Page 37 of Fake Engagement with my Brother's Best Friend

Emily gives me a small smile. “Because people change, Grace. Feelings change. What started out one way doesn’t have to stay that way forever. If Logan says he cares about you, I think you should give him the chance to prove it. You’ve been holding yourself back out of fear, but maybe it’s time to stop.”

I bite my lip, trying to process her words. “But what if I get hurt again? What if this is just… convenient for him?”

Emily squeezes my arm gently. “You have to ask yourself if it’s worth the risk. I’ve seen the way Logan looks at you, Grace. It’s not just convenience. I’ve seen the way you look at him. You’re both in this deeper than you realize.”

I take a deep breath, my heart aching with the uncertainty. “I don’t know how to face my family. They think I’m finally settling down, that I’ve found someone… but it was all based on a lie.”

Emily nods, understanding. “I can’t promise your family won’t be upset. They probably will be. If you love Logan, and if he loves you, that’s worth more than any lie or misunderstanding. The truth will hurt, but it’s better than living with something false.”

I close my eyes, the tears finally slipping down my cheeks. “I’m just scared, Emily. I don’t know if I can forgive him for what he did to Samantha, and I don’t know if I can forgive myself for starting this whole thing in the first place.”

Emily leans in, her voice gentle but firm. “Follow your heart, Grace. If you love him, if you think he’s worth fighting for, then try to forgive him. You’ve both made mistakes, but you deserve to be happy. Don’t let fear be the thing that holds you back.”

I wipe at my eyes, looking out at the ocean as the waves crash against the shore. Emily’s words sink in, and I realize she’s right. I’ve been letting fear control me, letting it stop me from taking a chance on something real.

I’m not sure I’m ready to let go of that fear just yet. Not entirely.

“I’ll think about it,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.

Emily smiles softly. “That’s all you need to do for now.”

I take a deep breath and pull out my phone, my fingers trembling as I scroll to Logan’s name. It’s time to talk, time to sort through this mess and figure out where we stand. The conversation with Emily has left me feeling lighter, but there’s still a storm of uncertainty swirling inside me. I press the call button, holding my breath as the phone rings. One ring. Two. Three.

Then it goes to voicemail.

Of course. Typical Logan.

I sigh, my frustration rising again. It’s not like I was expecting everything to be magically fixed by one phone call, but still… I needed to hear his voice, needed to know that he was as anxious to talk as I was. Instead, all I’m left with is the dull, robotic voice telling me to leave a message.

I don’t. I hang up and drop my phone into the sand beside me, letting out a long, shaky breath.

Emily watches me patiently, her face calm, but I can tell she’s reading every flicker of emotion in my expression. “Don’t let itget to you,” she says softly, her voice soothing. “He’s probably just dealing with something. Maybe he’s nervous.”

“Nervous about what?” I snap, my irritation bubbling up. “He’s the one who created this whole mess, Em. He’s the one who’s kept everything so complicated. Now I’m supposed to call him and spill my heart, and he’s too busy or whatever to pick up the phone?”

Emily doesn’t respond right away, just gives me a look that’s so patient, so kind, it makes me feel even more ridiculous. “Take a minute,” she says, gesturing to the waves in front of us. “Sit here, cool off. This isn’t something you should rush into when you’re this upset.”

I sit back down, my legs folding under me as I stare out at the ocean. The waves crash rhythmically, the sound usually calming, but right now, it does little to soothe the frustration churning inside me.

Emily shifts next to me, pulling her knees to her chest as she gazes out at the water. “You know, Logan dealt with Samantha. Joseph and I talked to him after lunch. She’s leaving tomorrow. She’s not coming to the wedding.”

I glance at her, surprised. “Wait, what?”

She nods, her expression serious. “He confronted her. Told her that she’s not welcome here anymore and that she has to leave before the wedding. Joseph and I are making sure she follows through. Samantha’s out of the picture.”

I blink, absorbing the news. I should feel relieved—this is what I wanted, after all—but instead, I feel a mix of emotions. Anger, frustration, confusion. “Why didn’t he just do that in the first place?” I ask, my voice harsher than I intend. “Why did he let herhang around for so long, stirring up all this drama? He could’ve kicked her out the moment she showed up.”

Emily smiles softly, giving me a knowing look. “Maybe he was afraid.”

I frown, shaking my head. “Afraid of what? She’s been nothing but trouble. It’s not like he owes her anything.”

Emily leans back on her hands, her gaze still on the waves. “It’s not that simple, Grace. I think he was afraid of facing his past. Of confronting what he did, of admitting how messed up their relationship was. Maybe… maybe he was afraid of how it would affect you.”

I fall silent, Emily’s words sinking in. I hadn’t considered that. That Logan might have been holding back out of fear, not just to protect himself, but to protect me. It hits me, then, how much he must have been struggling with all of this—the guilt, the mess with Samantha, and whatever he’s been feeling about us. Maybe I wasn’t the only one afraid.

“You think he’s been scared this whole time?” I ask, my voice quieter now, softer.

Emily nods. “I do. Not just of Samantha. I think he’s been scared of losing you, Grace. Scared of telling you how he feels and not knowing if you’d feel the same way.”

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