Page 61 of I'd Never Date my Best Friend's Brother

I left my family and the woman beside me so that I could go and work for a government contracting agency. It was the excitement and challenge that I was looking for in my life. But what if it was a mistake?

“Ready?” Evie asks as we reach the top of the hill.

I notice that she led us to the lane that allows for two tubes to go together and a grin crosses my face. “Are you afraid to go by yourself?” I tease.

“Ha! I think I’ve shown you that I am more than happy to go on my own.” She hip-checks me. “I just feel like you need to know that you aren’t alone anymore.”

My breath hitches at her words and my eyes widen as I let them roam over her face. How does this woman completely understand me? A coldness runs through me and I feel the urge to run, but just that moment, Evie grabs my hand.

“Jamie,” she says softly.

I meet her gaze, and warmth fills me as I let go of whatever it was that came over me. I make a vow to tell her what I’ve come to realize where my job is concerned and let us figure it out together.

I’ve gotten so used to doing everything alone that I forgot what it was like to let myself need someone.

“Thank you.” I lean in and give her a soft kiss.

“Remember that when we’re at the bottom and I ask you what’s really going on.”

I can’t stop the smile that creases my face at the love and determination in her tone.

“Hey!” An anxious kid shouts behind us. “There’s a line here.”

“I guess we better move it then.” I wink at the woman next to me.

As we go down the hill, hand in hand, I think of my parents and the example they’ve always set for me and Jessica. They’ve always been there to support each other, including Jessica and me.

As a kid, it felt like they were butting in, but really, they were loving us.

I’ve watched Sean and Jessica build the same for themselves.

I never thought I would have a chance at that. No, that’s not true. I never let myself want it.

Isn’t it funny that as kids we don’t want to be anything like our parents and then one day we clearly see some of the traits we hated are the ones we want?

I want that same type of support from my significant other. And I know that Evie will give it to me.

Tension leaves my shoulders, and nothing but laughter fills the air as we fly down the hill. For the first time in a long time, maybe ever, my heart is full.

I see Evie on the phone as I walk back with two hot chocolates.

“Here he is.” She turns the phone to face me, and I see Sean and Jessica looking back at me, waving with smiles on their faces.

“How did I not guess snow tubing?” Sean grumbles. I roll my eyes and hand Evie her hot chocolate.

“Thank you,” Evie murmurs and hands me her phone so she can wrap her hands around the hot cup.

“That was a great idea, Jamie,” Jessica chirps. “Totally fits in with our winter theme.”

“Yup. Okay, you two, we will talk to you when we get home.”

“Jamie, wait—” Sean shouts just as I hit the end call button.

“Talk about impatient. How many times did they call?” I take a sip of hot chocolate and relish in the warmth as it washes down my throat and into my belly.

“Only like twenty.” She smirks behind her cup.

“Twenty?” I shout. “Are you kidding?”

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