Page 27 of I'd Never Date my Brother's Best Friend

“Don’t be so stubborn,” Jamie groans. “We’ve been on this for a week. Just say yes.”

I take a sip of my juice before turning back to my brother. “My answer is no. Sue me.”

“I would if I could,” he retorts.

“Okay, enough,” Evelyn interrupts, standing between us. She glances from me to Jamie before rolling her eyes. “Let’s relax, okay?”

“He started it.” I point to Jamie, but Evelyn shakes her head. “No, you started it, Jess. You said, ‘Sue me’,” and he responded accordingly.”

I gasp, narrowing my eyes at Evelyn before nodding at my brother. “Thank you, James Stewart. First, you side with the enemy. Now, you’re taking my best friend away from me.”

Evelyn laughs. “Stop with the drama, Jess. Just listen to us, okay?” She walks toward me and grabs my shoulders. “Can you just give this a try? Let Sean coach you for a while. See how it goes. If you don’t like it, you can always opt out.”

I sigh, feeling myself being dragged into this. “Why do I feel like the three of you want to use my life as an experiment?” I ask. “It’s not like you three are in any serious relationships, so why me?”

“Don’t change the conversation,” Evelyn scolds, shaking my shoulders. “Focus on me.”

“Okay, okay.” I nod. “The only way I’ll agree is if you explain how it will work. I must be aware of every stage; that’s the only way I’ll consider this.”

“Okay.” Evelyn turns to Jamie. “Hurry, Jamie. Go get Sean.”

As Jamie hurries out of my house, I shake my head and start to pace. “Oh great. I can’t believe I agreed to this.”

Knowing Sean would walk into my house any moment from now on has my blood pressure mounting every second. I haven’t seen him since he first made this proposal to me, but judging by the effort Jamie and Evelyn are putting in, he’s been working very hard behind the scenes. He seems to have convinced them that this is a good idea.

I was sitting at the island, writing, this morning when Jamie and Evelyn arrived at my house. That was a little over two hours ago. Since then, they’ve been trying to convince me to let Sean be my dating coach. One would think Sean was paying them for this promotion. My door swings open, and I snap toward it just in time to see Sean and Jamie walk in.

Sean is dressed in his usual manner: casual black pants, a white polo shirt, and a dense aura of gorgeousness and magnetism. I have a fairly big house, but whenever Sean steps inside, it suddenly feels cramped.

“Hello, Jess.” He smiles at me, his steps slow and confident. “You wanted to see me?”

“Drop the act,” I tell him. “I know you sent Jamie and Evie to convince me, and they’re doing a good job.”

He shrugs. “They know what’s good for you,” he answers, annoying me. I take a deep breath. “I have some questions to ask you concerning this arrangement. But before then, I need to know this.” I hold his gaze despite the wild churning in my belly. “What’s your gain in this? Why are you so adamant about being my coach? I don’t see why you should care, especially after I’ve rejected you a few times.”

Sean sighs frantically. “You see, that’s where you’re wrong. I do care. You’re my friend, I care about you, of course. I just want you to be happy.”

My heart is jumping hoops within my rib cage, and I must remind myself that Sean’s love is platonic and very sibling-oriented. Disappointment courses through me at this realization, and I know that if I don’t focus on something or someone else, this attraction for Sean will get out of hand, and I will fall deeply in love with him. There’s only one way that will go, and it’s heartbreak. Maybe his acting as my dating coach isn’t a terrible idea. Once he starts to find a man for me, it’ll sink in my head that he doesn’t romantically see me at all. And should he successfully find a man, I’ll have somewhere else to turn my affections.

“Okay.” I nod at Sean. “So, how will this work?”

“You’re agreeing to this?” Evelyn is suddenly beside me, hugging me close. “Yay! I can’t wait to see who you end up with.”

“Probably another grump like her,” Jamie fires from the couch.

For the first time, Sean doesn’t join Jamie in teasing me. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t end up with a grump,” he says. “What Jess needs is sunshine. It’ll be the perfect balance. She’s the grump.”

I don’t know whether to be offended or to take it in stride. I decide on the latter. “Why do I feel like a sacrificial lamb?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Evelyn says. “We’re all on your side.” She grabs my arm and leads me back to the island. “Sit down. We’ll take care of all the details.”

“I want to be involved in every little detail,” I argue.

Evelyn ignores me and turns to her brother, who is already whipping out a pad and pen. A reluctant laugh escapes my lips. Sean seems to be taking this job very seriously. To my shock, I feel myself starting to relax and go with the flow. What’s the worst that could happen? It can’t be worse than the personal choices I’ve made by myself.

“So what options do we have?” She asks.

“We need to plan events where Jessica meets people.” Jamie says.

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