The temptation of my brother-in-law

Chapter Two Hundred and Sixteen

Malachi’s POV

The call came at seven in the morning.

I was making coffee while Alicia fed Lia, both of them still in pajamas, the early morning light soft through the kitchen windows. My phone buzzed and I saw Travis’s name on the screen.

"It’s Travis," I told Alicia.

"This early? That’s unusual."

I answered. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing’s wrong. Actually, everything’s right." He sounded happy, genuinely happy in a way I hadn’t heard from him in years. "Emily and I set a date. For the wedding. Two months from now. December fifteenth."

"That’s soon."

"We’ve been together almost a year. We’re both sober. We’re both in a good place. Why wait?" He paused. "I’m calling to ask if you’ll be my best man."

The request caught me off guard. I looked at Alicia, who was watching me with curiosity while Lia continued eating, oblivious to the conversation happening around her.

"You want me to be your best man," I repeated.