Page 22 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

“I’m staying.”

I stop mid-step and turn back to face him. “What?”

“I’m here. In Cider Bay. For a month. Because I’m getting you back.”

My mouth grows hot. “I’m with Jackson.”

“Fuck Jackson.”

“Fuck you, Will.”

Will gestures into the gym. “You’ve been together a handful of months. We’ve had over a decade together. You can’t tell me you’re going to throw all that away for him.”

My stomach flips over and over with nerves. It was only supposed to betonight. It was only supposed to make Tia mad; it wasn’t supposed to bethis.

He steps up to me so we are toe to toe, and towers over me like he might kiss me. The thought of his lips on mine makes me want to retch. “I’m getting you back, Lily.”

I try to press the words out of my mouth, but I can’t. “No, you’re not.” Three words shouldn’t be so hard to say, and yet I’m mute because there’s something about his insistence that scares me. I’m not confident he might find a way to break me down, the way he did the last few years of our relationship, tear me down to the point that I don’t have anything left of myself to believe in.

“Lily!”

Jackson’s voice is like the song of an angel. And when I see him coming toward me, he looks like an angel too, haloed by light, smiling like nothing in the world is wrong.

I smile back.

He jerks his thumb over his shoulder into the gym. “Do you hear that?”

I frown.

Jackson’s smile turns into a grin. “It’s our song.”

Something blooms in my chest. Something scary.

Jackson continues. “I’m sorry, Will. I just had to come grab her for a dance.”

“No problem, man,” Will says coolly. Too calm.

Jackson grabs my hand and pulls me toward him, forcing a blessed distance between Will and me. “Thanks, man. You heading out?”

Will’s eyes widen. “Um, I wasn’t—”

“It was great to see you, man. Drive safe,” Jackson goes on.

Will has lost the bravado he had when he was assuring me he’d get me back. I can’t help but smile. “Bye, Will. Take care,” I say with finality.

Will meets my gaze. Ire sparks in his brown eyes. I’ve gotten too close to that flame before, so close I didn’t even realize I was on fire too. I don’t want it anymore. I know I don’t.

Before Will gets a chance to respond, Jackson whisks me back into the gymnasium, pulling me close. Neither of us says a word. When we get to the dance floor, Jackson swings me around into his embrace, pulling me in close for dancing. Not the kind of hold your best friend’s brother would share with you at an event. The kind of hold that’s intimate.

Like a boyfriend. Which I guess he is.

The music engulfs us. It’s a slow Paramore song which almost makes me laugh. All the music tonight has been from our high school years. It’s a major throwback. And funny to think that this might be ‘our song.’

I let myself get lost in Jackson’s embrace, leaning my head against his chest. There are still people to perform for, I suppose. But more than that, I need his closeness. It’s calming. Makes me feel safe despite the looming threat of my ex-boyfriend.

“Sorry,” Jackson mutters into my hair.

I lift my head to look up at him. “Why are you sorry?”

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