Page 6 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

My mouth grows hot. “You too, Tia.”

“Hope to see more of you soon.”

All three of us are silent as Tia exits Bolton’s, the door chiming after her.

Lily drops her arms from me. “God, you’d think she’s forgotten she’s married the way she talks to you.”

“That’s Tia,” I say in a low voice.

Lily and I look at each other for a moment. Man, she looks gorgeous today. I wasn’t even able to take it in after I was ambushed. Her dark brown curls are wild and free, her arms are bare thanks to a tight tank top clinging to her torso, and those jeans—

Lily turns suddenly. “Kayla . . . ”

Kayla folds her hands in front of her chest. “Before you get angry . . . ”

“There is nobeforeI’m angry. I’m already furious,” Lily says, stalking closer to my sister.

I follow close behind Lily. “What the hell was that all about?”

“Jackson, Tia came in here and was throwing Lily’s breakup in her face and claiming that’s why she didn’t want to go to the reunion, so I stepped in and said she had a boyfriend. You justhappenedto ride up right at that point. I mean, I was desperate!” Kayla squeaks.

Lily throws her hands up. “And what are we supposed to do when we fake a relationship in front of everyone and then have to ‘break up’? Did you think about that?!”

“Not really, but—”

“Jesus, Kay,” I say, rubbing my eyes. “This is the definition of a harebrained scheme.”

“I panicked, okay? Tia Worthing was being so cruel as per usual, and I couldn’t stand it after everything Lily has . . . ”

“Kayla, I’m fine,” Lily says, though the vigor has dissipated in her voice. “Who cares what Tia Worthing thinks anyway?”

Kayla puts her hands on her hips. “Tia Worthing doesn’t get to walk around Cider Bay like this is still high school. She thinks she can, but she doesn’t have any lockers to stuff anyone in.” Kayla glares at me. “Or brothers to date.”

I scratch the back of my neck. “Listen, I’ve apologized before for all that.” In truth, dating Tia was . . . spite. Lily had, unknowingly, broken my heart. And I wanted to do something to hurt her. I was a teen boy, not very smart, and definitely not being fair. Instead, I upset my sister more than anything by dating the mean girl of Cider Bay High.

“Well, you can apologize even more by taking Lily to her reunion,” Kayla says with a chipper smile.

“You don’t have to do that, Jackson,” Lily says.

I chew on the inside of my cheek. I’d do it for her. Even though it might hurt to play a pretend version of the thing I really want.

Kayla scoffs. “Come on! You two just played along without batting an eye! It looked so natural.”

My heart skips a beat. Did it really looknatural?

“Besides, Tia and all her goons are going to expect it now,” Kayla says. “It’s not something you can just get out of now that she knows.”

Lily folds her arms over her chest. “And whose fault is that?”

Kayla’s eyes widen. “Look, why do we need to assignfault, huh?”

Lily sputters in frustration, then turns to face me. “Seriously, Jackson. You don’t have to do this. It’s a ridiculous farce.”

“Of course, he’ll do it,” Kayla intercedes. “You wouldn’t leave my best friend high and dry, would you? Besides, you didn’t go to your reunion last year.”

“Business trip,” I retort.

“You’re not goingthisyear,” Lily says to Kayla.

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