Page 54 of Fake Dating My Best Friend

“Well, if it isn’t Frosthaven’s very own Cupid,” Devyn says, his voice carrying across the café. “How’s my favorite matchmaker doing today?”

Isla looks up, surprise flickering across her face. “Dev! I didn’t know you were back in town. Where’d you go? I haven’t seen you around in a few weeks.”

Every muscle in my body tenses as Devyn invades her space. He’s working that hero smile of his, the one that’s probably rescued more hearts than people.

“Just got back yesterday,” Devyn claims the chair next to Isla like he owns it. “Was doing wildfire training upstate for a couple of weeks. Couldn’t stay away from Frosthaven’s charms for too long. Speaking of which, how about we catch up over dinner sometime?”

The café’s too noisy to hear more, but I don’t need words to see how Devyn’s practically breathing her air, one arm casually draped over her chair. My coffee turns bitter in my mouth as he leans in to whisper something. My fingers clamp around my mug hard enough to turn my knuckles white.

“Bro,” Conner’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “You planning someone’s murder over there?”

“I’m fine.” I force my eyes back to our table. “Just thinking about work.”

“Work?” Xander’s eyebrow arches. “That’s why you’re about to break that mug?”

“Look who’s talking,” I shoot back, nodding at his death grip on his own cup.

Xander eases his grip on the cup, knuckles slowly losing their edge.

“You remember Devyn?” I ask.

Conner and Xander exchange a look. Xander’s mouth pulls just enough to say he’s amused.

“Devyn?” Conner stretches his arms behind his head. “I remember Devyn used to follow Isla around in high school.”

“Still does, apparently.”

“And that bothers you because . . .?”

“It doesn’t bother me. Guy’s just laying it on thick.”

“Sounds like there’s a story there.”

“No story. He just moved back to town a year ago. Joined the fire department. And now he’s everywhere, helping old ladies cross streets, rescuing cats from trees—”

“And . . .?” Conner cuts in, grinning.

“I’m just being protective. That’s all.” I glance at Devyn. “You know how Devyn can be.”

Xander runs a thumb along the edge of his jaw. “Her brother’s right here, and he’s not murderous.You are.”

I grumble. “Nobody’s that charming without an agenda.”

Xander turns to Conner, acting like I’m not even there. “Looks like someone’s allergic to competition.”

I decide to sign them up for Couples Zumba with Betty.

Another burst of laughter came from Isla’s table. Devyn’s practically glowing with pride, like making her laugh is some kind of achievement. Amateur. Try making her laugh so hard that she snorts hot chocolate through her nose during movie night. That’s talent.

“Just admit it,” Xander cuts in, “you’re jealous.”

Telling Conner feels like signing my own death warrant. This is the guy who’s watched me be his sister’s best friend for years. The same guy who once told me he’d break a guy’s nose just for looking at Isla wrong. And now I’ve got to tell him I want to be more than her friend?

“I’m not-” I start to protest, but my words die in my throat as Devyn leans even closer to Isla, his intention clear. If he tries to kiss her, I might actually commit a crime. You know, for protective reasons.

“Not jealous?” Conner’s grin turns positively wicked. “That’s good. Because she told me she has a date.”

I inhale my coffee instead of swallowing it, and I nearly crack the mug slamming it down. Devyn starts watching us like he’s about to sprint over and save the day.

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