Page 26 of Enemies with My Brother's Billionaire Bestie

As I clickpost, I ask myself: Could tonight be the start of a new flame, and am I truly ready for it?

Chapter sixteen

Elliot

It’s happening again. I wake up with that same heavy, suffocating feeling in my chest, my heart lodged somewhere between my throat and my ribcage. One name echoes in my head: Olivia Reed.

I’ve had this same dream since I dropped her off the night of Daniel’s disastrous rehearsal dinner. Since she smiled at me. Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested friendship. Not when I’m dealing with all these conflicting emotions. What was I thinking?

A hand waves in front of me, snapping me out of my thoughts. Daniel’s staring at me like I’m a complete stranger. “Have you been listening to anything I’ve been saying, Elliot?”

I rip off my flour-covered apron and slam the pantry door shut, Daniel trailing closely behind as I make my way to my office.

“Of course I’ve been listening. Do you have to keep coming here? You’re making my staff uncomfortable,” I sigh, tossing the inventory on my desk.

My desk is a mess—crumpled papers from failed recipe attempts, empty coffee cups littering the surface. It’s hard to focus when my mind is as chaotic as the pile in front of me.

Daniel isn’t backing down. I guess stubbornness runs in the Reed family. He sits across from me, leaning in so close I can see the flecks of gray in his blond beard, highlighted by a streak of sunlight sneaking through the slightly open curtains.

“You can’t blame me for reacting this way. Friendship with my sister? Unless you’re dying or losing your mind, forgive me if I think you’re lying,” he says, and I can’t really blame him.

It’s hard to believe it myself. We’ve spent years hating each other—it’s not easy to just flip the script. But my heart’s getting too comfortable with the idea. Maybe enjoying it a little too much, and I’m not sure that was ever part of the plan.

“If you’re so doubtful, you can stick around. I invited Ollie over so you can see for yourself that I’m not planning to harm your sister,” I say casually, though inside, my nerves are buzzing like I’m a kid confessing his crush for the first time.

Daniel’s eyes widen in disbelief. “What! Why? What are you planning to do to her, Elliot? I will break your bones if you hurt her, El!”

He fires questions at me so quickly I can barely process them. If I weren’t worried about him having a heart attack—and dealing with Julia playing the angry fiancée—I might try to amuse him.

Shaking my head in mock disappointment, I reply, “For someone who claims to be my best friend, you sure don’t trust me. You wound me, man.”

“You can’t blame him, El. You’ve been playing the big bad wolf for years,” a voice says from behind, startling us both.

I turn to see Olivia leaning against the doorframe of my office. The yellow dress she’s wearing doesn’t quite go with those brown cowboy boots, but leave it to Olivia to break the rules andwear what makes her feel good. How does she manage to make my heart race again? Was she always this beautiful, or is it just that my heart is too fragile right now?

She hugs Daniel, then throws me a soft smile, like it’s the most natural thing in the world—as if she doesn’t realize how her smile makes me forget everything I’ve spent years convincing myself was true.

“You look like you’re about to pass out, you know?” she says, her finger pointing to my face.

I clear my throat and answer, “Blame your brother for stalking me for days. A stalker isn’t the best PR for a restaurant owner.”

“Stalker!” Daniel scoffs, exaggerated disbelief written all over his face as he grabs his phone from the desk.

“Ollie was right about the big bad wolf thing. And for the record, if you two ruin my wedding plans one more time, I’ll shave your heads,” he warns as he storms out of the room.

Olivia and I burst into laughter as we watch him leave. “Shave our heads? That’s a little dramatic, don’t you think?” I tease, and she nods in agreement.

“It is, but after last night, I think my brother might actually follow through on some of those empty threats,” she says, and when I tense up in surprise, she bursts into another laugh.

“If I’d known you scared so easily, I would’ve threatened you ages ago,” she adds, pulling me toward the door.

The thought of Emma reminds me of how poorly I treated her during the rehearsal dinner. Maybe I should have Aaron bake her an apology cake or something. As if reading my thoughts, Olivia takes my hand just before I unlock the passenger-side door for her.

“I already talked to Emma, and no, she’s not going to kill you,” she says, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “She says you’re way too handsome to be killed for one mistake. I’m not so sure, though.”

She’s smiling again, those blue eyes sparkling, and I can feel the butterflies stirring in my chest. Blinking rapidly, I force myself to look away before my hands find their way to the side of her face.

“You shouldn’t smile at me like that,” I mutter, unlocking the door and sliding into the driver’s seat.

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