Page 50 of I'd Never Date my Best Friend's Brother

For the first time in more than half a year, I actually want to spend time with the people I love. It feels good to be me again.

Chapter 24

Jamie

“I can’t believe how you manhandled my sister in front of the entire town last night!”

The sternness in Sean’s voice throws me completely off. I turn to look at his face and see the hard expression there.

He can’t be mad at me. He’s the one who set all this up.

Words fail me as I put one foot in front of the other as we jog down a street in town. I’m about to stop and let him have it when I hear him chuckle.

“The look on your face was classic.” He stops mid-track and starts laughing hysterically.

“Sometimes I really hate that you’re so good at your chosen career.” The comment makes Sean laugh harder. “For a second, I thought you were seriously mad at me for doing what you told me to do.”

“Woah, wait a second.” Sean puts a finger up. “I did not tell you to manhandle my sister.”

“Maybe not in those exact words. But you definitely did. And I did not manhandle Evie in front of anyone,” I yell. Heat starts to travel up my neck, my jaw muscle ticks, and I clench and unclench my fists.

I can’t stop myself from punching him in the arm as a smirk crosses his face.

“Ouch! That was hard.”

“It was supposed to be.” I start jogging again to get away from him before I hit him again. Sean knows that I can’t stand being teased about certain things, but he also can’t help himself. It’s better that I just keep moving so that I don’t lose my temper.

“Jamie,” Sean says as he reaches my side. “You know I’m happy about this turn of events.”

I nod, grinding my teeth and staring ahead. He’s not done poking fun at me yet, and I need to prepare myself.

“How can I not needle you about that nearly perfect execution? I mean, seriously! Having to hold her in your arms the entire time you were on the ice? The laughing, the glances? Then the kiss under the mistletoe?” He slaps me on my arm. “The whole town is still talking about it!”

I feel heat creeping up my neck, and my body feels overly warm. It’s definitely not from our steady jog.

“I couldn’t have directed it any better had I tried,” Sean continues, not caring that I’m clearly uncomfortable with this line of conversation.

Evie and I as a couple is exactly where I want to be, and I’m ecstatic. What I wasn’t prepared for was how Sean’s ribbing would make me feel.

Sean has always teased me about the girls I would date. Normally, I would just laugh it off, but unlike Evie, they didn’t mean anything to me. Evie means everything.

“Jamie, you can’t seriously be angry right now.” Sean laughs at me, which annoys me further, but he’s right. I’m not angry. I’m embarrassed, exposed, and vulnerable.

“I’m not angry,” I push through tight lips.

“Are you sure? Cause you seem…ahhhhhh.” He smirks and shakes his head. “You do really love Evie.”

He starts laughing and pushes my shoulder, throwing me off balance.

A small smile crosses my face. “I really love Evie.”

“What did you say?” Sean asks. “I didn’t hear you.”

I swear I’m going to murder him on this very street. I’m starting to see why Jessica always said he was annoying.

“I love Evie,” I say louder.

“You what?” He puts a hand behind his ear and moves closer to me.

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