Page 29 of Fake Engagement with my Brother's Best Friend

She leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my collarbone, her lips warm against my skin. A shiver runs through me at the gentle, almost affectionate gesture. For a moment, I forget where we are, forget everything but her. It feels right, the way she fits against me, like something that’s been building for a long time finally falling into place.

Reality hits me hard when I glance around and realize we’re still tucked away on this secluded part of the beach, hidden but not invincible to prying eyes. “We should get back,” I murmur, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Before someone notices we’re gone.”

Grace pulls back slightly, her brows furrowing. “I guess you’re right.” Her voice is hesitant, and I can see the worry creeping into her eyes again, the weight of everything we’ve left unsaid hanging between us.

“We can’t stay out here forever,” I say, trying to keep my tone light, though part of me would gladly stay here with her for as long as possible. The rest of the world feels distant out here, but I know we can’t hide from it forever.

Grace nods, but I can see the reluctance in her movements. She stands, smoothing down her skirt, but there’s a tension in her posture that wasn’t there a moment ago. “What about Samantha?” she asks, her voice quieter now, more guarded. “She’s not just going to let this go, Logan. You know that.”

I sigh, feeling the familiar frustration rise in me at the mention of Samantha. “We’ll deal with her,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. “Right now, let’s just focus on Emily and Joseph’s wedding. On us.”

Grace’s eyes search mine, and for a second, I think we might be headed into another argument. The tension between us crackles again, the weight of everything unsaid pressing down on us. “Logan, she’s not going to stop until she’s made a scene. She’s not going to let you be happy.”

“I know,” I say, my voice softer now, trying to keep things calm. “She won’t break us, Grace. She won’t.”

Grace looks at me for a long moment, and I can see the conflict in her eyes—the worry, the doubt, but also the part of her that wants to believe me. I step closer, placing my hands on her shoulders, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingers. “Let’s just take it one step at a time. The wedding is right around the corner. Let’s focus on that, on being there for Emily and Joseph. We’ll deal with Samantha after.”

She hesitates, but eventually nods, the tension easing slightly from her shoulders. “Okay,” she whispers.

I lean in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “It’s going to be fine. I promise.”

We walk back toward the resort, hand in hand, the soft sand shifting beneath our feet. The wind is gentle, the sound of the waves calming as they roll onto the shore. Grace is quiet besideme, her fingers laced with mine, and though the tension between us has eased, there’s still a heaviness in the air. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, watching the way her hair moves with the breeze, the soft glow of the setting sun catching her skin.

She’s beautiful, and for a moment, the weight of everything hits me. I’ve never felt this way about anyone—this intense pull, this need to protect her, to be with her. My heart tightens in my chest, and for the first time, I realize just how deep I’ve fallen.

I love her.

The thought sends a jolt through me, like a shock of electricity. It’s the truth, something that’s been sitting just beneath the surface, but now it’s undeniable. I love Grace. I’ve known it for a while now, but admitting it to myself feels different, more real.

My heart races as I think about telling her. Part of me wants to stop right here, turn to her, and say it out loud. The words are on the tip of my tongue, the desire to finally confess almost overwhelming. But I hesitate, my hand tightening around hers.

This isn’t the right moment. Not yet. Not when things are still messy, still uncertain. Samantha’s drama, the wedding—it’s all hanging over us like a dark cloud. I can’t tell her like this, not when we’re in the middle of everything. I want it to be right. I want it to be perfect.

So I’ll wait.

I’ll wait until the wedding is over, until the dust settles and we’ve had time to breathe. Then I’ll tell her. I’ll tell her how much she means to me, how much I need her, how I don’t just want this to be temporary. I want her in my life for real—no more fake engagements, no more pretending. Just us, together.

I glance at Grace again, and she looks up at me, offering a small, tentative smile. My heart aches with how much I want to say it, but I smile back, keeping my emotions in check.

“You okay?” I ask softly, my voice barely above the sound of the waves.

She nods, her eyes searching mine. “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m just… trying to wrap my head around everything.”

I squeeze her hand gently. “We’ll get through it.”

She looks down for a moment, then back up at me, her smile a little more certain now. “I know. I’m just worried.”

“I get it,” I say, pulling her closer as we walk. “But like I said, we’ll handle it. One step at a time.”

As we approach the resort, the golden light of the sun casting long shadows on the beach, I make a silent promise to myself. I’ll tell her. Soon. Not in the middle of all this chaos. When everything blows over, when the storm that is Samantha is behind us, I’ll tell her exactly how I feel.

Chapter Seventeen

Grace

I walk through the resort, weaving between sunbathers and palm trees, the warmth of the late afternoon sun sinking into my skin. The wedding is only a few days away, and the excitement should be building, but all I feel is this persistent, gnawing unease. I was hoping to spend some time with Logan, to talk, to sort through all the chaos that’s been hanging over us, but he’s gone on a hike with Joseph. Again.

It’s not that I don’t want him to spend time with his best friend—I do—but every time he leaves, I’m left alone with my thoughts. And worse, with Samantha still lurking around the edges of everything, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I can’t shake the worry that she’s planning something, and the last thing I need is more drama with her.

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