Even though I’d moved away for college, then to Los Angeles, and despite living in the same city now, meeting her wasn’t easy.I missed the way I used to stroll down to her house after school, spending hours in her room, talking about books, music, and boys.
“Missed you so much,” Amanda said, squeezing me tighter.“You get prettier every time I see you.”
I blushed, smiling back.“So do you!”
We hugged again, only stopping when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around us both.
Amanda gave a sharp nudge to her brother.“What the fuck are you doing?”
He ignored her and just grinned wider.“I love group hugs!”
“Ew, go find your own friends to hug,” Amanda elbowed him hard enough to make him wince and pull away.“Katie is mine.”
Dylan pouted, eyeing her arm around me, then casually slung his own around my shoulder.
“No, she’s mine,” he said it like it was a fact, as the two siblings sandwiched me between them.“She used to tutor me.”
“Yeah, only because you were stupid,” Amanda shot back, pinching his side and glaring at him.“Now get lost!”
Dylan turned his pout to me, his chest bare and ridiculously eye-catching.
Why did he have to look so… hot?With defined abs and tanned skin.
“Katie,” he said, voice dripping with false innocence.“Tell your friend to stop bullying me.I just want to spend time with you…both.Is that so bad?”
I blinked at his performance.Wow.He was good at lying.Maybe I should learn that from him as well.
I shrugged free of their hold and faced them side by side, their resemblance obvious.“How about we cook dinner together?”
Ding Dong.
The doorbell made me jump.
Amanda grinned.“That’s our dinner!”She went to open the door, while Dylan’s smug expression didn’t falter.
“Hi sexy,” he winked at me.
“No,” I replied flatly.
He gasped, clutching his chest.“Stop hurting my poor heart, darling.”
“Go wear a shirt,” I said, proud of myself for not glancing past his chin.
“No,” he smirked.“I enjoy having your eyes ogle my hot body.”
“Disgusting,” I deadpanned, and moved to help Amanda carry boxes of pizza to the coffee table in front of the huge TV.
My stomach growled as the smell of melted cheese and pepperoni hit me.We made small talk while I tried to ignore the fact that Dylan had shut himself in his room.Amanda told me he was living with her for a few months since he had sold an app.
I knew he was smart, but I didn’t realize he was tech-bro-smart with his mischievous side.
Later, I handed Amanda a small necklace I had made myself using her favorite gemstone and a simple design I’d tinkered with after work hours.
Her eyes widened, glossy with emotion, and she hugged me tightly.“I love it so much,” she said when I helped her fasten it around her neck.“You’re such a creative jeweler!”
I smiled, grateful she liked it.I’d poured hours of effort into the piece, wanting to try something different.
“You should open your own store,” she said playfully, fiddling with the pendant.“I could help you design the packaging, build the entire website, and you could?—”
