24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Jamie

"I can't believe how you manhandled my sister in front of the entire town last night!"

The sternness in Sean's voice throws me completely off. I turn to look at his face and see the hard expression there.

He can't be mad at me. He's the one who set all this up.

Words fail me as I put one foot in front of the other as we jog down a street in town. I'm about to stop and let him have it when I hear him chuckle.

"The look on your face was classic." He stops mid-track and starts laughing hysterically.

"Sometimes I really hate that you're so good at your chosen career." The comment makes Sean laugh harder. "For a second, I thought you were seriously mad at me for doing what you told me to do."

"Woah, wait a second." Sean puts a finger up. "I did not tell you to manhandle my sister."

"Maybe not in those exact words. But you definitely did. And I did not manhandle Evie in front of anyone," I yell. Heat starts to travel up my neck, my jaw muscle ticks, and I clench and unclench my fists.

I can't stop myself from punching him in the arm as a smirk crosses his face.

"Ouch! That was hard."

"It was supposed to be." I start jogging again to get away from him before I hit him again. Sean knows that I can't stand being teased about certain things, but he also can't help himself. It's better that I just keep moving so that I don't lose my temper.

"Jamie," Sean says as he reaches my side. "You know I'm happy about this turn of events."

I nod, grinding my teeth and staring ahead. He's not done poking fun at me yet, and I need to prepare myself.

"How can I not needle you about that nearly perfect execution? I mean, seriously! Having to hold her in your arms the entire time you were on the ice? The laughing, the glances? Then the kiss under the mistletoe?" He slaps me on my arm. "The whole town is still talking about it!"

I feel heat creeping up my neck, and my body feels overly warm. It's definitely not from our steady jog.

"I couldn't have directed it any better had I tried," Sean continues, not caring that I'm clearly uncomfortable with this line of conversation.

Evie and I as a couple is exactly where I want to be, and I'm ecstatic. What I wasn't prepared for was how Sean's ribbing would make me feel.

Sean has always teased me about the girls I would date. Normally, I would just laugh it off, but unlike Evie, they didn't mean anything to me. Evie means everything.

"Jamie, you can't seriously be angry right now." Sean laughs at me, which annoys me further, but he's right. I'm not angry. I'm embarrassed, exposed, and vulnerable.

"I'm not angry," I push through tight lips.

"Are you sure? Cause you seem…ahhhhhh." He smirks and shakes his head. "You do really love Evie."

He starts laughing and pushes my shoulder, throwing me off balance.

A small smile crosses my face. "I really love Evie."

"What did you say?" Sean asks. "I didn't hear you."

I swear I'm going to murder him on this very street. I'm starting to see why Jessica always said he was annoying.

"I love Evie," I say louder.

"You what?" He puts a hand behind his ear and moves closer to me.

"Jessica was right. You really are annoying."

"I'm pretty sure she'd have a different opinion now," he snickers. "But seriously, I didn't hear you."

"I really do love Evie," I yell. "There, are you happy now?"

"Very," Sean smirks.

"Anyone who saw you last night on the ice knows that, Jamie!" Steve yells from his stoop as he waves his newspaper at us.

"Hi, Steve! How are you today?" Sean asks with a smug grin. "Did you have fun last night?"

My face is burning, and I want to slither away so I can prepare myself for the teasing I didn't realize was going to happen. I was prepared for everyone in town, especially after leaving Espresso Yourself, but I wasn't ready for Sean.

This also means that I will have to be prepared for Jessica, Liam, and our parents.

"It was the most fun I've had in a really long time," Steve responds, grinning at me. "It was fun watching the show on the ice."

I rub a hand up and down my face, roll my eyes, and blow out a big breath.

"You better treat Evie right, Jamie. Otherwise, you can expect all of us to come and TP your house!" By all of us, he's talking about the bingo crew.

"You'd toilet paper my house?" My eyebrows shoot to my hairline, and my mouth drops.

"When the weather is warmer, of course. It's too cold for these old bones, but I'm pretty sure that everyone would be on board with that."

Sean chuckles next to me before grabbing my shoulder and shaking it. "Evie will be happy to know that the whole gang has her back, Steve. But I'm pretty sure this guy right here is going to be my brother-in-law in the near future."

Steve and I narrow our eyes at him.

"Yeah, cause you're marrying—"

"—his sister in less than two weeks." Steve finishes.

Sean stares at us as he realizes what he said. He throws his head back and laughs.

"This situation is a bit strange, isn't it?" He shakes his head. "What I meant to say is that it won't be long until he's popping the question."

"He popped the question?" Steve shouts. "Already?"

"Not yet! They aren't engaged…yet." Sean yells overly loud so that anyone listening hears him. "Dang. I forgot that Steve's hearing isn't always the best."

"Or he's just deciding to have selective hearing right now." I shake my head, knowing that Steve is going to be telling everyone and anyone that Evie and I are engaged.

"Oh, well, that was fast," Steve continues as if he didn't hear what Sean said.

"Steve, Evie and Jamie aren't engaged yet," Sean yells trying one last time to make Steve understand. I shake my head and chuckle. Steve is going to take this storyline and run.

"Well, I can't wait to be invited to that wedding too. Do you think it will be soon?" Steve counters. "You two don't run too far. It's chilly today. I'll see you at your wedding, Sean!"

Sean and I look at each other and burst out laughing.

"Great job. Now I'm going to have to tell people that Evie and I aren't engaged."

"Yet." He laughs.

"Can I at least take her out on an official first date before everyone starts talking about us getting married?"

"Oh yes, the first date!" Sean's expression turns serious, and I see plans turning over in his head.

"No." I sternly cut off any thoughts he might be having. "I do not need your help planning our first date. I already know what we're going to do."

"Great! Tell me, and I'll coach you."

"After the drama you just caused with Steve and soon the entire town?" I turn to him with eyes wide, shaking my head. "No. You can find out from Jessica after our date."

"Dude, that is seriously not cool. You're going to make your best friend hear about your date from your sister?"

"No." I smirk, realizing that this arrangement could have its perks. "I'm going to let my girlfriend tell your fiancé about our date, and then your fiancé can tell you."

He goes to smack me on the back, but I see his hand out of the corner of my eye and duck. I pick up the pace and start to create some distance between us as I listen to Sean try to form words.

"Hey!" He finally yells and stomps. Yup, he stomped. "That is so. Not. Cool. You're supposed to tell me!"

A grin splits my face from ear to ear.

It's not often that I get to see Sean O'Connell flustered, but when it happens, it's pretty hilarious. Being the one who caused it? Priceless.