eyes narrow to slits.

  “Of course I’m okay with it. She’s a big girl, one who’s old enough to make her own choices” I cringe at the words as I say them, because they sound completely false. Fallon is capable of making her own choices, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Everything in me screams to tell her how I feel, but I can’t make the words come. Every time I try, my palms sweat and my heart pounds like it’s trying to come out of my chest. I get tongue-tied and end up saying something moronic that makes her look at me like she thinks I’m crazy. She’s probably right. She makes me crazy.

  Ryker’s eye roll indicates he doesn’t believe a single word I’m saying, “If you say so, Reed.” He walks away from me, and as much as I want to follow him, to give him more excuses and lies, I’m frozen in place as I think about Fallon.

  I’ve liked Fallon since the day she moved in next door, and I know it’s painfully obvious to everyone but her. Yet, I can’t make myself ruin years of friendship for the possible chance she feels the same way. If I tell her I want to date her and she doesn’t feel the same, I’m not sure I’ll survive it.

  “What the hell ever,” I grumble, striding across the back yard after Remy and Ryker, who are now whispering with their heads close together. Neither look at me, and that only aggravates me further.

  Ryker turns slowly, a smirk pulling at his lips and mischief in his eyes, but when he sees the pissed off expression on my face, he sighs. “Look, until you want to admit you have feelings for her, out loud, things will stay the way they are. She’s going to go out on dates, Reed. Fallon deserves to be happy, and she deserves someone who wants more than to just watch pathetically from afar.”

  The air rushes from my lungs and I’m stunned into silence, realizing that Ryker, even if he is younger than me, totally fucking gets it. Even worse, he’s right. I can’t do or say a damn thing until I admit to Fallon how I feel and that means swallowing down my fear of losing our friendship and giving into
whatever might be.

  The only problem? The fear of the unknown keeps me frozen in place, and as badly as I want Fallon to be mine, I’d rather have her as a friend then risk it all.

  It kills me to see Fallon wearing a skintight red dress, her tits practically hanging out, and wearing more makeup than I’ve ever seen before. She looks different in the best kind of way, but she isn’t dressed that way for me. I want to punch myself in the face as I watch Danny guide her around the party, showing her off to all of his friends, our friends, like she’s a prize he’s won.

  “Want to tone it down? You look like you’re ready to rip his eyes out of his head and shove em’ up his ass.” Ryker doesn’t attempt to hold in his laugh as he sips on something swirling inside a red solo cup. I want to grab it from him and down whatever it is, but I’m staying sober tonight. With Fallon here I need to keep my head clear and my reflexes sharp. There’s no way in hell her and Danny are going to leave my sight.

  “Stop busting my balls and drink your girly drink,” I all but yell over the pounding of music in the room. Grant sure does know how to throw a party. My eyes scan the crowd for Fallon once more. She’s impossible to miss in that tight dress. I can see every guy watching her tonight.

  Ryker glares. “It’s whiskey, asshole, but thanks for being a dick.” I smile at his pissy tone, but dismiss him easily as I lean against the wall, hands in my pockets and watching my fellow classmates drink themselves sick.

  I’m a total buzzkill as the night goes on, but honestly I don’t care. I watch as Ryker makes his way through the crowd, girls throwing themselves at him, hoping he will take them into one of the rooms in this house and make all their dreams come true.

  My attention is so focused on Ryker and the thousand and one other things happening in the room I don’t notice Laura, my not-really-girlfriend, who I told I wasn’t going out tonight, walking toward me with a pissed off look on her face.