Page 36 of Fake Engagement with my Brother's Best Friend

I watch him for a moment, processing what he’s saying. Though there’s a flicker of disappointment, it’s not aimed at him. I understand why he stayed out of it. Joseph has always been the kind of friend who respected my boundaries, even when it meant staying silent about things that weren’t easy to hear.

“I get it,” I say, my voice steady. “You were looking out for me in your own way. I don’t hold it against you.”

Joseph’s shoulders relax slightly, relief washing over his face. “Thanks, man. I didn’t want you to think I was keeping secrets from you.”

I offer a small smile, clapping him on the shoulder. “You weren’t. Not really. Besides, it’s in the past now. I’ve moved on from all that.”

Emily smiles softly at the both of us, clearly relieved that the tension between me and Joseph is resolved. “You did the rightthing, Logan. Samantha needed to hear that. Now you need to go to Grace.”

I nod, the knot in my chest tightening again as I think about Grace. “Yeah. I need to talk to her, fix this.”

Joseph gives me one last supportive look. “She cares about you, Logan. Don’t let what’s happened mess that up. Just be honest with her.”

I don’t say anything, but I know he’s right. I need to be honest with Grace—not just about Samantha, but about everything. How I feel about her, about us, and where I see this going.

Without another word, I turn and head in the direction of the suite, my mind already spinning with what I’ll say to her. There’s too much at stake now, and I can’t afford to lose her—not when everything we’ve been through is finally starting to make sense.

As I walk, I replay the moment with Samantha in my mind. I should have stood up to her sooner, should have drawn the line the moment she arrived.

I quicken my pace, the weight of what needs to be said pressing down on me. I have to make her see that this is real—that what we have isn’t just some lie we’ve been telling ourselves to get through the wedding. I don’t want to pretend anymore. I don’t want to hide behind the fake engagement or the mess with Samantha. I want Grace. I need her to know that.

I need her to believe me.

Chapter Twenty-One

Grace

I sit on the beach, staring out at the horizon as the waves lap gently at the shore. The sun is starting to set, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange, but I barely notice. My mind is too tangled with everything that’s happened—the lies, the fake engagement, Logan’s confession, and now this hollow feeling in my chest.

I hear footsteps behind me, and when I glance over my shoulder, I see Emily approaching, her face soft with concern. I wipe away the tears that have been threatening to fall for the past hour and try to compose myself, but it’s no use. Emily has always been able to see through me.

She settles down beside me on the sand without saying a word at first, just sitting quietly as we watch the ocean together. After a long silence, she speaks.

“I talked to Logan,” she says softly, her eyes fixed on the horizon. “He’s… smitten with you, Grace. Guilt-ridden. He doesn’t know how to fix things, but he wants to. He’s willing to do whatever it takes. Will you give him another chance?”

I look down at my hands, my fingers playing with the edge of my shirt. “I don’t know, Em. I don’t know if I can.”

Emily turns to me, her brow furrowed in sympathy. “Why not; you care about him, don’t you?”

I hesitate, the weight of everything pressing down on me. “I do,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s not that simple. It’s not just about caring for him.”

Emily tilts her head, waiting for me to continue. The soft encouragement in her expression makes it easier for me to open up.

“I was desperate,” I say, my voice trembling slightly. “I’ve had feelings for Logan for so long. He — he wanted to fake an engagement, and I was there. It was convenient. I jumped at the chance to be close to him. Even if it wasn’t real, I thought… I thought maybe I could handle it. Maybe it was better than nothing.”

Emily’s eyes widen in surprise, but she remains silent, letting me speak.

“I agreed to it because I wanted him,” I confess, my heart pounding. “I was so desperate to have him in any capacity, even if it meant pretending. Now… now the goalposts have shifted. We’re not just pretending anymore. At least, I’m not. I don’t know if Logan feels the same way. Even if he does, how do I know it’s real and not just a result of this mess we’ve created?”

Tears prick at my eyes, and I wipe them away quickly, feeling the vulnerability tighten my chest. “I’m so sorry, Emily. I didn’t mean for this to get out of hand. I never wanted to lie to you, or to Joseph, or to my family. I thought I could control it, but now… now everything’s a disaster.”

Emily’s expression softens, and she reaches out, placing a gentle hand on my arm. “Grace, it’s okay. I understand. You were trying to protect yourself, and honestly, you didn’t owe anyone an explanation for how you were feeling. I’m glad you’re telling me now. You’ve been carrying all of this on your own, and you didn’t need to.”

I blink, surprised by how easily she forgives me. “You’re not angry?”

Emily shakes her head. “No, I’m not angry. Disappointed that you didn’t feel like you could talk to me, maybe. Not angry. I can see how complicated this has been for you.”

I let out a shaky breath, feeling some of the weight lift off my chest. “I don’t know what to do, Em. Logan says he has feelings for me, but how can I believe him? This started out as a lie. How can I trust that anything between us is real?”

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