Page 9 of I'd Never Date my Best Friend's Brother

Jamie nudges me. “Do you have anything you want me to write down?”

Immediately, my mind flies to How The Grinch Stole Christmas. I can’t stop the smirk that crawls to my face as I turn to him and whisper in his ear. His eyes widen, and he lets out a small chuckle, but he writes it down and puts it in the bowl.

Stink. Stank. Stunk. Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel about this evening.

Yes I know I’m being immature, but I can’t help myself. I feel like my body has been taken over by the spirit of the grump that is my best friend. I need to pull myself together and quick. I’m just not sure how to do that.

I take another sip of my drink, a deep breath and look around at the two families gathered together. I feel my chest loosen a bit at the smiles on everyone’s faces as they conspire to make the game as hard as possible for the other teams. I feel my heart expand just a bit more as the love that fills this room is palpable.

I feel my eyes being drawn to Jamie. His profile is facing me as he writes down some ideas and throws them in the bowl.

I let my eyes roam his handsome features and feel the tightness in my chest loosen. My lips lift at the corner. I’ve missed sitting next to him. He’s sitting close enough that I can feel the heat from his body, and if I moved just a little to the left, I’d be touching him.

I lightly inhale the scent that is solely him and am surrounded by pine and cedar. My heart rate increases and I feel warmth fill me at how well he knows me. I don’t get cranky very often, but when I do, it’s better to just ride it out than fight it.

My family knows this. The Stewarts know this. Jamie knows this.

The warmth is immediately replaced by a chill, and my expression hardens as I turn away.

If the way he left showed me anything it’s that he doesn’t know me at all.

Chapter 6

Jamie

“YES!” Sean yells and high-fives Jess. I narrow my eyes at my best friend. I can’t help but notice how much more competitive he’s gotten. What is my sister doing to him? Sean has always loved playing the game, and Jess was the one who needed to win. Apparently, Sean is in it to win it too.

The adorable, angry woman next to me tenses. She isn’t quite as competitive as Jess, but she still hates to lose.

I shake my head and look at the score. We are in the second round, and Jess and Sean are leading by three. Penny and Liam are down by one, and our parents are sitting on the sideline watching the “kids” for this go around.

Evie and I have a big ol’ goose egg…again. We are completely out of sync, which doesn’t help, especially since Charades is Evie’s, and my, worst game. Even on our best nights, we would just squeak by with a win.

I peek a glance at Evie sitting beside me with a scowl on her face, and I smile. She catches me and glares. I press my lips together to keep the smile from getting bigger. She is seriously the cutest when she’s angry. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s so out of character that it’s hard not to laugh at her.

Although no one is outright saying anything, the glances and smirks they keep giving her speak volumes. Which only annoys Evie more.

“Jamie, Evie.” Jess points. “It’s your turn.”

I hear Evie groan and can all but feel the roll of her eyes. “Do you want to pick?” I gesture to the bowl, only to receive a glare for my effort. This time, I can’t hold back the laugh that bubbles up.

“This one.” Jess holds her and Sean’s bowl up, and I groan. Their topics have been all about their courtship—matchmaking, speed dating, bingo—all lovey-dovey stuff. If I’m honest, I’m a bit afraid of what I’m going to pull out.

Each time we pull something from their bowl, it brings back memories of Evie and me and the feelings that were developing before I left. And how I left.

I pull the piece of paper out, keeping it close to me, and groan when I open it.

Mistletoe.

I roll my eyes, only to have Jessica and Sean high five. I see Evie give them another glare, and the room explodes in laughter. I cough to cover my laugh, but it doesn’t escape the woman next to me. She snorts and then stands up to go to the area of the room that’s been assigned to the active participants. I get up to follow when Jess’s voice interrupts us.

“Move left, Evie.” Evie narrows her eyes at Jess but does as she says. When I look at Evie, I can’t help but notice that she’s almost standing directly under the mistletoe.

I glance at Sean and Jess and notice their eyes dancing. Then I look at my piece of paper and see a tiny little circle on the back. When I look back at them Jessica has a smile stretching across her face, and Sean winks at me.

My stomach drops, and I groan internally. I don’t know what these two have up their sleeves but I am not liking it. My eyes move toward Evie, and I see her standing there, arms crossed, waiting.

“Come on, let’s not take all night!”

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