"You think you can handle more than one man?"

"I can handle as many men as I want,” I shot back. “None of them is ever going to be you.”

His gaze didn’t waver. If anything, it darkened.

“Are you sure?” he asked quietly.

“That I’ll never have to handle you?” I scoffed. “I’m very sure.”

He took a step closer.

“Even if I do this?”

His hand came up, gripping my jaw just enough to hold me still—and then his mouth was on mine.

I should have pushed him away.

I didn’t.

As my back hit the counter and I leaned into him instead, one thought rang louder than anything else—

How the hell did I end up kissing my best friend’s arrogant brother?

******

Two days earlier

The highway stretched endlessly ahead of us, a ribbon of asphalt disappearing into the late afternoon sun. I'd been looking forward to this trip for months—a week away from the city, away from work stress, and away from my boyfriend's constant paranoia. Just me, my best friend Sarah, and the peaceful cabin we'd rented. At least, that had been the plan.

"I still can't believe he's coming," I muttered, shooting a glance in the rearview mirror at the sleeping form in the back seat.

Sarah laughed from the passenger seat, adjusting the air conditioning vent. "Marcus is not that bad."

"Not that bad?" I let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Sarah, he's insufferable. Every time I've met him, he's been nothing but arrogant and dismissive. And now he's spending an entire week with us. A week, Sarah."

"He needed a break too," she said, though I could hear the slight defensiveness in her voice. She always did that—tried to see the good in everyone, even when they didn't deserve it. "Besides, you know he was going through some stuff with his ex."

"And that's our problem because...?" I kept my eyes on the road, but I could feel her looking at me.

"Because he's family, and you're my best friend, and I thought it would be nice for us all to—"

"To what? Pretend he's not the most arrogant, insufferable man on the planet?" I shook my head. "Sarah, I love you, but this was supposed to be our trip. Girls only. We were supposed to relax, enjoy ourselves, not babysit your grown brother."

From the back seat, Marcus shifted in his sleep, his arm draped across the window. Even in sleep, he managed to look smug. He was handsome, I'd give him that—the kind of handsome that knew it was handsome. Dark hair, sharp jawline, the sort of effortless good looks that came with an equally effortless superiority complex. Every interaction we'd had was laced with subtle jabs and condescension. He talked down to me like I was a child who needed to be educated on the proper way to think about everything.

"He's not going to ruin it," Sarah said, but she didn't sound entirely convinced.

"Oh, he absolutely will," I said. "Mark my words. He'll complain about the cabin, criticize everything we do, and probably spend most of his time on his phone being insufferable to someone else. And worse, his presence will only make Derek keep calling every minute."

As if summoned by the mere mention of my boyfriend's name, my phone buzzed in its holder. I didn't need to look at the screen to know it was him.

"Let me guess," Sarah said, peering at the phone.

"Derek," I confirmed, sighing. I reached over and accepted the call via the car's Bluetooth system.

"Hey, babe, where are you?" Derek's voice came through the speakers, tight with something I'd learned to recognize as suspicious.

"We're about two hours away from the cabin," I said, keeping my voice level. "Just like I told you this morning. And yesterday. And the day before."

"Just making sure you're safe," he said, and I could practically hear him settling into whatever narrative he'd constructed. "You're with Sarah and... who else again?"

Here it was. The inevitable question that would lead to the inevitable argument.

"Her brother, Marcus. She mentioned it last week, Derek."

"Right, right," he said, and I could hear the shift in his tone. "The brother. You never mentioned what he looked like."

"Because it doesn't matter what he looks like," I said, my grip tightening on the steering wheel.

Sarah winced sympathetically from the passenger seat.

"I'm just saying, you're going to be isolated in a cabin for a week with a strange man—"

"He's not a strange man. He's Sarah's brother. I've met him multiple times."

"Exactly," Derek said, and there was that accusatory edge that made my stomach tighten. "He's around, and he probably—"

"Probably what, Derek? What's your concern here?" I was trying to keep my voice calm, but irritation was creeping in at the edges. "Are you seriously trying to tell me I can't go on a trip because there's a man involved?"

"That's not what I'm saying—"

"Then what are you saying?"

There was a pause. Sarah pretended to look out the window, giving me the illusion of privacy, even though we both knew she could hear every word.

"I'm just concerned," Derek said finally. "A week is a long time. Things happen. People get drunk, they get lonely—"

"And you think I'm going to sleep with my best friend's brother?" I asked, my voice sharp now. "Is that what you think of me?"

"That's not—"

"Because that's what you're implying, Derek. You're implying that I'm the kind of woman who would cheat on you. Is that really what you think?"

"No, I just—" He let out a frustrated breath. "I don't like not knowing what's happening. I don't like you being out there with him."

"Well, I'm going," I said firmly. "I need this trip. I need to get away and relax and spend time with my best friend. And you're going to have to trust me."

"It's not you I don't trust—"

"Yes, it is," I said quietly. "It always is."

I ended the call before he could respond, feeling Sarah's eyes on me.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

"Fine," I lied. "Just Derek being Derek."

"He's getting worse with the paranoia thing, isn't he?" Sarah had never been shy about her opinions on my relationship.

"Yeah," I admitted. "He thinks everyone wants to... you know. Like I'm this prize everyone's constantly trying to steal."

"That's exhausting."

"It is," I said. "That's why I need this week. I need to not think about whether he's upset that I wore a dress or talked to a guy at work. I need to just exist for a while."

In the back seat, Marcus made a small snoring sound, and I couldn't help but scowl at his sleeping face. Even if Derek wasn't here ruining my peace of mind with his possessiveness, Marcus's presence was still an unwelcome intrusion.

"He's really not that bad," Sarah ventured again.

"He's really exactly that bad," I countered. "And worse. But don't worry about it. I'm sure I can manage to avoid him for most of the week."

Sarah smiled knowingly but didn't push it further. As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, I tried to focus on the road ahead and think about enjoying this trip

It was going to be a blast.

The cabin was exactly as advertised in the listing—rustic, charming, and mercifully spacious. Three bedrooms meant I wouldn't have to share, which was the only good thing about the situation. The drive had been long, and by the time we'd arrived around midnight, I was exhausted and ready to collapse into bed.

Sarah had gone straight upstairs to claim the master bedroom, leaving me and Marcus to figure out the logistics of the remaining two rooms. I grabbed my bags and headed for the smaller bedroom down the hall, as far from everything as possible.

I'd just finished unpacking the essentials when Sarah knocked on my door, holding a bottle of wine.

"Peace offering?" she asked, smiling apologetically. "I know you're annoyed about Marcus."

I took the bottle from her and pulled her inside. "I'm annoyed about the situation, not you."

"I know," she said, settling on the edge of my bed. "But I also know I kind of sprung this on you, and that wasn't fair."

"It really wasn't," I agreed, but I was already softening. Sarah had always had that effect on me—she was genuinely good-natured, and it was hard to stay angry at someone who actually cared.

We found glasses in the kitchen and settled on the cabin's porch, overlooking the dark forest. The air was cool and crisp, and for a moment, I felt some of my tension ease. The wine was cold and smooth, the kind of wine that made you forget to pace yourself.

"So, what do you plan to do with Derek?" Sarah asked quietly. "He's getting worse"

"I know, right?," I said, taking another sip. "He thinks every man on earth wants to get under my pants, I don't know what gives him that impression."

"Well, I wouldn't blame him," she replied, winking her eyes, "you're too hot to not put a rein on you, I wouldn't hesitate to make a move if I was a man"

I took another sip, laughing at her words, "you can still make a move, you know I'm not biased" I jabbed her shoulder "maybe we should give it a try"

She burst into laughter and I followed, "No, no, I don't swing that way, and we're better off as friends"

We clinked our glasses taking a sip at the same time and I leaned on the porch railing, taking in the view, "I think he's planning to propose" I said suddenly, sighing a little

Sarah leaned on th other side of the railing facing me "why do I feel you are not happy?"

"I don't know" I replied, conflicted. "We've only been together for a while, and I can't see myself settling down with him, with his whole...you know. I mean, we're not even married, and he acts like I'm his property and all. You know how I almost lost a client few months ago because of him"

Sarah nodded, "so what do you do? Break up? I don't think he'll let you go that easily, I don't even know how you got together with him in the first place...the only good thing about him is his face"

I knew Sarah wasn't really a fan of Derek, which was something considering she liked everybody. But apart from his possessiveness, Derek was ok, he was hot, and most importantly...he was good in bed, that was the reason I got together with him in the beginning.

But getting married, that was whole story entirely, I couldn't even imagine a life with him...or anyone else, maybe I wasn't cut out for marriage.

"He hasn't really brought it up though" I replied, "as long as he doesn't, we're good. It's not too late to end it if he has intentions of taking it further. At worse I'll relocate and find a hotter man with a bigger dick"

"Evie!!"

"What? It's true, that's the only important thing"

"Whatever, as long as you're ok. Just be careful, insecure men like him sometimes get violent. We don't want him caving in your beautiful face"

"He'd be long dead before that" I laughed downing the rest of my drink and pouring another, "at least I have one week away from him, and I'm going to ignore the one variable and have the best week of my life" I raised my glass and she clinked hers against it.

"For what it's worth," Sarah said, "Marcus isn't a bad person, he's more bark than bite. I know he's insufferable, but you don't have to like him. You just have to not kill him this week."

"I'll try," I said. "But no promises."

We finished the bottle as the night deepened, talking about everything and nothing. Sarah was my only safe space, I can't even remember how my life looked like before her, two contrasting personalities that didn't seem possible, but we made it work.

We went inside eventually, both of us tipsy and laughing at things that weren't particularly funny. Sarah headed upstairs to the master bedroom, and I collapsed into mine, still in my clothes, the wine making the room spin pleasantly.

I was almost asleep when I heard footsteps in the hallway, then the sound of Marcus's bedroom door closing.

I would try to pretend he wasn't around and try my best not to react to his snide remarks and superiority complex.

I would do this not just for Sarah but also for my perfect week off.

The next morning started peacefully enough. I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows and the smell of coffee drifting up from downstairs. Sarah was already up, moving through the kitchen with the kind of competence she brought to everything. Marcus was nowhere to be seen—probably still asleep or out taking a morning walk or doing something else that kept him away from me.

Perfect.

"Good morning," Sarah chirped, handing me a mug. "How's your head?"

"Better than expected," I admitted, accepting the coffee gratefully. "The wine hit harder than I thought."

"That's what happens when you drink on an empty stomach," she said, setting down a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. "Eat something."

"You talk like you didn't drink too" I mumbled inhaling the coffee and sighing in satisfaction before taking a sip

"I handle alcohol better than you do" she countered taking a sit and digging into her food

"That's true"

I watched her wash the plates after we were done eating, then looked around, Marcus was still nowhere to be seen.

"And where's the pettifogger?" I asked

"Marcus?" Sarah turned to me drying her hands on a napkin "he left for his morning run after making breakfast"

"He made breakfast?"

"Yes, he likes eating before his morning run, says he can run on an empty belly"

"But isn't that the purpose of a morning exercise?"

Sarah shrugged her shoulders

"He's always so weird" I said finally, closing the subject.

We spent the morning on the porch, reading and occasionally talking about nothing in particular. It was exactly the kind of relaxed, easy time I'd been craving. No drama, no tension, just the simple pleasure of being with my best friend in a beautiful place.

At around eleven o'clock, my phone buzzed.

Then it buzzed again.

And again.

I ignored it at first, but after the fifth buzz, I checked it. Five missed calls from Derek, each one with an increasingly aggressive series of texts.

Where are you?

Why aren't you answering?

Are you with him?

Call me back. NOW.

I felt my stomach tighten. This wasn't unusual—Derek often called multiple times if I didn't answer immediately—but it still made my anger spike.

"Don't answer," Sarah said, noticing my expression.

"I have to," I said, already standing up. "He'll just keep calling."

I walked down to the edge of the porch, away from Sarah, and dialed Derek back. He answered on the first ring.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded.

"I was on the porch reading," I said calmly. "We just got here yesterday. I'm allowed to not answer my phone immediately."

"You weren't responding to texts—"

"Because I was reading, Derek. Not everything is a crisis."

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," he said, and there was that manipulative softness to his voice that made me want to scream. "You could have just answered."

"I'm answering now," I said, trying to keep my voice level. "I'm fine. Sarah's fine. Everything is fine."

"What about Marcus?" The way he said the name was loaded with accusation.

"What about him?" I asked, hearing my voice getting sharper.

"Where is he? What's he doing right now?"

"I don't know, Derek. I don't track his movements. He's probably sleeping or hiking or literally anything that isn't my responsibility."

"You're defensive," he said, as if pointing out my tone was the same as proving his suspicions.

"I'm not defensive. I'm annoyed. There's a difference."

"Annoyed at me?"

"Yes," I said, gesturing even though he couldn't see me. "At this conversation. You call constantly, you ask me these questions like I'm doing something wrong, like I'm not allowed to have a life outside you"

"I'm not—"

"Yes, you are," I said quietly. "You're checking up on me, asking where I am, who I'm with, what I'm doing. That's not normal."

There was a pause. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, more vulnerable. "I just don't want to lose you."

And there it was—the thing that always made me cave, the thing that made me feel guilty for being angry.

"You're not going to lose me," I said, my anger deflating.

"I'm serious," he continued. "You're out there with some guy, and I'm here worried that—"

"Nothing is going to happen," I said firmly. "Marcus is Sarah's brother. He's not interested in me, and I'm certainly not interested in him. You have to trust me."

"I do trust you," he said. "It's him I don't trust."

"Well, you're going to have to figure it out, because I'm not leaving the trip." I said it with finality. If he wasn't ok with it, he could go suck his dick

I hung up and went back inside, Sarah took one look at my face and didn't ask. She just pulled me into a hug, and I let myself stay there for a moment, accepting the comfort without having to explain.

"I'm getting scared," Sarah said quietly.

"It's nothing," I replied, "it's always been like this, nothing new"

"That doesn't mean it's okay," Sarah said. "That doesn't mean you have to accept it."

"It's nothing really, you know me, I won't ever allow myself to suffer a loss. I'd have him five feet below the ground before he even thinks of doing anything to me." I replied "Alright, let's not spend our first day mopping over Derek, he's not worth it, let's go get out bikinis, it's beach time... I need to get a proper tan before we go back"

Sarah smiled, following obediently as I dragged her back to our rooms.

"Let's show off these sexy ass and boobs"

Sarah gasped, slapping my hands, but I caught the smile tugging at her face.