Page 54 of Don't Fall For Your Brother's Best Friend

Brock laughs. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know you well enough, and you’re mean.”

Brock steps closer, towering over Willow’s shorter frame. “Only to you.” And he walks out of the laundry room.

Willow pushes her brown curls off her face. “I hate your brother.”

Trying to ease the tension, I laugh. “He’s only joking with you, Willow. He isn’t only mean to you.” But he kind of is.

I don’t know what the issue is with Brock and Willow, but they’ve always fought with each other. Ever since they were little.

Together Willow and I head back into the kitchen, and I smile when I spot Griffin helping my mother cook.

“Did you need me, Mom?” I ask her, and my mother smiles.

“Can you and Griffin head to the store and pick up another jug of milk? We’ve completely run out.”

Willow stifles a laugh beside me, and I nudge her with my elbow. Real smooth.

“Um, sure. Okay.” I shake my head, trying my best to pretend my mother isn’t the most obvious person in the whole wide world.

Griffin and I walk side by side, heading toward the front door when Callum stops us.

“Where are you two off to?” he asks with an arch of his brow.

“Mom wants us to pick up milk. She says we’re out.”

“I just saw a full jug in the fridge in the garage.” He heads in that direction, and returns quickly with a carton of milk, and Griffin laughs beside me.

Callum hauls Griffin away, and I head back into the kitchen.

“Nice try, Mom,” I say.

She shrugs. “Had to try something.”

I want to tell my mother all about Griffin and me, but I know my mother, she can not keep a secret. And this is a biggie.

“Hi Carol,” Millie says, walking into the kitchen with Hartford and Brock.

“Millie, how’s the store?” my mother asks her.

Millie’s a cute little blonde who owns the local bookstore downtown. She’s got these bright blue eyes, and she’s always smiling. It shows off her dimples in each cheek.

“It’s going well. I can’t believe next month will be two years since it's been open.”

“Time flies,” I say.

“Anya, hey. Claire has been non stop talking about her anniversary dinner you held for her at Atta Boy.”

“Yeah, we had a great time.”

Tripp stalks into the kitchen, and stops when he sees us all talking.

“Hey Tripp,” my mother says. “Did you and Dad figure out the table?”

He shrugs, nods, and flies out of the kitchen like he was just struck by lightning.

“Wonder what his deal is,” Brock says, leaning to give Millie a kiss on the cheek. “I’m gonna go and talk to him.”