Page 25 of Fake Engagement with my Brother's Best Friend

His words hang in the air, heavy and unsettling. I stare at him, unsure of what to say. Logan has always seemed so confident, so sure of himself, but hearing this… it’s like seeing another side of him. A side I don’t know if I can fully trust.

“Have you really changed, Logan?” I ask softly, my voice shaking with uncertainty. “Because I don’t know if I can handle this… if you’re still that person.”

Logan’s face hardens with determination. “I’m not that man anymore, Grace. I swear.”

Before I can say anything more, I glance over his shoulder and see Samantha standing down the hall, watching us through the open bathroom door. Her smirk is cold, full of satisfaction, and when she catches my eye, she laughs. Then, without a word, she turns and walks away.

It feels like the ground beneath me is crumbling.

Chapter Fourteen

Logan

I wake up the next morning with a sense of dread gnawing at me. The bed next to me is empty, the sheets cold. Grace is gone. I sit up, running a hand through my hair as I try to shake off the uneasy feeling that’s settled deep in my gut.

It’s probably nothing, I tell myself. Maybe she went for a walk or wanted some space after everything that happened last night. After the scene with Samantha, I can’t blame her. As I get dressed and head downstairs for breakfast, the tension in my chest tightens with each passing minute.

The dining area is already buzzing with guests, but there’s no sign of Grace. I grab a coffee and scan the room again, hoping she’s just running late. The minutes tick by, and there’s still no sign of her.

I try calling her, my phone pressed to my ear as I pace outside the restaurant, but it goes straight to voicemail. "Grace, it’s me. Just checking in. Call me back when you get this, okay?" I hang up, my stomach twisting with unease. Something doesn’t feel right.

By lunchtime, the feeling has turned into a full-blown panic. She’s nowhere to be found, and her phone is still going unanswered. I check her usual spots—the beach, the resort’s garden—but there’s no trace of her. My mind races with worst-case scenarios, but I push them aside, refusing to believe she’d leave without saying anything.

When I run into Joseph outside by the pool, he looks at me with concern. “You okay, man? You look like hell.”

“Have you seen Grace?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. “She’s not answering her phone, and I haven’t seen her all day.”

Joseph frowns, shaking his head. “No, I haven’t. I figured she was with you. Everything alright between you two?”

I hesitate, not sure how much to tell him. “We’re… going through a rough patch. After what happened last night with Samantha, things got tense. It’s nothing serious.” At least, I hope it’s not. “She probably just needs some time.”

Joseph nods slowly, but I can tell he’s not entirely convinced. “You sure? Samantha was out of line last night. You don’t think that—”

“I know,” I interrupt, trying to brush off the anxiety creeping into my voice. “I’m dealing with it. I’ll talk to Grace. She’s just upset.”

Joseph pats my shoulder, clearly trying to reassure me. “Alright, but if you need anything, let me know.”

I give him a tight nod, though the knot in my chest only tightens. As I make my way back toward the dining area, I spot Grace’s parents sitting with Emily. I don’t know how much they’ve heard about what happened last night, but I know I need to say something before Samantha’s poison spreads further.

I approach the table with a forced smile, trying to appear calm and in control. “Afternoon,” I say, sliding into the seat next to Emily. Her eyes are filled with worry, and I can see Grace’s parents watching me closely, their expressions guarded.

“Where’s Grace?” Emily asks, her tone light but strained.

“She’s… not feeling great,” I lie, hoping to buy some time. “After everything with Samantha last night, she just needed some space. We’re working through it.”

Her parents exchange a glance, and I can feel the weight of their uncertainty pressing down on me. They don’t argue, but I can see the doubt in their eyes. They don’t entirely believe me. To be honest, I don’t know if I believe myself.

“Samantha’s words,” I say quickly, “they’re not true. Grace isn’t in this for anything other than… us. I just want to make that clear. We’re just going through a rough patch, but it’s nothing more than that.”

Grace’s mom nods slowly, but there’s a tightness in her expression. Her dad doesn’t say anything, just watches me with a look I can’t quite read. Emily, however, places a hand on my arm, her voice soft. “Logan, are you sure? I mean, you both seemed… off last night.”

I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. “Yeah, I’m sure. We’ll be fine. I just need to talk to her.”

I sit there, nodding and pretending to listen as Emily, her parents, and Grace’s parents chat away, their voices a gentle hum in the background. I’m barely processing a word they’re saying. My mind is somewhere else—on Grace, on where she could be, and on what’s happening between us.

I think about last night, about how everything unraveled so fast. My thoughts drift to the times we’ve been together, the intimacy we’ve shared. The sex has been incredible—undeniable chemistry, every moment electric. But it’s not just about that. It’s the way she smiles when she thinks no one’s watching, the softness in her eyes when we’re alone, the way she makes me feel like the best version of myself.

I let my gaze drift across the room to Joseph, who’s standing by the bar, talking to Emily. They’re laughing, their hands brushing casually, and I catch the look they give each other—unspoken,full of meaning. It’s the kind of look that speaks volumes about what they have. The kind of look that says,You’re my person.

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