Page 6 of Fake Engagement with my Brother's Best Friend

Logan leans back in his chair, looking far too pleased with himself. I glare at him, knowing that he’s enjoying this way too much. He catches my eye and gives me a subtle wink, as if to say, “What’s the harm?”

I’m caught between wanting to strangle him and the realization that there’s no backing out now without making everything even more awkward. My parents are beaming, Jess looks thrilled, and Emily is giving me that knowing look that says, “I told you so.”

Logan knew exactly what he was doing. He’s boxed me in, and now I’m stuck playing along with this ridiculous charade. All because he thought it would be fun to see me squirm.

I’m not going down without a fight. If he wants to embarrass me, I can play that game too. With a forced smile, I lean in closer to Logan, resting my hand on his arm.

“I’m so glad you’re excited,” I say sweetly, barely hiding the edge in my voice. “I just wish you’d let me break the news on our terms.”

Logan smirks, unfazed. “Sorry, babe. Couldn’t help myself.”

My stomach twists at the way he says “babe,” and I know he’s doing it on purpose, just to get under my skin. Two can play atthat game. If he thinks he’s going to win this little war of ours, he’s got another think coming.

I keep my hand on Logan’s arm, trying to ignore the way his smirk makes my blood boil. Everyone around the table is smiling, clearly enjoying this little performance, but I can’t let Logan get the upper hand.

“So,” my dad says, leaning forward with a twinkle in his eye. “How did Logan pop the question? Was it as dramatic as we’re all imagining?”

I glance at Logan, who raises an eyebrow, daring me to come up with something. “Oh, it was quite something,” I say, deciding to play along for now. “Logan here thought he’d be all romantic and take me on a hike to a cliffside with a beautiful view. Then he tripped on a rock and almost rolled right off the edge.”

The table erupts in laughter, and Logan’s smirk falters just a bit. He recovers quickly, though, leaning in with that infuriating grin still in place. “I guess that’s what happens when you’re distracted by the thought of spending the rest of your life with someone as amazing as Grace. I mean, who wouldn’t be a little clumsy?”

“Or maybe you were just clumsy, period,” I shoot back, my voice saccharine sweet.

Emily chuckles, shaking her head. “You two are something else. Always teasing, always bickering. It’s so obvious how much you love each other.”

Love. The word feels like a lead weight dropping in my stomach. I force a smile, but it’s getting harder to keep up the act.

Jess leans in with a sly smile. “Come on, you guys. Admit it—you’ve been planning this for a while. We all saw the chemistry. You just couldn’t keep your hands off each other.”

Logan doesn’t miss a beat. “Guilty as charged. Can you blame me? Grace is irresistible.”

I clench my teeth, struggling to keep my tone light. “Well, I’m just glad I’ve managed to keep you in check so far.”

The laughter around the table makes me want to scream. They’re all seeing this as cute, harmless teasing, not realizing that Logan and I are locked in a silent battle of wills. Every time I try to undermine him, he flips it back on me, making it look like we’re just another lovey-dovey couple.

It’s maddening.

I push my chair back, needing to get out of this suffocating situation. “I think I’m going to get some air,” I say, trying to sound casual.

“Want me to come with you?” Logan asks, still playing the part.

“Actually, I could use some girl time,” Emily says, standing up before I can protest. “Let’s catch up.”

I nod, grateful for the escape, even if it means I’ll have to explain myself to Emily. “Sure, let’s go.”

We walk away from the table, the noise of the brunch fading as we step out onto the terrace, where the ocean breeze cools my flushed cheeks. Emily links her arm through mine, leading me toward a quiet spot overlooking the water.

“I’m so surprised,” she says, her voice soft. “I mean, I knew you had this whole love-hate thing going, and I figured you’d hooked up a few times, but this? An engagement? It’s serious, Grace.”

I swallow hard, the weight of what I’ve done settling in. Emily’s my best friend, and the last thing I want to do is disappoint her, especially not on her wedding vacation. This is getting way out of hand.

“Yeah, it’s… serious,” I say, hating the way the lie tastes on my tongue. “It just kind of happened, you know? One minute we were just messing around, and the next… well, here we are.”

Emily smiles, her eyes shining with happiness. “I’m so glad. Logan’s a great guy, and you two just make so much sense together. I’ve always thought that.”

I force a smile, nodding along as if I believe her. But inside, I’m panicking. This was supposed to be a silly game, a way to avoid awkward questions and keep my parents off my back. Now it’s snowballing, and I don’t know how to stop it without ruining everything.

Emily looks at me with such trust, such excitement, that I feel my resolve crumbling. How can I tell her the truth now?

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