Page 80 of Just Friends Forever
Austin just raises his brows.
I lift my shoulders and raise my brows right back at him like I don’t have the slightest clue why he wants to talk.
“What’re you doing, Troy?”
“Well, I wastryingto watch—”
“Stop. Why did you tell Stevie and me to go on a date?”
“Because I think it’s a good idea.” It really is. It’s facing my greatest fear directly and letting my older brother take the only woman I’ve ever loved. It just makes sense. My brother is annoying as heck sometimes, but he’s a good guyandhe can give Stevie the life she’s used to enjoying. They could be really happy together, and I want both of them to be happy.
“You don’t really think that,” Austin says. “A man doesn’t tell a woman he’s in love with to go out with his own brother.”
I shake my head and turn away. “I’m not in love with her, Aus.” Amazing how boldly I can state a bald-faced lie like that. It’s one I’ve been telling myself for years, so I’ve had plenty of practice.
“Yeah,” he says with a scoff, “that bald head of yours just screamsI’ve moved on.”
I rub it self-consciously. “You’re reading into it too much.”
“Am I? Do I need to bring out the wisdom teeth video again for a little refresher?”
“That was ten years ago, Austin. Time to get over it.”
“I will when you do,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “Look, if you don’t take Stevie out, you’re an idiot. She was always into you.”
“That was ten years ago, Troy. Time to get over it.”
Dang. I really walked right into that one. “Just take her out, okay? You’d be doing me a favor.”
He looks at me for a few seconds. “You know what? Fine. I will. I’ll take her out.”
“Good,” I say while my heart slips beneath the water of Masochist Bay like Jack Dawson in Titanic. Like Rose, I watch instead of offering it space on my large floating door.
“Good,” Austin says. “Glad we got that ironed out.”
I narrow my eyes. He gave in way too easily and looks far too smug.
“You’re planning something, aren’t you?” I say.
“Huh?”
He totally is. He’s probably going out with Stevie just so he can tell her I’m in love with her. He’s planning to throw me under the bus.
“Don’t, Aus.”
“Don’t what?”
“Whatever you’re planning to do on the date,” I say. “To paraphrase my favorite actor, keep my name out your freaking mouth.”
He snorts. “You’re going to sock me in the face like I’m Chris Rock and you’re Will Smith?”
“100% I will.”
He chuckles and puts up his hands in surrender. “Fine. I won’t even say your name.”
“Fine.”
