After all, how in the hell could I be related to such a pretty girl? Look at me, and look at her. Anyone in their right mind would choose her, if given the choice.
Being second best had hurt me when we were younger, but it was what it was. This world was all about looks if you were a girl, and that would never change. Why bother trying to look nice when, even if I was all dolled up and clean, I’d never compare to her?
I heard my mom’s voice from the kitchen, “You’re home early. I thought you were hanging out with Kyle?” Michelle spent every waking moment she could with Kyle, so it wasn’t that strange for her to wonder it.
“I am,” Michelle chimed in, her voice preppy and fun and giggly, even when she wasn’t laughing. “I came home to drop my stuff off and get ready, then I’m out of here.”
I sighed to myself as I tried to focus on the TV screen, on whatever rerun was on right now. What I did not expect was to see Michelle saunter into the living room and block my view. She had her hands on her hips, her stance cocked as her bright blue eyes studied me. Her yellow hair was wavy, tumbling over her shoulders.
My sister was more than pretty. She was gorgeous in a way most girls never could be.
“What?” I asked when she did not move, when she did nothing but stare at me as if waiting for me to say something, to do something.
“Get up,” she said. “You and I have plans tonight.”
I blinked. Again, I said, “What?”
“You and I are going out,” she clarified, her stare level with me even though I refused to get up.
“I thought you were hanging out with Kyle?”
“I am, but his brother is in town, and he needs to get out of the house. He’s bringing Calum, and I’m bringing you.” Michelle gestured for me to get up and follow her up the stairs. “Come on, Bree. Let’s get you ready.”
Uh, I had no idea what she thought or why she thought it, but there was no way in hell I was going on a blind date with my sister’s boyfriend’s brother. And a double date at that. A blind, double date. Ew.
Don’t get me wrong, Kyle was nice enough. I’d met him on more than a few occasions since he and Michelle had been dating for so long, but he wasn’t exactly my type. If his brother was anything like him, he wouldn’t be my type, either.
Plus, me and a blind date? Yeah, not what I wanted to do.
What did I want to do on this Friday night? I’ll…I’ll get back to you on that.
“I’m not going,” I muttered, frowning to myself.
Mom poked her head in the room, a bag of pasta in her hands. “What’s this?”
Michelle glanced to her, saying, “I’m trying to get Bree to go on a double date with me and Kyle. Calum’s in town for a while.”
Our mom did not need to know any other detail apparently, for she perked up immediately. “That’s a wonderful idea,” she exclaimed, a full-blown smile gracing her face. “You should get out of the house more, Bree. And who knows? You might end up clicking with him.”
Yeah. Me clicking with my sister’s boyfriend’s brother was high on my priority list.
“I don’t want to,” I said, meaning it. This, Michelle practically coming in out of nowhere with this, it wasn’t fair. I couldn’t prepare myself to turn her down. I felt uneasy in every possible way, but my mom and my sister either didn’t care or were too blind to see it.
Michelle reached for me, grabbing my hand and hauling me to my feet. “Come on, Bree. I’m not taking no for an answer.” She practically bounced on her feet as she led me out of the living room, past our mom, and up the stairs.
She took me to her room, where all her makeup was.
“I’m glad to see you already showered,” she said, touching the still-damp tendrils of pink hair near my shoulder. “Straight or curled?”
“Michelle,” I whined, really not wanting to go. This would not end well; I could see it now. She and Kyle were perfect for each other, but that didn’t mean his brother and I would hit it off. I didn’t know nearly anything about him, besides his name and the fact that he was Kyle’s older brother. I did know he was a few years older than me.
“Girl, you’re coming,” Michelle said. “Don’t worry, it’s not going to be a crazy date or anything. Just dinner and a movie. You can handle that, can’t you?”
I could handle that as long as I didn’t see my sister and her long-term boyfriend get handsy in the theater or the booth across from me. I’d be miserable, but then again, that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for me.
“I guess,” I muttered, frowning as Michelle sat me on the edge of her bed.
My sister ended up dressing me, putting makeup on me, and curling my pink hair into soft waves. I was her silent doll, a frowning doll, a doll who did not want to go out and do anything tonight.
Today had been rough already, with everything involving Mason. Why couldn’t I catch a break?
Chapter Four – Calum
Coming home had been a split-second decision. I had an apartment with a few friends in the city, the same friends who I worked with. I just…I couldn’t be there right now. Not after what happened. My mind still reeled after what I found out, after what I saw.
My girlfriend with someone else. My girlfriend with one of my roommates, one of my best friends from college.
Yeah. Not a good sight. Not something any man wanted to see where his girl was concerned.
Which was exactly why I did not want to go with Kyle and his girlfriend on this weird setup. I was more than fine lounging around at home with Mom. I just wanted a break from everything, before I had to go back and fix the shitstorm that was my life.
Even after all these years, Mom hadn’t changed my room. I sat on my bed while Kyle stood in the doorway, giving me a come on look. “Dude, you’ll be fine,” he was busy saying, his hands stuck in his jean pockets. “She’s nice.”
Nice. Yeah, that’s what everyone said about Hilary.
Wait, no. Maybe they didn’t say that about her.
I had no idea who Michelle’s sister was. I’d graduated from high school before she’d become a freshman, so I’d never met her before. Didn’t really want to, either, but it seemed my little brother would not take no for an answer.
I was twenty-five years old, being set up by my eighteen-year-old brother. Talk about pathetic. Besides, now was the last time I wanted to be set up with anyone. Another relationship was the last thing on my mind. Right now, I just wanted…fuck, I didn’t even know what I wanted; I was that fucked up from seeing Hilary with Trent.
Kyle had sprung the date on me out of nowhere, so I had no time to tell him no. He was forcing me to get ready, and I…I was doing my damnedest not to do anything of the sort. Me, trying to look good for a date. Yeah, right.
I’d go, but I wouldn’t be happy about it, and I sure as shit wouldn’t try to impress her.
What did he say her name was again? Bree? Yeah, I think that’s it. Bree.
Kyle went on, “She, uh, doesn’t get out of the house much, but she’s nice.” Again with the nice comments. It made me wonder if she was some overweight ogre who I’d immediately hate Kyle for trying to set me up with her.