Page 14 of Kissing My Brother's Best Friend

I know I'm being stupid. I know I should just let it go. But I can't. I want Liam, and I don't want to lose him. I'm starting to drift off when my phone buzzes, startling me awake. I grab it, hoping it's Liam, but it's Brody.

Brody: Where are you?

Me: Home.

Brody: Good. Stay there. We need to talk.

Me: Okay.

I sigh and set my phone aside. Great, now I have to deal with my brother. Just what I needed. I hear Brody come home a few minutes later. He walks into my room without knocking.

"Hey," I say, sitting up.

"Hey." He sits on the end of my bed, his expression unreadable. "So … Liam, huh?"

"Yeah." I feel myself blushing, but I force myself to look him in the eye. "Yeah, Liam."

He sighs. "Look, Anna, I don't want to be the overprotective big brother here, but you know he's not going to stay around. He's going to move away after school and never come back. You're going to get hurt."

I take a deep breath. "I know that’s a possibility, Brody. But I also know that if I don't take this chance, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

Brody looks at me for a long moment, then sighs again. "Okay. Well. I'm going to be a total dick here, but I don't want to see it. I'm still pissed at him. Like, really fucking pissed. If he had at least asked me first, it would be one thing, but damn it, Anna. I just think you need to go home early, is what I'm trying to say. So we can all have some space."

It's a slap in the face, but I try not to let it show. "Okay."

Brody looks relieved. "Good." He stands up. "I'm gonna grab a beer and head out. See you later."

"Bye."

When he's gone, I sit in my room for a while, trying to process what just happened. So Brody doesn't want to see me with Liam, which means I basically can't stay here anymore. That's fine, I guess. I wasn't planning on staying much longer anyway.

But it does mean that I won't be able to see Liam anymore.

I feel like crying. How could I have fucked everything up so badly? I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't mean to fall for Liam. I just wanted to have some fun, to finally get a chance with my crush. But now everything is ruined.

I pack my bags and text Liam to let him know that I'm going home early. He doesn't respond, and I try not to take it personally. I leave a note for Brody and head out to my car, not wanting to stick around longer than necessary. I know Brody will understand. He's already mad enough at Liam, and if he sees me crying, he'll only get more upset.

It's a long drive home. I put on some music and try not to think about Liam. I fail miserably. I can't stop replaying the past two days together.

When I finally pull into my parents' driveway, I'm exhausted. I drag my bags inside, say a quick hello to my surprised mom and dad, and collapse on my bed, finally letting the tears come. I cry until I can't cry anymore, and then I fall asleep, hoping that when I wake up, things will be better.

* * *

At 7 AM,my mom pounds on my bedroom door. "Get up, Anna! Someone is at the door for you!"

Groggy, I sit up, rubbing my eyes. "Huh?"

"Downstairs," she huffs. "Come on, you've kept him waiting long enough."

Him?

"Who is it?" I ask frantically, all signs of sleepiness gone, but I can already hear Mom going downstairs.

I throw on whatever clothes are at the top of the pile, then check my hair in the mirror. My eyes are bloodshot, and my face is blotchy, but it'll have to do. Whoever's downstairs can deal.

When I get to the kitchen, I see Liam leaning against the counter, sipping a cup of coffee. "Morning," he says, his expression guarded. But there's something mischievous in his eyes he's trying to hide.

My parents are nowhere to be seen, which is a relief, but Mom has to know something is up if Liam is here to see me at the crack of dawn.

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