Page 30 of That Time I Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend
He rubs at the back of his neck. “And after everyone finds out the truth, you and I will go back to being absolutely nothing to one another. Do I have that right?”
This stops my heart for a beat. “I mean, yes. I’ll be in LA, and you’ll be traveling the world. We’ll both be living our dream lives, finally doing what we’ve always worked for.”
“Makes sense.” Beau meets my gaze, and something flashes behind his eyes.
“Youdolike your job, don’t you?”
“No.” He drops his chin. “I don’t like my job. Iloveit.” His voice is thick, and I can practicallyseethe word “love” on his lips.
“That’s great.” I swallow. “Then we’re both going to be happy after all.” Even as I say this, my insides churn. A part of me was hoping Beau would fight for the possibility ofus. But I shouldn’t hope for something that wouldn’t be good for him. He looks down at me, and I tip my chin up. I’m a giant bowl of ache. Before he can see my true thoughts, I bend over to pick up the sandals he brought me from the car.
“Thanks for these, by the way.” I brush the dirt from the bottoms of my feet and slip the sandals on.
“Least I could do.” He dips his head, shy and sweet, then he hands me my phone. “So. Are we sending these videos?”
I swallow hard and force my mouth into a crooked tilt. “Mmm … not yet. But Iamgoing to hold onto them in case you back out tomorrow night. Or if you do a horrible job of pretending I’m the love of your life.”
“I’ll do my best.” Beau half-smiles, and my stomach swoops.
“You better.” I poke his chest. Oof. That rock-hard chest. “I’m counting on you to convince everyone you think I’m the bee’s knees. If not, I’ll post this video of you confessing all over the place.”
“Hold up.” His lips twitch. Oh, how I love when they do that. “Did I just hear you describe yourself as the bee’s knees?”
I snort. Oh, how I hate it when I do that. “I’m just helping you out, giving you more reasons to be fake-in-love with me. I mean, who can resist a woman this cool?” I sweep a hand down my body, and his eyes trace the path. Why did I draw attention to myself like that?
“Youarethe coolest, Kasey Graham.”
“Why, thank you, Beauregard Slater. That might be the smartest thing you’ve ever said.”
* * *
By the time Beau drops me off at my parents’ house, most of my extended family is already gone, but Mac and Daisy are still sitting in the front room along with half a dozen freshly decorated gingerbread houses. My dad’s favorite holiday album is playing. John Denver is singing “Christmas for Cowboys.” One glance at Daisy’s sticky face tells me my littlest cousin has had more than her fair share of candy today.
“Hey there, Cuz,” I say. Mac’s wiping Daisy’s mouth with a damp paper towel. He stops wiping and looks up at me.
“Well, well, well. The prodigal daughter returns.” He raises one eyebrow. “Where’ve you been all afternoon?”
“Places.” I kick off my sandals and collapse on the couch next to Daisy.
Mac nods in the direction of the kitchen. Based on the laughter coming from the other room, Aunt Remy and the triplets are still in there with my mom. “Somepeople might require a more specific answer than that,” he says.
I cringe.Uh oh. My stomach twists. By skipping the decorating, I missed a chance to spend more time with Darby, Liv, and Tess. Luckily, I have plenty of chances to make up for it before the week is over. We’ve still got the A-Fair. And the parade. Our family’s Christmas Eve and Christmas. “I hope no one’s too upset,” I say softly.
“Nah. We all had a great time.” Mac wads up the paper towel and sets it on the coffee table. “But be warned. Your whereabouts have been the subject of quite a bit of speculation this afternoon.” He offers me a sly smile. “Were you at least having fun?”
I glance at the kitchen again. “I’ve been busy. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Mac’s sly smile spreads into a full-blown grin. “Well, I for one am really glad I got to see you today. So is Daisy. Although she’s mostly showing her enthusiasm by eating her weight in sugar.”
“Thanks, Mac.” I smile back at him. “For the record, I’m glad I got to see you both too.” I reach out to scoop Daisy onto my lap, and I’m a little surprised when she lets me. As she settles back in my arms, I smell gingerbread sugar and peppermint. “What do you think, Daisy? Did you have fun today?” She says nothing, just sticks a thumb in her mouth. I decide this response meansyes. Daisy might not be talking, but that doesn’t mean she can’t communicate.
“There you are, Kasey!” My mother bursts into the room. She’s wearing a hat made of pretend deer horns, just like the scene fromHow the Grinch Stole Christmas.You know the one—when the Grinch makes his dog, Max, wear reindeer antlers. “We were so worried.” She’s actually wringing her hands, and I feel a stab of guilt about our plans to deceive her.
“I’m fine, Mom.”
She splays her hands to indicate the display of gingerbread houses. “You missed all the decorating. Who knows the next time everyone will be together for this again.”
Another stab of guilt cuts through me. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
