Page 71 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

Another reminder that we hadn’t sortedanythingout.

“She enjoyed skiing,” Nate continued with a shrug. “More socializing can’t hurt, right?”

The room seemed to tilt for a second, Nate’s casual words throwing me off balance.

He had no idea how loaded this was for the rest of us—how every glance, every word, every second around Lila had become a tangled web of want and guilt.

Why were we doing this?

Why did we have to get ourselves into such a mess?

There was no way this could end well.

And yet…

Yet I liked the idea of seeing her in a ball gown. Even if she was on Nate’s arm.

What the hell was wrong with me?

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

Lila

I staredat myself in the full-length mirror, unsure if I was looking at the same person who had barely mustered the energy to leave the house a few weeks ago.

My reflection was all dressed up—long, flowing navy gown, the fabric hugging my curves just right, my hair pinned up in soft waves with a few strands framing my face.

For a moment, I didn’t even recognize myself.

But it felt good.

It feltnormal.

“You look gorgeous, Lila,” Nate said from the door, his voice low and sincere.

I smiled, turning to him. Nate was in a sharp black suit, looking every bit the part of the charming older brother I’d always known. But tonight, he felt a little different—more grown up somehow.

Maybe it was the way he was looking at me, like it was his responsibility to make sure I had fun. It made my chest tighten, but it also made me feel incredibly cared for.

“Thanks. You clean up well yourself,” I teased, trying to ease the pressure of the moment.

He smiled back, a real, genuine smile, one that I hadn’t seen much of since everything fell apart.

I could tell how much this night meant to him, and I hated the fact that I was holding so many secrets from him… secrets aboutthem.

“You ready for this?” Nate asked, offering me his arm.

I hesitated, glancing at the phone I’d left behind on the vanity, knowing it could ring at any moment. It had been a few days since I’d received the threatening texts, but it didn’t stop the gnawing unease I felt.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell Nate about any of it. How could I? It would only ruin his night, and I didn’t want that.

“Yeah. Let’s go,” I said, trying to sound confident.

He nodded and we left the house together, the cool evening air greeting us as we stepped outside. His car was parked in front of the house, polished and gleaming in the dim light.

The drive to the ball was quiet at first, with just the sound of soft music playing and the hum of the engine.

When we arrived at the venue, the ballroom was exactly as I’d imagined—lavish, glittering with gold and white accents, the kind of place I could never have pictured myself at when I was younger.

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