Page 9 of Loving My Brother's Best Friend

Ryan had bet me fifty bucks that I wouldn't go to the speed dating event the restaurant he cooked in was holding, but fifty dollars buys a lot of donuts and coffee, and I have little to no shame. I stalk to the bedroom, digging in my dress pocket for the speed dating ticket, and slap it into his palm when I emerge.

Grinning, Ryan opens his wallet and hands over a crisp fifty. "Here you are, princess. Did you have a good time?"

I chew on the inside of my lip, thinking. My instinct is to lie directly to his face about Ethan, but holding back my feelings about Ethan all of this time is what got me into this predicament in the first place. And again, I have very little shame. Ethan might lie, but I won't.

I'll definitely hold back some of the sordid details, though.

"So you might want to sit down for this."

Ryan's eyebrows rise. "It's that bad, huh?"

"Worse," I say solemnly.

He follows me into the living room, and I gesture for him to sit. When he does, I grab a cushion off the couch, holding it in my lap as I sit beside him. Might as well be comfy while I have my heart torn to shreds by my brother.

"Okay," Ryan says slowly. "Now you're really scaring me."

I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. "I made a match last night. It was Ethan Hayes.”

"Oh shit. I mean, oh no," Ryan says, and I can see the cogs of his mind turning. Something about his tone of voice sets off alarm bells in my head, and I narrow my eyes. His concern and surprise seem … fake. "That's so crazy."

I lean forward, searching his face. "Ryan, what is going on?"

"Nothing," he insists, but I can see him bite the inside of his cheek. "How, uh, did it go? With Ethan, I mean."

"Not great," I say cautiously. "He kind of ditched me." I leave out the part where the ditching happened this morning, not last night.

Ryan leans back, sighing. "That moron. I swear he's the most unaware jerk I know."

Oh boy. I sit back and cross my arms, giving him my best 'explain yourself' look.

"Because," he continues, "I asked him to go speed dating. I didn't tell him you were going. I set this whole thing up so you guys would finally see you should be together."

My eyes widen. "You what?" I can feel my voice rising, and Ryan cringes.

"Look, you were still feeling like garbage about Jason, and Ethan is … well, Ethan is in love with you. And you're in love with him or were, or something. I thought this would help."

"In love with me? Ethan?"

"Is that so surprising? You two were crushing hard when we were younger, but there was no way I was encouraging something that gross." He puffs out his chest. "But I'm a mature man now."

"I … that's not … I didn't … shit." I bury my face in my hands. "You're just as much of a moron as he is, you know."

Ryan puts an arm around me, his voice quiet. "He'd never admit it to me, but he's been stuck on you forever. Ethan's not an asshole. He never made a move, but that's because of me. He was a good friend like that."

My mouth opens and then shuts. "Did you ever, I don't know, tell him that you're okay with the idea of us being together? Wouldn't that have been wise before setting us up?"

He has the good graces to blush, then looks down at the floor, kicking at it. "Ah, well. No. I figured you'd hit it off, and then he'd come to me, and I could give him the all-clear."

"And you don't think that's the most ass-backward way to go about it possible? For fuck's sake, Ryan. You have to tell him all of this. He bailed this morning because he's so worried about ruining your friendship." I can't believe this. It's just so stupid. So ridiculously stupid. "You have to fix this, and if you don't, I'm going to kill you."

I'm so irritated and frustrated, I can't stand it. I stand up, flinging my arms around my brother's shoulders as he sits on the couch. "You have to tell him. Now. I'm going to work, just lock up when you leave, you asshole."

Ryan wraps his arms around me, laughing. "All right, all right. I'll tell him. Promise." Then he pauses just as I open the front door, and when he speaks, his voice sounds high and scandalized. "Wait, did you say this morning?"

"Bye! Love you!" I quickly shut the door behind me, laughing all the way to my car. I feel lighter. Hopeful.

Maybe today won't be a bust after all.

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