Page 4 of Falling For My Best Friend's Brother

“I know, but—”

I was losing it. “What about the business we wanted to start? What about the plans that we made?”

“Nina, calm down,” she tried to reason.

“But, you’re leaving New York. You’re leaving me!”

I didn’t mean to sound like a spoiled child who couldn’t handle the thought of being alone, but I was beyond caring.

We had plans. We talked about these plans for months, well before graduation. The only reason I’d agreed to move to an apartment with her and not back home with my parents was because we’d planned it together. We’d made a whole vision board and everything. And for fuck’s sake, we’d been here for less than a day, and now she was moving out?

It wasn’t fair.

At the risk of acting like a petulant toddler, I was very close to crying and stomping my feet.

Lindsay inched closer, her face a mask of regret. “Neens, I'm sorry. It just happened; I swear. I didn’t plan it. I didn’t even know that I’d get it. Come on. Don’t be like that. I was hoping you’d be happy for me.”

“I am—” The words died on my lips. Truthfully, I felt betrayed. Linsday had applied for a job behind my back, all the while deluding me into believing she was looking forward to starting life after college with me. If she actually was, she never would have eventhoughtof applying for work without telling me, and all the way in another city!

So yes. I was spiteful.

Lindsay bit her lip. “I can stay if you want me to.”

And she would. If there was one thing I knew about my Lin, it was how selfless she was when it came to the people she loved. Wasn’t that why she’d stayed with that dumbass of an ex for as long as she did?

I was a tough person to please, but Lindsay always tried her best, making it nearly impossible to resist her efforts.

Obviously, this was something she wanted, otherwise she wouldn’t have even applied. How could I ask her to give that up without looking like a terrible person? I was selfish, but not with my best friend. Lindsay was everything to me.

Running a hand through my hair, I huffed. This was the worst kind of news to wake up to.

“No, do that,” I finally sighed. “It’ll take a little getting used to living here alone, but... I’ll be fine.”

Lindsay smiled shyly. “But you won’t be alone.”

My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?” Then it hit me. “Oh, fuck me.”

“Aw, come on, Neens. It’ll be great. Look on the bright side: at least you won’t be totally alone. Knox will be here to keep you company.”

I groaned, holding my face with my hands. “Shut the fuck up. This is all your fault. I’m gonna be stuck with your uptight brother.” My head snapped up. “When do you leave?”

Her hazel eyes sparkled with guilt as she bit the inside of her cheek. “One week. I was asked to start as soon as possible.”

Lovely. Not only was my best friend moving to a whole new city without me, but I was about to be stuck living with her brother, who hated humans. Just great. Fucking peachy.

But, there was nothing I could do. As a good friend, I had to support her, no matter how hard it was to accept.

There were few times in life when I’d had the opportunity to support Lindsay. It wasn’t a frequent occurrence, as she was pretty independent, but I liked being needed.

The most recent one was earlier this year, the last months of college, after Theo, her boyfriend of two years, broke up with her.

I’d always thought Lindsay was too good for him, and as much as it had hurt me to see her in so much pain, I was glad they were over.

***

We spent the next week doing everything and nothing at all, just like we used to. Even though Lindsay’s move out hung overus like a dark cloud, we threw our backs into decorating our apartment. We ate and laughed and watched movies together like we did in college. I tried to forget that in a matter of days, we wouldn’t be able to do this anymore.

The day before she left, I went into her room to help her pack. I didn’t dare ask how long she would be away. It was most likely that Lindsay didn’t know herself, and even if she did, it’s hope that kills anyway. I couldn't spend the next few months—or years—counting the days until she came back.

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