Best Friend’s Brother Emmy-Lou had been spending a fair amount of time with Mitch since she had broken up from school for the summer but there had still been no kiss since New Year’s and she had someone she needed to talk to before she could dare hope for one. She was normally quite happy to admit her crushes to her friends but this time around she felt surprisingly nervous to tell Maddi, given that it was her brother and there was always a chance she might not like it. But she needed to take the plunge so she waited for Maddi to come over to her house to tell her, where there could be no risk of bumping into Mitch himself.
“I need to talk to you,” Emmy said as Maddi followed her up the stairs to her room.
“Uh oh, this sounds serious,” Maddi commented but she clearly wasn’t in a very serious mood. That was one of the best things about Maddi - she was always so cheerful and so much fun to be around.
“Yeah, I guess it is,” Emmy nodded as she sat down on her bed.
Maddi sat beside her, waiting expectantly for whatever it was she needed to say.
Emmy didn’t know quite where to start. Was she supposed to just tell her? Or was it better to ask? “I…” Emmy began but it was a false start. Not great. “I, um, I like this guy and he’s, well, he’s…”
“Mitch?” Maddi finished for her.
“How did you know?” Emmy stared at her incredulously.
“It doesn’t take a genius,” Maddi grinned.
“And you’re okay with it?” Emmy asked her, hoping above all hopes that she would be. She didn’t know what she would do if Maddi hated it. Well she did because Emmy was an extremely loyal friend and valued friendships over boys but she liked Mitch a lot and didn’t want it to come to that.
“My best friend and my brother? Of course I'm okay with that,” the Hawaiian assured her. “Hey if you guys get married we’ll be related! How awesome would that be?”
Emmy laughed, more with relief than anything. “Okay, don’t get too ahead of things! I don’t even know if he likes me back.”
“Of course he does,” Maddi said matter-of-factly as though Emmy were crazy to question it.
“You really think so?” Emmy asked.
“Duh!” Maddi smiled, shaking her head in mock exasperation. “You could just ask him, but of course you’re such a chicken when it comes to boys.”
“Am not!” Emmy protested, giving her friend a playful shove.
“Are too,” Maddi giggled, shoving her right back. “But don’t worry, Mitch is just as bad.”
“Well that’s no good!” Emmy exclaimed.
“I could give him a push if that helps?” Maddi suggested, but her mischievous grin did not inspire confidence.
“No,” Emmy shook her head. “You can keep your mouth shut.”