Page 16 of I'd Never Date my Best Friend's Brother

I inwardly groan as I look at them. Jamie was just getting ready to tell me why he left like he did. The thing that I’ve been wanting to know for the last six months, only to have my brother and best friend barge in at the exact moment.

Normally, I’m excited to see the happy couple, but right now, I want to tell them both to leave. Shooing them out, though, would only make them try harder at whatever game they’re playing where Jamie and I are concerned.

So instead, I force a smile. “Hey there!”

Their smiles are blinding as they look at each other. They excitedly talk about something, but I’m so distracted by Jamie that I’m not processing what they’re saying. I glance over at him and catch him still looking at me. The longing in his eyes catches my breath.

“Are you okay, Evie?” Jessica asks. Guess that groan was out loud. Oops, I quickly force the corners of my mouth up to cover up the emotions running rampant within me.

“Yeah, I’m good. Sorry. I was just telling Jamie about my surprise for the two of you.” I throw the bone to get her bloodhound-like senses off where my thoughts are.

“Surprise?” Jess claps her hands and jumps up and down, pumping Sean’s arm. A real smile breaks free as I look at her. Sean turns his adoring eyes to his fiancé. I’m just grateful that it was enough to distract them both from the quizzical looks they were giving Jamie and me.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Weren’t you listening at all to what I was saying?” Jessica glances back and forth between us as we both shake our heads.

“That’s no surprise.” Sean’s smirk is directed at me as he examines my face a bit too intently for my liking.

“Something about ice skating?” Jamie throws in.

“So you were listening!” Sean slaps him on the back, and he takes the seat next to him. I see Jamie wince and then glare at my brother while Sean just lets out a loud laugh. “Yes, Jess and I need your help. It’s part of the MOH and BM duties.”

“BM duties? Let’s not use acronyms, okay big brother?” I giggle. “Especially when BM and duties are next to each other.”

The tension in the room eases as we all laugh at Sean’s choice of words.

Sean stands behind Jessica, gives her a kiss on the head before resting his hands on the back of the chair she’s sitting in. “We’re going to have a pre-wedding party where we meet up at the ice skating rink in the park. Near where Sean and I had our second ‘date’.”

At her words, I remember Sean and Jessica’s budding romance. Sean was helping Jessica find the right man by taking her out on ‘practice dates’—yeah, we all thought the same. Anyway, that park has an ice skating rink. I look over at Jamie, and I remember us walking by there last December.

I can remember the lights shining around the rink, casting it in a soft glow. A little further out, there was a fire pit near a hot chocolate stand, where everyone was taking a break to warm up their hands and toes. I quickly glanced over at Jamie and saw his intent eyes on me.

“The one where they do private parties on certain occasions?” My stomach drops as I remember that evening. I can still feel the warmth of Jamie’s hand, his fingers entwined with mine. I look over toward Jess and Sean and groan as I catch them staring adoringly at each other. “Were you two listening to me?”

I can see both their lips quirk up as Sean kisses Jessica’s forehead. “Yes. And yes, that’s the one. We have an appointment with the rink manager tomorrow to discuss the details and wanted both of you to be there.” The grin on his face as he looks back and forth between me and Jamie has me narrowing my eyes at him. “To help with those duties.”

Jamie and I both groan. I try not to give the tingling in my stomach any acknowledgment. It was just a groan. But I can’t control the beating of my heart, which is suddenly pounding a little harder.

“No,” I firmly say out loud. Oops.

“No?” Everyone looks at me and asks with small smiles on their faces. I glare at Jamie, and I see him press his lips together at me to keep from laughing.

“Of course I will,” I look at Jamie and move my hand back and forth. “We’ll help you.”

“Amazing,” Jessica and Sean beam at me.

I can’t help but smile at how truly adorable they are, and my stomach flips as I feel a longing so deep that my bones ache. I want what they have. I flick my gaze to Jamie and am immediately caught in his eyes. My heart starts to race, and I swallow, quickly looking away from him, to Jessica and Sean.

I hope the flush I feel creeping up my face isn’t also a shade of pink.

“What time do you want us there?” I inwardly cringe as I see the expressions on both Jessica's and Sean’s faces. They. See. Everything.

I force my hands to stay on the desk and not cover my face like I want to. I will my heart rate to slow and keep my expression relaxed while I wait for them to respond.

“Tomorrow at three. Does that work?” Jessica flits her head back and forth between Jamie and me. Sean, I notice, keeps his keen gaze directed at me.

“Works for me.” I nod, and from the corner of my eye, I see Jamie nod, too.

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