My Best Friend Brother

Chapter Twelve

Dev’s Journal

I wonder, can you will yourself to not be attracted to someone? I’m open to

therapy, hypnosis…even heavy doses of medication if it can remove her particular poison from my veins. When I caught her in my room, reading my books, looking like an angelic queen in that pink sari draped over her supple form—it’s an image I can’t seem to erase

from my mind. And then she quoted Voltaire. Why did she have to do that?

I’m leaving for University tomorrow with more questions than answers, and now she is one more complication to wrestle with. It’s not at all what I wanted to accomplish during my summer. “In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.

Robert Frost is right. Life will go on.

-Dev

Scarlett POV

I almost couldn’t believe it: I was a senior in high school and nearly on my own. In just a few weeks, I would be eighteen and an adult. And soon after, I would be getting ready for college—if I could afford it. I had been waiting for this my whole life, knowing my success would be entirely up to me, and I was ready for the challenge. It had been three months since Dev left for school and I tried to not think what I said to him that night, but it haunted me. I couldn’t tell if he had been sincere or not, and I obsessively replayed our conversation a million times in my head trying to figure it out. When Mrs. Bashir mentioned that he would be coming home for Thanksgiving with a friend from school, I was relieved. Maybe someone else in the house would distract us both from the memory of that strange night in his room.

The Bashirs usually planned big Thanksgiving

feasts, inviting several relatives and friends over. The whole house was filled with laughter, music and the exotic aroma of Mrs. Bashir’s famous curried turkey. I wished my dad could come see me, but he was working in the shop that weekend. I was happy that he was really trying hard to make something of himself in Nevada, but I missed him. At least I had my “other family” to make me feel like I was a part of something.At dinner one night, I learned something interesting: Dev’s friend was more of a strategic alliance than anything else, and the whole family was focused on making a good

impression. “His father is Gerald Franklin, CEO of Franklin Bank,” Mr. Bashir explained, his voice noticeably solemn. “Dev is hoping to get an invitation to interview for a job after

graduation.”The expression on Mrs. Bashir’s face was tense and she seemed to flinch at the mention of the name. I sensed there was more to this story. “How does Dev know him?” I asked. Annika jumped in. “My parents used to work for him back in his Big Apple days, right dad?”I noticed that Mrs. Bashir quickly left the

room. “Yes, I was a financial analyst at Franklin

Bank,” he explained. “That’s where I met my beautiful wife.” His eyes were sparkling with love. He looked over to the kitchen to

share a moment with her, but she was busy cleaning up. Oh? What did Mrs. Bashir do at the bank?” I asked, curious.

“She was Mr. Frankin’s executive assistant,”

said Mr. Bashir, proudly. “But that was before I whisked her away to a better life in the hotel business.” He winked at me. “Well, I’m sure Dev will get the job then.” I said, envious.

Must be nice to have connections with all the right people. The morning of Thanksgiving, I awoke with a start from the most sensual dream of my short life, and it lingered in the air as my alarm screamed from my bedside table.

Him.

And me.

In bed.

Making love.

What the? I slammed the snooze button and lay down, but there was no way I could fall asleep again. I replayed the dream in my head, trying to make sense of it. Why did I dream about Dev?

There was no explanation. I felt as if my

sub-conscious betrayed me and now laughed at my embarrassed and flushed face, like a massive joke has been played on me. I hadn’t

even been properly kissed at this point of my life, and the first dream I had about making love with a man…features Dev in the starring role?

My god, he was so handsome… STOP IT! I commanded my mind. I needed to get out of this bed before I started to imagine what it would be

like if he joined me in it…the two us tangled up in the warmth and softness of Mrs. Bashir’s pricey 800 thread-count, single-ply cotton Pima sheets. I jumped up and threw on some jeans and a shirt, and ran my fingers through my long, golden curls. I could smell breakfast mingled with the scents of the Thanksgiving feast

to come. My stomach grumbled as I headed downstairs for a quick bite.Maybe I could help Mrs. Bashir make a few dishes. Staying locked in the kitchen sounded like a good plan,

especially if I didn’t have to face Dev after that dream. What if he could see it on my face? Could he possibly know I dreamed

of—having s*x with him last night? Yes, I would stay in the kitchen all day if necessary rather than risk revealing my thoughts

to him. As I walked downstairs I could hear the

dining room already filled with the usual voices. But two stood out: One was Dev’s and the other, someone I didn’t know. Dammit! He and his rich friend are here already. I decided to sneak into the kitchen, grab some cereal, and take it to the patio to eat alone. If anyone noticed, I’d tell them I needed some fresh air. But my plan fell

apart when Annika met me at the foot of the stairs.Why was she wearing a dress and high heels? How odd.

“Scarlett, come meet Rhett! Oh my gosh, isn’t

that funny, his name is actually Rhett?”

She tugged on my arm toward the dining room.

Was this some sick joke? “He is freakin’ hot…wait ‘til you see.