Best Man — Christine Zolendz

***A SHORT Story***

Her middle name should've been MAYHEM.
Trouble follows her wherever she goes.
I just wanted to call her MINE.
And I screwed that up years ago,
But I'm back to make up for lost time,
And missed chances.
I just have to figure out how to make
Maddie Cross want me,
All over again.

We should call ourselves a CLICHÉ.
It was stupid and naive to fall for Luke Gunner.
It was doomed before it even started.
My brother's best friend.
The steely-eyed bad boy.
And I fell. So damn hard.
Because that's what I do.
I find the worst thing to do--and I do it.
And now, he's back.
And damn it, I want him,
All over again.