Page 1 of (Not Really) Faking It With My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter one

Susan

Asudden, piercing howl shattered the quiet hum of the library. I paused, arm extended to reshelve Emily Bronte, and cocked my head. There it was again—the unmistakable sound of Baxter, the basset hound library mascot. Sighing, I slid the last book into place and headed toward the children’s section. Baxter was trained to calm children, and everyone loved him except for his howling bouts. Three other librarians and I took turns keeping him for a week out of the month. Or sometimes, depending on everyone’s schedule, I might have him longer.

Rounding the corner, I spotted Baxter parked in front of the picture books, head back, his jaws quivering as he serenaded the ceiling tiles. A police siren wailed faintly in the distance. That was no doubt the trigger for this impromptu concert.

“Shhh, now, it’s alright.” I gently rubbed his velvety ears. Baxter leaned into my hand, his soulful eyes peering up at me as if to say, this siren business is serious stuff. Can’t a hound express himself?

I stifled a laugh. “I know, but we mustn’t disturb the readers. Why don’t we...”

The double doors crashed open, jolting Baxter mid-howl. A whirlwind blew through the foyer, Emily’s vibrant dress swirling in its wake, a splash of color against the library’s serene backdrop.

“Susan!” Emily stage-whispered, skidding to a stop. “You’ll never guess what I’ve done.” I took in her dancing eyes, the impish smile tugging at her lips. My stomach did a little flip.

“Do I want to know?” I asked wryly, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, stop being such a grump.” Emily swatted my shoulder playfully. “Your life needs some shaking up.”

It was hard not to feel a bit more alive in Emily’s presence. Even the air seemed different, charged with potential. Her bubbly spirit balanced my more reserved nature. We had been best friends since eighth grade, and her loyalty was one of the few constants in my life.

“Let me guess, you signed me up for skydiving lessons?” I kept my tone light and teasing.

Emily just grinned and waggled her finger. “Not until lunch. But get ready for the surprise of your life! Meet me at Coffee Grind.” With that, she air-kissed both my cheeks and breezed out the door, leaving only a trace of perfume and a ripple of unease in her wake.

I busied myself with my usual morning tasks, trying not to dwell on Emily’s mysterious plan. But curiosity gnawed at me as I scanned books and tidied shelves. What exactly was she planning?

I pushed a cart of new arrivals over to the romance section. I had always been a sucker for a good love story, even though I didn’t have very many of my own. As I read the titles, I trailed my fingers along the glossy covers, indulging in some escapism.

“Her Cowboy Bodyguard.” “A Single Dad’s Secret Love.” My lips quirked. If only real life were like one of these passionate tales.

I imagined a handsome stranger bursting through the library doors, sweeping me into a breathless embrace. However, the only patrons were Mrs. Grace, our regular Tuesday morning Storytime volunteer, and a mom with her kid. With a slight chuckle at my fanciful thoughts, I grabbed the cart and headed over to reshelve more books.

As lunchtime neared, my nerves began to dance. I tidied up my desk and grabbed my purse, pausing to scratch Baxter behind his ears. “Wish me luck,” I told him. He blinked back solemnly. With a deep breath, I headed out to face the surprise. The bell above Coffee Grind greeted me with its familiar jingle. I spotted Emily waving wildly from our favorite corner booth.

I slid into the seat across from her, feeling both cautious and curious at the same time.

“Should I be worried?” I asked, only half joking.

Emily grinned. “Not at all! In fact, you’re going to thank me.”

I eyed Emily suspiciously as she practically vibrated with enthusiasm. “What exactly have you done?”

“I may have signed you up for an online dating site.” “Her eyes gleamed with mischief.

My stomach dropped. This was so much worse than skydiving lessons. “You didn’t.”

“I did! It’s called ‘Find a Mate on a Blind Date,’ and it matches you based on personality and interests. You chat online first, and you don't get to know the other person's name or what they look like until you meet in person. Isn’t that genius?”

I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. My palms felt clammy. “You know how I feel about that stuff.”

“Your life needs a little spice, Susan,” Emily declared, holding up her smartphone like it was a lifeline tossed into my sea of predictability. “It’s time for you to join the modern dating scene.”

“I don’t know, Emily. That world seems so...” I searched for the right word. “Impersonal.”

“Come on,” she coaxed, swiping through a colorful array of profiles on the screen. “It’s just like browsing a catalog of books, but instead of novels, you get to pick your dream guy.”

“Except books don’t judge you when you take them off the shelf,” I quipped, though the butterflies in my belly suggested that part of me was intrigued by the idea.

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