Page 34 of That Time I Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend

“Sorry, man.” Brady claps Beau on the back. “But Nat and I figured out a long time ago that you and Kasey were into each other.”

Natalie leans over to chime in. “This is true.”

“We also knew you’d never get together if we suggested it directly.”

Nat nods. “Also true.”

Brady slings an arm around Beau’s sister. “The real trick for Nat and me was hitting just the right level of sibling disinterest. We wanted your relationship to feel irresistible. But notimpossible.”

“Well, the joke’s on you,” I choke out, and the group shifts their focus back to me. “Because Beau and I feel nothing for each other. We aren’t in love. We never have been. We were just fooling all ofyoutonight.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Natalie says.

Pop, pop, pop!

Another round of fireworks explodes at the same time my heart is imploding. But I ignore my traitorous insides and turn to my mom. “Come on, Mom. Admit it. You and Mrs. Slater have been master strategists, arranging for Beau and me to be together for days.”

My mom and Mrs. Slater exchange shrugs, and I glance at Beau, who’s fixated on his feet. Do I really have to Scooby Doo this thing for everyone by myself? And why do I feel like throwing up?

Overhead, the fireworks finale lights up the sky. Brady and Nat look at each other. My mom and dad look at each other. Mr. and Mrs. Slater look at each other. Then, as if they all heard the punchline at the same time, they all start cracking up.

Whoa. I take a step backward, knocked off balance. This is not the reaction I expected. Beau finally cuts his gaze my way, and his eyes are so warm and kind.He’sso warm and kind. And generous. Not to mention gallant. It’s an old-fashioned word for a modern guy. But I can’t think about any of that right now. Not when everybody’s laughing at me.

“What’s so funny?” I ask, heat clawing up my throat.

My mom covers her mouth, stifling a giggle. “Kasey. Dear. I don’t know what conspiracy theorist got ahold of you, but Betty and I were just trying to have a nice holiday with all our kids home at the same time. If you and Beau thought we had some other agenda, one involving you two…well…” Her voice trails off for possibly the first time in my life.

Mrs. Slater nods. “I’m sorry if you felt manipulated, but I promise we weren’t scheming behind your backs.” She reaches out to touch Beau’s shoulder with one hand, and mine with the other. She’s awfully gentle for a master strategist. Which means she’s probably not one.

I turn to Brady. “If you really wanted Beau and me together, why were you always such a jerk every time I was near you two?”

“You mean back when I was fifteen?” He cracks a smile. “Newsflash, Kase. Not wanting your little sister hanging around is pretty normal behavior for a big brother.”

Ugh. Brady isn’t wrong. Which means I probably am.

A chill runs up my spine, and I glance at Natalie. “What about you, Nat? The Ex-Lax brownies? Youdefinitelyhated me.”

She snorts. “I was just jealous. I had a huge crush on Grantly Bender, but he was totally and hopelessly infatuated with you.”

“He was?” Gulp. “I had no idea.”

“Apparently, you miss some clues sometimes,” she says, darting her eyes at Beau. “But for the record, I’d neveractuallyslip something in someone else’s food. Plus that was years ago, and I’m pretty awesome now.” She fluffs her hair again. “So can we all agree to let Beforeland go?”

“Of course.” I swallow hard, trying not to feel ridiculous. I should behappythat nobody actually had it out for me. That I’m the only one who’s been stuck inBeforeland. But tonight was supposed to be my turn to turn the tables. To make someone else feel dumb for once. Now here I am feeling … dumb. Again.

Poisoned by the taste of your own medicine.

Brady chuckles. “I won’t lie. I was pretty jealous too.”

I press a palm to my flaming cheek. “Of what?”

“I wasn’t crushing on Grantly Bender or anything,” he says, “but I didn’t want to lose my best friend to my sister. Or lose you to Beau.” He bumps my shoulder. “You were my little buddy, Kase. And you were alsoreallyfun to torment.” He tilts his head at Beau. “So I recruitedthis guyto mess with you, hoping you’d keep away from him.” Brady’s mouth goes crooked. “Then we grew up. And it took me about three seconds to figure out you and Beau have real feelings for each other.”

Beau shifts his jaw and his weight, but he says nothing.

“Yep,” Natalie chimes in. “Beau would always ask about you withoutaskingabout you, you know?”

“Andyouonly came home when Beau wasn’t going to be here,” Brady adds. “So when I found out you’d both be here for the 4th—” he tilts his head at Natalie—“I recruitedthis girlto help me get you and Beau together.”

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