Page 73 of Assisting My Brother’s Best Friend

My face burned, but I stepped forward into Drew's arms anyway, standing on tiptoes as I hugged him around the neck as if we were romantically involved. My stomach knotted when he closed his arms behind my waist.

Is this weird for him?

It had to be.

But it did feel nice.

Probably too nice.

"Okay, now I want you to say something to each other, so I can see if it comes through on the bugs," Alexis said.

"Hi," I said, leaning back with my arms still behind Drew’s neck and awkwardly looking up into his eyes.

"Hi." He grinned.

"Keep talking, guys," Alexis instructed.

This had to be the weirdest thing a boss had ever asked me to do. But deciding to just go with it, I said the first thing that came to my mind.

"You smell really nice.” And then I cringed internally since I now looked like an idiot.

“Yeah?" he asked.

And since he hadn’t just said I was an idiot for saying that I said, ”Yeah."

I inhaled again, enjoying his familiar scent. He wasn't wearing the expensive-smelling cologne today. He smelled like he had when we were younger.

"It reminds me of when you were in college. Isn't it weird how certain smells bring back memories? Like right now, this reminds me of Christmas Break my senior year of high school, when I was making the finishing touches to the screenplay I entered in the that silly high school writing contest." I kept babbling on, hoping it would make the awkwardness dissipate.

"I remember that. Though I'm pretty sure I just made you mad every time you asked me to help."

"Frustrated…maybe." I smiled, interlocking my fingers behind Drew's neck. "But like I always say, you always made my guy characters sound way better. In fact, I think I may need your help with something, if you're not too busy sometime."

"What do you need?"

"I've been working on another screenplay."

"Imagine that." His eyes crinkled at the corners.

"I can't help myself." I lifted my shoulders. "But I'm having a hard time capturing the hero's voice. He sounds all wrong and I could use a man's input."

Drew didn't hesitate. "I'd love to help. Name the time and I'm there."

"Any time after work is good for me. I have no life outside of that, besides visiting Lana tonight."

"Well, working for this show is pretty exciting." He smiled, and I couldn’t help but think that he really looked so good when he smiled. Was it possible that he just got better and better looking with age? "How about we get together tomorrow? They're giving you the day off, right?"

I nodded. "That’ll be perfect."

"Okay, you guys can stop now. Let's move to the couch next." Alexis's voice came through my phone, startling me so much that I jumped away from Drew. I had completely forgotten Alexis was listening to everything.

And I realized, too late, that I'd made it way too obvious that I didn't have a husband at home to help me with my screenplays.

I was so getting fired.

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