Page 6 of I'd Never Date my Best Friend's Brother

Jessica looks at me, and we chuckle. Sean is notoriously late to almost any event. I hear the door open again, and my heart stops but it’s only Penny and Liam. The knot in my stomach loosens, and I let out the breath I’ve been holding. I hear Sean making his way to the kitchen.

“Do you need any help…Evie! Of course, you’d be here helping.”

My body starts to relax at the joy in my brother’s voice, and I remember how much fun game night with mine and Jessica’s family always is. Tonight is going to be a good night.

He comes over to give me a hug and glances down at my sweater. The look on his face makes me burst out laughing. When he meets my eyes and shakes his head, the smile on my face gets even bigger. “Looks like you have the ugly sweater win in the bag again.”

“I’m really good at picking ugly sweaters, aren’t I?” I chuckle as I hear my parents and the Stewarts walk into the house laughing. Jess and Sean head out to meet them, and I continue to organize the food in the kitchen. Working to calm my heart, I listen for Jamie’s voice among the people currently in the house. He is not among the guests.

My heart pounds, and my hands shake slightly as I continue to move the pigs in a blanket to a platter. A small smile creeps upon my face in spite of my nerves. There is no way we are going to eat all this food.

The sound of happy voices in the other room and the Christmas music playing in the background has me starting to relax when the front door opens. My heart drops as everyone screams excitedly.

Chapter 4

Jamie

As I park my car, I see the O’Connells and my parents walk through Jessica’s front door. Hesitating to get out of the car, I sit and look over Sean and Jessica’s houses, which have all the Christmas lights and decorations. A smile slowly crosses my face. The two are decorated exactly the same. The only difference is that Jessica’s front lawn has a grim reaper hidden in the back corner.

My smile turns into a full grin, and I laugh out loud. The Halloween decorations are so very Jessica and her thriller novel ways. I’m sure that Sean tried to persuade Jessica to leave it packed away, which is why it’s hidden in the corner, all but out of sight. I can just imagine how the “discussion” they had about it went. But like the besotted man he is, he totally gave in.

Plus, it’s Jessica’s house, and there was no way my best friend could talk my sister out of something she wanted in front of her house. I shake my head and chuckle.

My smile becomes hesitant as I see Evie’s car parked down the street. I run a shaky hand through my hair and blow out a breath, making my lips vibrate against each other. I’m nervous and am completely stalling. I look down at the sweater I’m wearing and, for the hundredth time since leaving the house, wonder if wearing it is a good idea. The reason behind why I wore it has me feeling vulnerable. My stomach roils, my palms sweat, and my heart is racing.

It's too late to change my mind now. I turn the car off and get ready to head to the party.

Walking up the steps, I hear the sound of Christmas music and laughter from inside, and my heart starts to pound. I put my hand on the doorknob, take another deep breath, blow it out, and push the door open.

“Hi, everyone.” I force a smile on my face while doing a quick scan of the room, looking for the one person I really want to see. My heart falls as I don’t see her.

“Jamie!” Everyone shouts and rushes over to greet me. Liam is the closest and the first to reach me.

“So good to see you, Jamie.” He puts his hand on my shoulder and extends his other hand out to me, which I shake. I give him a smile and make note of how good he looks.

“You look great.” I slap him on the arm and notice his quick glance at Penny. The warmth in his eyes is unmistakable. There is a sense of ease surrounding him that is tangible. This is not the same man that I saw six months ago. The look in his eyes is no longer haunted, and his body is relaxed. The transformation is incredible.

“Thanks.” He glances down at my sweater and laughs. “Wish I could say the same about you. Evie, looks like you just might have some competition.” He yells, throwing his head over his shoulder while eyeing up my sweater and laughs.

At the sound of her name, I look over his shoulder but don’t see Evie. I bring my attention back to Liam, look down at his sweater, and feel my lips twitch.

“Oh? Like you should talk. Yours is pretty awful, too.” I slap him on the shoulder and let a smile stretch across my face.

Sean comes up behind me and puts me in a headlock before giving me a hug. “Dude, it’s so good to see you!”

“It’s good to be home. Nice decorations.” I point toward the outside with my thumb, and Sean laughs.

“Did you notice the grim reaper,” he whispers and rolls his eyes.

“I did, it’s so Jess. And you are just too in love.” I lightly punch him in the chest and let out a full belly laugh.

His eyes look over the room until they rest on Jessica, and his face lights up. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make her happy. Even if it means putting a Halloween decoration out at Christmas.” He shrugs.

I laugh again with him and then make my way around the room to say hello to everyone. The entire time I greet each person, part of my attention is still trying to find Evie. I’ve just finished saying hello to Sarah and Mark O’Connell when I see her walk out of the kitchen carrying a platter.

My breath catches, and my heart starts to race. As always, her beauty and grace make my stomach knot and my breath hitch. She truly is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, and I struggle to redirect my attention as I watch her every move. My eyes roam her face before they fall to the sweater she’s wearing. A grin spreads across my face. That new sweater is even worse than the old sweater, and before I can stop it, a laugh falls from my lips.

“It’s hideous, right?” Jessica chuckles; I feel a flush creep up my neck, having been caught. “I don’t know where she finds them, but she’s good at it. I mean, look at yours.”

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