Page 5 of I'd Never Date my Brother's Best Friend

“What?” She gasps. “You’ve watched Sean’s new movie? It’s romance. The sappiest romance movie I know of. You just told me how much you hate romance, how you never watch it. You only watch thrillers.”

“I know, I know. Relax…” I groan, ready to lie my way out of the situation. The truth is that I’ve watched every movie Sean has ever starred in, but I won’t be telling her that. Nope. That little secret is staying with me and only me. I will take it to my grave.

“Relax?” She sputters. “How can I? Watching Sean’s movie is a love language. You never watch romance movies with me, and I’m your best friend!”

“You’re grasping at straws here, Evie. I’m starting to wonder if the wrong sibling went into acting with the drama you put out. Now you’re saying I’m in love with Sean? Your brother? You do realize I haven’t seen that nuisance in five years? Not only have I not seen him, I haven’t spoken to him. But somehow I’m secretly in love with him because I watch his movies? Are you listening to yourself?”

Technically, it is true. I am in love with Sean—only I don’t mention that to Evie. I don’t mention that I follow every ounce of gossip news about him and am pretty up to date with his life happenings. All the way down to the newest movies he’ll be starring in, to his latest love interest. Which recently has been no one.

“I guess you’re right,” Evelyn answers thoughtfully.

“In fact, to be honest,” I add, which is ironic since I’m about to lie. “The only reason I watched it was because I stumbled upon it while searching for a thriller sometime last week. I was just about to turn it off when I saw Sean. I thought, he’s my friend. I should support him and watch this. It’s the nice thing to do. I’m nothing, if not nice.”

“Sure.” Evelyn nods, but there is a twinkle in her eye that says she doesn’t believe one word out of my mouth as I continue.

“I’m not going to lie, it was disappointing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Sean’s rom-coms are usually overly sappy, but this one was completely over the top. It was the furthest thing from real life I think I’ve ever seen. The main character was too in love. I swear, love like that doesn’t exist. Sean played it too…”

“Too much?” Evelyn suggests.

“No. I wouldn’t say that because he’s a great actor.” I shrug. “This is on the movie itself. To me, it wasn’t realistic and I definitely won’t be watching it again.”

“Liar, liar, pants on fire.”

I freeze. Only Evelyn and I are in the office, but that isn’t Evelyn’s voice. This voice has a deeper timbre. It’s the voice I’ve only heard from the TV and my phone for the past five years. Instead of looking behind me, I look at Evelyn’s face. Her eyes are as round as saucers as her gaze lands on the person behind me; her mouth is opening and closing, but no words come out.

“Evie!” I hear the voice again, just as someone walks past me to move across the desk toward Evelyn. It’s Sean. Sean O’Connell. Are you freaking kidding me right now?

“Sean!” Evelyn flies off the chair and flings herself into her brother’s arms.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see my brother, Jamie. Just like Evelyn and I are best friends, Jamie and Sean are as well. Evelyn is crying on Sean’s shoulders while Sean hugs her tight and pats her hair.

“You knew he was coming?” I whisper to Jamie. “How long?”

“Yesterday.” Jamie smiles sheepishly. “He asked me not to tell anyone.”

“You kept the secret from me?!” I growl at my older brother. “You—”

“Jessica Stewart’s famous temper.” I hear Sean tease and turn to see him approaching me, his arms outstretched. Ew, I hate hugs, especially from Sean, who hadn’t been around in five years and happens to walk in on me criticizing his latest movie. Oh, this is so embarrassing. I try to escape, but Sean pulls me close to his body and envelopes me in the mushiest, most annoying—oh, this is actually nice—hug.

Sean’s arms feel strong around me, and to my alarm, my whole body betrays me. My heart beats faster and I feel myself relax into his embrace. He smells nice and manly, a combination of pine and a crisp fall day. I bite my lips to stop from inhaling his scent like some love starved fan. But why does he have to smell so good?! Thankfully, he releases me after just a few short seconds before he holds me at arm’s length. Looking into his eyes my knees go a bit weak. His eyes have always been the deepest shade of blue, and even now, after five years, they are lovelier than any other set of blue eyes I’ve ever seen. His hair, which he used to grow out, has now been cropped short, framing his face in just a way that makes his features even more handsome. He’s smiling, both his dimples are teasing me, making me want to lean in and…

“Did I just hear you say that you hate my new movie?” He asks, breaking through my haze of unwanted emotions and bringing me back to reality with a crash. I shrug out of his hold and take a step away from him.

Distance, I need distance.

“I don’t hate it,” I counter, proud of myself for not stuttering. “I just—uhm—”

“Web of Love is one of the highest-grossing movies ever,” he says, a glint in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. “It’s also the most widely discussed rom-com of all time. I’m not sure I understand what you would find to hate about it.”

Evie appears beside her brother and hooks her arm around his waist. “Leave her alone,” she says. “It’s not you, Jessica just doesn’t like romance.”

“Is that so?” Sean says without taking his eyes off me, the teasing glint splintering my thoughts. My poor heart is working overtime.

“It’s hard not to make it about me when she thinks I was doing too much in the movie.”

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