Page 13 of Wrong Number, Right Grumpy Brother’s Best Friend

I was mad. Furious. Yet something happens when he and I fight. Something electric gets mixed up with the irritation until I can’t tell where one ends and something so different begins. My skin gets hot, my heart beats faster, and every nerve in my body becomes painfully aware of him.

Which infuriates me more.

He has this uncanny ability to show up exactly when I’m trying my hardest to prove I can do things on my own and failing miserably at it. I don’t need anyone swooping in, and I sure as heck am not the swooning type.

But this last week is just another fab example of how screwed up my life is. When I called Gearheads Garage about towing my car, it was already sitting in their garage with four brand new tires waiting for me to pick it up. I called Logan and swallowed what little pride I had to thank him for the tires and swear I’d pay him back. He didn’t ask questions or give me a lecture. Just welcomed me home.

I should be grateful, and I am. But a small part of me wonders if Logan’s stopped asking questions because even he’s grown tired of the answers. Why my plans fell through. Why another job didn’t work out. Why I fall for the wrong guy every damn time and end up right where I started, only broker than the time before.

This time was supposed to be different.

“Earth to Lynn.”

I’ll find a job, pay Logan back, and get out of Briar’s apartment before I wear out my welcome. No more scattered messes trailing behind me. No more of Brian swooping in to pull me out of trouble.

Oddly, that makes me a little sad.

“Earth to Lynn.”

The Proposal’s movie credits roll across the television, but all the names are a blur, my thoughts a million miles away.

I’m blindsided by a pillow smacking me in the face. It falls, hitting the half-eaten bowl of popcorn in my lap tilts and spills across my pajama bottoms and the cushions. I turn to look at Briar, sitting cross-legged at the other end of the sofa.

“Where were you? I’ve been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes.” She leans forward and turns the volume down.

I squeeze my eyes shut, and a solitary tear leaks out at the corner. I’m a complete failure, even after standing up for myself with Josh. I thought my luck had changed. It’s embarrassing to admit that even to my best friend.

“Wondering why we watch sappy movies like this.” I pick at the stray popcorn kernels littering the sofa. “Every rom-com is the same. The person who annoys them the most is always the one who sees them at their worst. There’s nothing sexy about that.”

“Nope, but it’s romantic.” Briar straightens, her face softening with a hopeful romantic grin. “They spend all that time circling each other and driving each other crazy, but not because they hate each other. Deep down, they love each other, but are too stubborn and afraid to admit it. They’re drawn to each other like super magnets.” She gestures with her hands, binding her fingers together in a tight knot. “And neither one of them could ever be happy with anybody else.”

Well, shit.

“Doesn’t that sound kind of... I don’t know... toxic?” I ask, innocently enough.

“Girl, If a man looked at me the way Andrew looked at Margaret in the end, I’d be putty in his hands. I don’t care how I get there, I just want someone who’ll show up for me every damn day of the week.” She clutches her fisted hands to her chest and lets out a huge sigh. Just as quickly she grabs the remote, giddy and ready for a double feature. “Wanna watch How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? I want to see Matthew McConaughey grovel.”

Oh, Brian will keep showing up just to piss me off. But he’d never grovel. Especially now.

CHAPTER TEN

Brian

The drill whines as I drive another screw into the board, sinking it flush with the wood. I give it a tug to make sure it’s solid, then step back and look at what Logan and I have accomplished so far.

Which isn’t much.

Lola has plans for the backyard. Big plans, judging by the stack of lumber, pavers, and bags of rock scattered across the grass. A bigger patio, some kind of pergola, enough seating to host half the neighborhood and then some, and whatever else she’s got tucked away on the list Logan keeps pulling out of his pocket.

I’m afraid to see what else she brings back from her shopping trip with the girls. They set out for Green with Envy to pick out plants over an hour ago.

Logan wipes a bead of sweat dripping from his chin, and adjusts his ball cap. “I’ve got stiff competition to get this right. Keeping up with the Jones’ or in this case, the Steel’s.

“You mean Justice?”

“And Gabby. They’ve been hosting the Home Wreckers crew and friends for years.” He places his hands on his hips and surveys the new pool and the projects in progress we’ve started. “Lola wants the kind of place people want to relax at, too.”

“Hate to break the news to you, but this is anything but relaxing.” I grab another board and line it up with the last one. “This is what happens when you shack up with a woman with big ideas.”