Chapter 4

Emilie

"I can't believe even my little brother's old clothes are too big for you!"

Brandon is right. It looks like hip-hop is my sole religion. His little brother's clothes are very loose on my body, but it's better than nothing. I'm convinced the pants won't slip down due to the belt I'm wearing, and the hoodie will also stay on. 

"I think she looks adorable!"

We both turn around at the new voice—a blonde woman is standing in the doorframe with a grin. Her eyes are blue, and her skin is flawless...could she be Brandon's sister?

"Bailey? Where the fuck did you come from?!" Brandon lifts his right hand and uses two digits to massage his eyelids. "Wait, don't answer that. You're here to ask for more money, aren't you?"

Bailey claps her hands together. "Yes, I am...but that's not a problem, right? You have access to all of Daddy's money."

Brandon flares his nostrils. "If you broke up with your good-for-nothing boyfriend, Dad would happily give you money whenever you need it."

"Yeah...about that... Tom needs money for his bakery. The business isn't going that well."

Brandon pauses before sighing. I don't expect him to help his sister, but he fishes up his phone from his pocket. "You know that Tom is only using you, right? When you stop supporting him, he will break your heart..."

"Don't be silly! Tom loves me!"

"Whatever," Brandon sounds defeated. "Is a P****l transaction fine? Dad will think I'm buying digital services again."

"That's fine, thank you!" Bailey's gaze travels to mine, and a sweet smile spreads over her lips. "Are you one of Brandon's friends?"

"I..." I don't know what to say, but thankfully, Brandon rescues me. 

"Emilie is my girlfriend," he says without looking up from his phone. He is still tapping on the screen, completely oblivious to the fact that my jaw is somewhere on the floor. I didn't think we would lie to his family members, too! Even Bailey gasps. 

"Girlfriend?!" Bailey glances back at her brother, shock evident in her voice, while Brandon just grunts. 

"We are dating..."

"I...I see..." She looks at me again, this time with nosier eyes, and a giggle slips through her lips. "That's quite a height difference between you guys, though. Not that I'm hating! Quite the opposite. I think it's cute—Brandy would have to pick you up to kiss you!"

Brandon groans. "Please don't call me Brandy in public!"

"Why not?" Bailey walks up to her brother. She isn't as short as me but still a foot shorter than him. That, however, doesn't stop her from standing on her tiptoes to grab his cheek. "You will always be my little Brandy, no matter how big or old you get."

Brandon pushes away her hand and shoots his sister a death glare, but she isn't afraid of him. 

Instead, she grins. "Can you believe this guy? Trying to scare his big sister when I know what a teddy bear he is." She pokes Brandon's side with her elbow and laughs when he pushes her away. "Hey, be careful!" 

"With you?" Brandon arches an eyebrow and snorts. "Please, you're like a cockroach—nothing can harm you."

"True, I'm very sturdy," Bailey says, laughing until she remembers me. "So... Are you two free from your classes or something?"

"No, we were just about to leave," Brandon replies in my stead and finally puts his phone back inside the pocket of his jeans. "I'm driving Emilie to her first class," he glances down at me and does that little head nod thing that guys do. "You coming?"

"Y-yeah!"

"Waaaait!" Bailey grabs my hand, and I whip around, shocked to find her a little breathless. Is she nervous? "I know we just met, but if you're dating my brother, then...umm...maybe we should hang out sometime? You know, grab a coffee or something at my boyfriend's bakery."

I stare at her in shock. Bailey seems lovely, but Brandon and I are just fake-dating each other. 

"Bailey, I swear to god..." Brandon mutters before raising his voice to his usual irritated tone. "Emilie and I haven't dated that long. Yesterday was our first date."

Bailey gasps. "And you brought her back to your place after the first date?" quicker than I can react, she closes the distance between her and her brother and glares up at him. "What is the matter with you?! You don't sleep with a woman after the first fucking date!"

His eyes widen. "Slept together? No, we—"

"Don't be mad at Brandon!" I blurt out, interrupting their argument and causing them both to look down at me in stunned silence. Brandon appears more shocked than his sister. "I...I got into trouble yesterday, and Brandon saved me," I blush and stare at the floor. "He is a good guy, and we didn't sleep together." 

"Oh..." Bailey blinks before squinting up at her brother. "You better not take advantage of this one. She is adorable. Poor thing obviously doesn't like speaking but still stood up for you."

With that said, Bailey walks downstairs while Brandon silently turns his attention to me. There is a strange expression on his face that I can't read. It's making me nervous. 

"Wh-what?" I dare to ask. I'm very proud of it, too; even Brandon's lips twitch in amusement. 

"Nothing," he says in a low tone and turns around. "Come on, we don't wanna be late for your class."

I blink in confusion. "We?"

"I'm going to walk into your class and listen to it," he shrugs without turning around to meet my eyes. "I have nothing better to do, and we need to sell that we are a couple."

"Oh..."

"Yes, 'oh'..." He sighs. "It needs to be believable that we are a couple, and that means walking together, eating together, sitting in my lap, and lots of kissing in public places."

"KI-KISSING?!"

"Uh, yes?" He breathes a laugh, and, for the first time, I see him smile when he turns around. But it isn't a nice smile; it's twisted and naughty—the kind that gives you butterflies. "You couldn't honestly have thought that wasn't involved in our deal?"

"I... Umm..." I swallow thickly. My heart is thumping so fast that I'm afraid it's going to escape from my ribcage. It only gets worse when Brandon saunters over to me, smirking. 

"Why don't we practice a little before leaving?"

My eyes widen. "S-say that again?"

He doesn't. 

Brandon crosses the distance between us and bends down, but...it isn't enough. There are still miles and miles between our lips, and he cracks a smile before laughing. 

"Damn, you really are short."

My face burns hotter than the freaking sun. "I...I can't help it..."

Brandon chuckles and stands up straight. "We will save the kissing for later." He heads for the stairs, and I silently follow him with a strange, anxious feeling in my chest. 

I know Brandon is pretty, and I'm not stupid enough not to realize I'm attracted to him. But is it normal to feel this disappointed that he didn't kiss me? Yesterday, when his lips brushed against mine, even though it was only by accident, I felt sparks.

...but falling for him is a losing game, right?