a bit fuller in figure, with long blonde hair and blue eyes like our mom’s. She was gorgeous, even when her face wasn’t wearing makeup. Michelle was the girl all the guys wanted, the one that drew every male’s attention since she’d first started her journey into puberty.
Yeah, most guys were disgusting.
Having a sister like Michelle made me feel worthless, really. She was nice enough—though of course she could take on a bitchy tone like no other when she wanted to—and I knew I should never compare our looks, but I knew that’s what everyone else did.
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