Read Online My Best Friend's Brother: A Standalone Friends to Lovers Romance (Soulmates Series Book 2) by Hazel Kelly - Free Book Online Page B

pigtails, it will be for myself."
     
    "The
motivation isn't what concerns me."
     
    "Second
of all, I know you're just trying to cheer me up, but you've already done that
brilliantly so you're off the hook. I appreciate the gesture and grant you the
freedom to go forth and ask whoever you want."
     
    "I'm
flattered that you think I'm being chivalrous, but I'm actually not." His
eyes dropped to my lips.
     
    My
heart stopped beating.
     
    "But
since you're hell bent on backing me into a corner, I guess I'll tell you the
truth."
     
    "Which
is?"
     
    "That
I'm asking you for purely selfish reasons."
     
    I
raised my eyebrows. "Oh?"
     
    "Because
ever since I picked up that stuff for you yesterday, all I can think about is
getting you in some high boots."
     
    I
pulled my knees up on the couch and faced him. "You're ridiculous."
     
    "And
you're my first choice."
     
    I
pursed my lips. Any other girl would say yes in an instant. He wasn't the kind of
guy women said no to.
     
    "And
it has nothing to do with pity. It's because last night was the most fun I've
had in a long time, and I want to spend some time with you before some other
asshole sweeps you off your feet and you stop hanging out with me again."
     
    "It
didn't happen like that."
     
    "Yeah,
it did," he said. "But I was partly responsible because I couldn’t
bear to-"
     
    I
tilted an ear towards him.
     
    "Just
let me take you out and remind you how you deserve to be treated before you put
yourself back on the market."
     
    I
took a deep breath.
     
    "It's
been too long since you went out with a gentleman."
     
    I
smiled. "And that's you, is it?"
     
    He
nodded. "Pigtails are optional."
     
    I
rolled my eyes. "And if I say no?"
     
    "You
won't."
     
    "How
can you be so sure?"
     
    "Cause
you love a theme party."
     
    "True."
     
    "And cause you owe me one."
     
    I
took a sip of champagne and felt the bubbles tickle my brain. "I thought
you helped me out with Mike out of the goodness of your heart."
     
    "Nope."
     
    "So
he was right about your ulterior motives?"
     
    "Completely."
     
    I
couldn't tell if he was joking. "And you thought he was a useless
meathead."
     
    "I
did."
     
    "Fine."
     
    He
smiled. "You could at least pretend to be excited."
     
    "I
am. I'm sure it'll be fun."
     
    He
nodded. "It always is."
     
    "Plus,
we're seniors. It's kind of my last chance to go to one, isn't it?"
     
    "I’d
rather think of it more like there's a first time for everything."
     
    The
look in his eye made my heart rattle in my chest.
     
    I desperately
wanted to ask if it was a date. Like a walk you home and kiss you at the end of
the night kind of date.
     
    But
I didn't think I could ask that without sounding hopeful.
     
    I
brought my fingers to the cut on my lip. "I hope this heals by then."
     
    "I'm
sure it will," he said. "And even if it doesn't, half your face could
be scabby and covered in Neosporin and I'd still be honored to have you as my
date."
     
    I
swallowed. Was there a word for this feeling? When someone else had the power
to make you feel pretty even when you felt like you were dragging your feet
along rock bottom?
     
    Maybe
I wouldn't regret saying yes.
     
    Maybe
he would even stay the night if I asked. I mean, I wasn't that worried about
Mike coming back. I'd never seen him look so defeated.
     
    But
Shane didn't know that. And whether it was an accident or not, he'd hardly left
me alone since I asked him for his help, his company.
     
    I
should've gone to him a long time ago. The first time this happened. He
would've knocked some sense into me the right way, the way Mike never did.
     
    My
lips fell apart.
     
    He
raised his eyebrows.
     
    "Do
you want to-" My tongue swelled in my mouth. Asking him to stay would
completely cancel out my nonchalance at his barn dance invitation.
     
    "What?"
     
    The
clock on the wall started ticking over everything.
     
    "You
probably can't, but-"
     
    "Can't
what?"
     
    He
was too beautiful, too perfect. Having