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Our smiles faded then.

“Be a fuck boy with all the other girls, but not Jamie.”

As an adult I understood her concerns. It would’ve been beyond shit to have to walk into your ex’s place every time you wanted to hang out with your best friend. I was nothing but a snot-nosed kid back then, sure to break her heart without even realising it. I hadn’t deserved a chance with Jamie.

But now…?

“What the fuck are you talking about, Mills?”

I tried to say that in a drawl, all nonchalant and shit, but instead my voice broke, ruining the illusion. My sister’s smile grew wider.

“I know.”

My heart started pounding harder than the moment when we came home to tell Dad we’d crashed the car driving around with our mates, but just like then, I had to put a brave front on it.

“You know what, Millie?” I said, straightening up as I crossed my arms.

“I know you’ve been panting after Jamie for years.” My jaw locked down tight. “That you never have relationships that last beyond a month or two, and even those have been few and far between.” My teeth ground together. “And that you have a type. Curvy girls with light brown hair, just like Jamie has.”

“You seem to pay a whole lot of attention to my love life,” I said as casually as I could. “Can’t say I do the same. The only common thread I’m seeing is that they’re all dickheads.”

“And yours are all Jamie-lites. Want to change that?”

“Are you ever going to actually explain what this is all about or is this like charades again?” I raised a hand, pretending to hold an old video camera. “Is it a movie, TV show, or book?”

“It’s you dating my best friend.”

“What?”

My hands fell limp by my side. It was like every muscle in my body went lax right then.

“Got your attention now, have I? Well, here’s the deal. You know how intense Jamie’s mum is.” Did I ever. The lady was a force of nature. “Well, Majorie wants Jamie married, so my girl’s been holding her mum off with stories about casually dating three guys.” Muscle tension was back as my hands formed fists, ready to smack whichever of these dickheads I could get to first. “They don’t actually exist,” she said with a snort, making clear that Millie had caught my visceral reaction. “Well, not until now. Do you think you and your idiot twin can put on a show for her mum? Take Jamie out, give her a good time, and convince her parents that you’re actually keen to take things to the next level? It’d only be for a week.”

But it wouldn’t be. I smiled slowly, Millie’s eyes narrowing as she saw it.

“So you’re rescinding the ban?” I said, one eyebrow rising. “You know you can’t slap it back on again.”

“The ban was only supposed to last until the end of high school.” Millie shook her head. “Jamie was the only real friend I had at the time, and I didn’t want you guys fucking that up for me, but once we graduated, everyone was an adult.” She stared at me meaningfully. “Free to make their own choices.”

And I chose Jamie.

I tried to stop my smile from widening and failed utterly.

“I’ll date her for a week,” I replied, like I was doing Millie some big favour, “but if she’s enjoying herself, I’m not gonna stop. You know that, right?”

My sister let out a long sigh.

“I do. I think it’s why I haven’t said anything about it before, but…” Her brows jerked down. “You’re gonna treat her like a princess. No, a queen. If you hurt her…” She shoved a finger in my face. “I know where you live, brother.”

Hurt her? My chest ached at the thought of it. I shook my head sharply, not able to put that into words.

“Threatening Hay Bale already?” We both turned around to see Hunter coming down the hall. “What’d you do this time, dickhead?”

“Nothing, if he knows what’s good for him,” Millie growled. “Now, you?—”

“I’ll tell him,” I said, grabbing my brother’s arms and dragging him down the hall. “You…” I swallowed hard. “You break the news to Jamie.”

“What the fuck?” Hunter said, jerking himself free of my grip when we got to the kitchen. “What’s got your knickers in a twist?”