Tempting | My Brother's Best Friend [18+]

Chapter One

I'm stood on the pavement with my bags at my feet when Matthew finally pulls up. 

I don't recognise him at first; he's driving a sleek-looking modded convertible, but when he slams his hand repeatedly down on the horn I know his patience with me is already wearing thin. 

I drag my bags over to the boot and pop it open, throwing my suitcase in first. He doesn't get out of the car, just starts reversing out of the street as soon as I've got my seatbelt on. Acting like he's got no time for me as if I'm the one that forced him to pick me up and let me reside in his living room.

I knew this was a bad idea. 

"Thanks for getting me," I murmur, hoping he'll ease up with the casual dismissal I'm on the receiving end of.

I take a long look at the sleek and polished interior of a car neither of us could afford when he doesn't reply. The BMW symbol glistens at the heart of the steering wheel, surrounded with a circle of leather sewn with red trim. 

In fact, the red trim seeps further. It's around the CD slot. It's pressed into the seams of the seats.

"It's my housemates," Matt says, without me having to ask. "Mum said the ceiling looks pretty grim." 

I release a breath at his attempt at conversation, letting my chest finally press against the belt. 

"Yeah," I half-laugh. "There's a hole in my roof. The estate agents are annoying." 

"You're annoying," he responds instantly, making a smile crack out over my face. He's going to do nothing but get on my nerves for the next few weeks and I already can't wait to not live with him again. But his voice is comforting. 

The first time a boy broke up with me Matt had been there, talking bad about him and cursing shame on his family. He'd been pissy and angry and he'd made me laugh more than ever. 

I was fourteen at the time and he'd gotten in trouble at school for pushing the boy over the next day. When I saw him at home that evening he'd glared at me, and all I'd needed to hear were the words, 'he's a loser,' to feel that familiar comfort. It's a shame he hadn't continued to be so protective once he went on his way to university. I had missed hearing about all men being garbage. 

I didn't miss his annoying cold attitude though.

"How comfy is your couch?" I ask. 

He laughs and indicates left, pulling out into the street before answering. 

"It'll do the trick, don't worry. You're working most days now anyway, right?" 

"Oh yeah, I'm nine to five, like every other lost soul on the planet." 

We talk about work for a short while. He's been doing an internship at a bank since finishing his math degree. Luckily, Paul's retirement stretches far enough to cover him for the year as he works, essentially, for free. 

I've been at a sports and goods sales firm since graduating, working in their marketing department. Matt makes a joke that all I do is post on social media all day - some days I do. 

"So," he says finally, after all the work talk. "How long will I be welcoming you into my humble abode?" 

"I wish I could tell you." I shrug. "A few weeks. Maybe less, maybe more. Until my estate agent pulls their finger out of-" 

"Alright, Maddie." 

Eye roll. Nothing changes - he's still the same annoying big brother I've always had.

He pulls onto a driveway in front of a small house. I only recognise it from a picture he posted onto the family group chat when he'd first signed for the place with the elusive Noah - elusive in the sense that my mother is sure he doesn't exist, since nobody but Matt has ever met him.