Page 29 of I'd Never Date my Best Friend's Brother

UGH. I hate that my family and their significant others are so perceptive. It’s really annoying being on this side of things.

About eight months ago, Penny and Liam were on that side of the desk but I was the one doing what they were doing. I sit down and look at the image on my laptop. If you can’t get the dogs off of the scent give them a new one.

“Look at the cake topper I found for Jessica and Sean.” I turn the laptop around. “What do you think?”

“Oh, Evie! It’s so cute,” Penny says as Liam throws his arm around her waist and kisses her on the cheek before looking at the screen. “What gave you the idea for the mistletoe?”

She looks at me with her eyes gleaming, and I see Liam trying to hold back a smile, but his eyes are swimming with humor.

“Umm, well. It just seemed appropriate. With the holiday-themed wedding and how they’re putting mistletoe everywhere.” I wave a hand dismissively.

“Everywhere?” Liam asks, tilting his head. “It was at Jessica’s house for the party, but I haven’t heard of it anywhere else.”

I feel heat creep up my face as I think about me and Jamie standing under the mistletoe in front of everyone at the ugly sweater party. I clear my throat and will my inflamed face to cool down.

“And now at the ice skating rink for their upcoming party,” I say quietly, not making eye contact with either one.

“That’s right! You remember them talking about that, Pen? They talked about having something there when we were at Sean’s house for dinner.”

“Yes. I don’t remember them talking about mistletoe, though.” I can feel Penny’s eyes on me, and from the tone of her voice, I don’t need to see her face to know she’s smirking.

I shuffle some papers around on my desk as I respond. “According to Jacob, Sean wants mistletoe on all the entrances and exits of the ice.”

I hear both of them chuckle, and my face gets even hotter.

“Apparently, my brother thinks that everyone wants to kiss everyone.” I bite my lip and look up to find two sets of eyes looking at me intently. “What?!”

“Everyone, or just trying to get you and Jamie to kiss?” Liam presses his lips together to keep the laugh he is holding back from escaping.

“Liam, can’t you see that you’re embarrassing Evie?” Penny giggles, trying to help but clearly enjoying my discomfort.

“I think you two should leave now.” I look at both of them entirely seriously, and they laugh.

I feel heat creep up the back of my neck, and I clench my fists.

“Evie, don’t get angry. We’re just teasing you.” Penny reaches across the desk and squeezes my clenched fist. I feel some anger leave as I look up at her affectionate expression. “All of us couldn’t help but notice how unhappy you were anytime Jamie’s name came up—”

“Granted, it took Penny and I a bit longer to see it, but when we finally did, it made us sad.” Liam’s teasing look is gone, replaced by a gentle smile.

“I wasn’t unhap—”

“Evie!” They say together, looking at me pointedly with their heads tilted in the same direction. A chuckle escapes my lips at this display of unity, but then my heart squeezes, and my stomach drops.

I’m happy that both of my brothers are in relationships with wonderful women, but my longing for someone of my own is becoming overwhelming.

Jamie’s face flashes across my mind, and I sigh.

“Wait.” My forehead pulls, and I look up at them. “Are you two in on the matchmaking scheme?”

“Matchmaking?” Penny narrows her eyes and glances at Liam, whose eyebrows are up to his hairline.

“Matchmaking?” He repeats.

“Yeah. Sean and Jessica are doing their darnedest to stick me and Jamie together.”

“Ohhhhhh. So that’s why you were on the same team.” Penny nods.

“And you kept getting all of those questions about relationships,” Liam adds.

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