Katherine quickly cut in, refusing to let her friend finish.
âStop! Youâve noticed?â
Joelle chuckled.
âSo something is going on?â
Katherine sighed, knowing she couldnât keep things hidden from Joelle for long.
âHe confessed.â
Joelle had just taken a sip of coffee, and this time, she nearly spat it out.
Shawn had confessed? That was quick.
Joelle suddenly realized she had missed a whole chapter of this story.
âAndâ¦?â
âAnd what? Itâs Shawn! He knows all the stupid things I did as a kid, and heâs your brother! If things donât work out, it would be awkward as hell for everyone.â
Katherine was clearly exasperated.
âAwkward? Please. Youâre overthinking it.â Joelle didnât think so.
Her best friend becoming her sister-in-law? It felt like a picture-perfect future unfolding before her eyes.
Katherine shot her a skeptical look.
âYouâre seriously okay with the idea of me being with your brother?â
Joelle didnât hesitate.
âWhy wouldnât I be? Whatâs wrong with my brother?â
Shawn was handsome, smart, and stable. He could manage just about anything, whether it was cooking a decent meal, balancing finances, or even stepping in when trouble reared its head.
He was good at a lot of things, both in mind and body, and he always knew when to be confident and when to be down-to-earth. Sure, he could be blunt at times, and he had a slight obsession with money, but those were minor quirks in Joelleâs book.
He was way better than Katherineâs ex-boyfriends, for sure.
âLetâs be honest, heâs leagues above Bobby,â Joelle added with a knowing smirk.
âUgh, donât even start!â Katherine replied, waving a dismissive hand.
âSometimes women want a little edge, you know? Your brotherâs too stable. Iâm not into the whole âperfect guyâ thing.â
As they bantered, the girl Katherine had set up for Shawn walked into the cafe.
Joelle recognized Lily Green immediately. Theyâd hung out before, and she seemed fineâsweet, even. Joelle could imagine her fitting into the family easily, but the real question was whether Shawn would be on board.
And as if on cue, Shawn arrived.
Joelle caught the brief flicker of disappointment on his face. Heâd clearly been hoping Katherine had invited him alone.
.
.
.