Chapter 4
Are You In Love With My Brother?
FIRST LOVE BY SAbrINA CARPENTER
Daisy
“What the hell is going on?” Livie asks as soon as we’re out of ears’ reach.
I cross my arms over my chest and look down at her. For someone who has a tall brother, she sure as hell is a short little thing. Livie takes after their mother while Mateo is the spitting image of their dad, just younger and hot, obviously. Damn it, why am I thinking about this?
“Nothing is going on.”
“Don’t give me any of that bullshit. Tell me right now. You’re uncomfortable, that’s clear. You and Mateo are weird around each other, almost like all the chemistry you two have is out the window. I’ve never seen you so tense…like ever.”
I look around—there’s nobody around, just the palm trees framing the small stone path and the faint sound of people. “We were gonna tell you either way—”
“Are you pregnant?” Livie’s face lights up with enthusiasm.
“What? No!” I shake my head and take a deep breath. “No, it’s not that. We’re just not a thing.”
“Who’s not a thing?” she asks.
“Me and your brother…we’re fake dating.”
Livie laughs. She laughs. Like folded over on herself laughs. When I don’t respond in the same manner, she freezes and raises her eyebrows.
“Oh, you’re not lying.” I shake my head.
“Daisy!” Her eyes open wide.
“I know, I know.” I let out a breath. “But you know how your mom is, how Mateo is, and, well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, I’m not too sure.” I bite my lip and watch her ponder something.
“Okay, I’m about to tell you something I haven’t told anyone.
I need us to sit down first, though. Come.
” She continues walking, this time towards the beach.
After we checked in and went to the room, we went straight to the pool, so I hadn’t touched the sand yet.
This sand, though? It’s white, almost like powder, and soft.
It’s not sticky and one hundred percent makes the contrast with the clear water seem even more drastic.
It’s so different from the beaches in Florida, even in the panhandle area.
It’s stunning. Livie sits on an empty lounge chair, and as soon as I do the same, she lifts her glasses to rest on her hair with a smile.
“Alex and I fake dated last year.” There’s zero hesitation in her words. It’s a fact, one she’s sharing it with me. Plain and simple, but it’s hard to believe her—Alex and her are completely made for each other.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a long story, but for similar reasons as you and Mateo. I was tired of Mom asking me to bring a date or to get married or whatever. We hooked up, and after that, we agreed to help each other.”
I’m sure if my eyes get any wider, they’d pop out of my face. “There’s no way. You two are perfect for each other.”
She chuckles. “We are. We truly are, but in reality, everything started with us pretending. Looking back, we should’ve just dated from day one.
We had this insane chemistry and connection, you know?
But hindsight is a privilege, and I see it clearly now.
Which is why I wanted to ask you this… Are you in love with my brother? ”
“Livie!” I shout.
“I’m not beating around the bush here, Daisy. We have no time, we need to get back to the wedding celebrations, and we both know my mother is gonna call for us soon. So, are you or are you not in love with my brother?”
What am I supposed to do here? Am I supposed to tell her the truth? A truth I’ve never told anyone, not even my sister? A truth I surely can’t tell my best friends, considering all of them are also best friends with Mateo? Hell, Mateo is my best friend.
“Okaaay, so the silence is telling. Before you say something let me just add, I know you are in love with him. I’ve known practically all our lives.
It’s why I keep pushing you both to get together.
For a second there, I thought maybe it was all in my head, but the timing of you both being single was a little too coincidental. ”
Busted.
“It wasn’t like that,” I add, and she lifts her brows in question. I shake my head. “Is it that obvious?”
This time, Livie is the one shaking her head. “No, it’s not. I also grew up around you, remember? I know you so well. Daisy and I see the way you look at him.”
“Oh please, do tell.”
“Like he invented hot water.”
“Livie!”
“It’s true! What I don’t understand is why don’t you just tell him?” she asks as she holds my hand and smiles softly, offering me her sympathy.
“What Mateo and I have is rare. We have such a beautiful friendship, one we’ve had for years. I don’t want to mess that up over feelings he doesn’t reciprocate.”
“What if he feels the same way?” she asks.
I shake my head and scoff. “He doesn’t. He’s dated so many girls, and none of them look like me. They’re all short, blonde, and obnoxious. Well, except for Violeta.”
“She’s plenty obnoxious,” Livie laughs.
“I meant blonde. She’s not blonde.” Mateo has a type.
Pretty, short blondes with a light and bubbly personality.
He doesn’t date tall women with dark hair and curves for days.
He doesn’t date women who played sports for years and work in an unglamorous field.
It has never made sense to me, though. He’s so down to Earth.
He’d rather spend a day couch surfing and in pajamas than going out to lavish parties.
However, most of the women he dates are the complete opposite.
Maybe that's why they don’t last. Too incompatible.
“She’s not, but she was also not right for him. I’m so happy he saw right through that.”
He didn’t, though. She did. She called it off. He proposed, and she said no. He was miserable for weeks. “What do you mean?”
Livie waits, pondering what to say, clearly holding something back. Well, that’s new. Livie never holds anything back.
“Livie, what is it?”
“There you are. We’ve been looking for you.” We turn to see Ada standing nearby. Oh, great. there’s no way we’ll finish up the conversation now.
“Sorry, Ma. I had to talk to Daisy before the rest of you swarm her. I’ve been waiting for this girl to be my sister all my life.” Livie turns my way and winks at me. Thank you, sweet angel. Thank you.
“Don’t spook the girl,” her mom adds. “You need to head back. The games are about to start.”
“Games?”
“So many games. It’s part of the tradition. Come on.” Ada walks ahead of us, and we follow, allowing some space between us so we can breathe. So I can breathe.
“Just do me a favor,” Livie whispers.
“Yeah?”
“Be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt. The line between pretend and reality can get blurry sometimes, and if you need me, I’m here.” She holds my hand and squeezes it, smiling softly.
“Will do,” I reply, squeezing back.
We make it back to where chairs and tables are set up near the bar and pool. These people have zero issues claiming all this space while the resort is buzzing with other guests. Mateo smiles as soon as he sees me, and I let go of Livie’s hand.
He pulls me into his arms, engulfing me in his spicy scent, wrapping me up in him and completely messing me up for anyone else. “Everything okay?” he asks with a low voice.
“Mm-hmm. She knows,” I whisper.
“Good. Now let’s make sure nobody else does.” He kisses the top of my head as we turn to face Jaime.