Page 23 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

Jackson flattens his lips and glances at the crowd around us. “I just couldn’t stand the way he was talking to you.”

My heart catches in my throat. He was watching. Making sure I was safe. That’s always been Jackson’s way, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Being Kayla’s best friend meant that he looked out for me. Like a sister.

Not a girlfriend. I can’t believe I’m having to remind myself of that.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt a conversation you wanted to be having.”

“No,” I say in a hurry. “Not at all, it was . . . awful.”

Jackson’s hand tightens on my lower back, pressing me to him. We’re . . . so close. If we were horizontal, we would be doing a different kind of dance. “What’d he say?”

God, where to start . . .

“You don’t have to tell me,” he hurriedly says.

“No, it’s fine.” Jackson doesn’t know the story of our breakup. The why. And I don’t want to ruin this moment by getting into the minutiae of the hurt and the ache. Keep it simple. “He’s staying. For the month.”

Jackson is quiet, the corners of his blue eyes tightening.

“To try and get me back.”

“Jesus Christ,” Jackson mutters. “What’s wrong with him?”

“I don’t know.”

Jackson swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I mean, is that what you want?”

Again, my answer comes out quick and assured. “No. Not at all. I’m just . . . afraid he might trick me into wanting that again. That’s how I ended up staying so long.”

We keep dancing, questions hanging in the air. How do I ask him to continue this ruse for the month to fend Will off? How do I keep myself as safe as possible when all of this is fake?

“We’ll be together for the month, then,” Jackson says as if reading my mind.

“You don’t have to do that, Jackson.”

“I mean, if you don’t want me to—”

I grab his shoulder harder than I mean to. “No, I do. I just don’t want you to feel like you’re forced to do that because I can handle myself.”

“I know you can,” he says, clear and earnest.

I’m captivated by his stare. I’ve never spent this long looking into his eyes because . . . because I’ve always avoided looking for too long. I’ve always known if I did, I’d be trapped by feelings I didn’t want to have. He’s my best friend’s older brother. He’s out of my league. We’re too different.

But now I’m here.

And all those feelings I thought I’d have . . . they’re here too. The smart thing to do would be to call it off after tonight.

Feelings like this, though, don’t encourage people to be smart.

“But just because youcanhandle it yourself doesn’t mean you have to,” Jackson says softly.

“Jackson . . . ”

“I’m offering, Lily. It’s just a month. Anything I can do to make Will’s presence easier on you, I’m happy to do. Including this.”

My body fits so nicely against his. I hate that I’m having these kinds of thoughts, but they can’t be helped. I’ve tipped into the deep end. That’s the risk a situation like this runs. “Okay. Just the month.”

A smile slips onto Jackson’s lips. “If it makes you feel better, I do think people are buying it.”

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