Free My Brother's Best Friend by Becky Andrews Page A

you?”
    Everyone looked at Eric, including me.
    “What are you doing here?” I asked.
    “You didn’t know? I work here,” he said as if I didn’t hear Larissa earlier.
    “I meant why are you even bothering me? You couldn’t have thought this was a smart idea after last night.”
    Eric just smirked at me.
    I turned to Zach and Larissa. “Eric pranked me senior year by pretending to love me then embarrassing me in front of the whole school. I was so destroyed, I almost didn’t make it. Dev saved me from myself and so naturally when Devin saw him again, he punched him. He would’ve hit him a few more times, but Eric just fell after the first punch.” I felt relieved to be able to tell others, to portray Eric poorly to the few people that I had come to know.
    “That’s just sick,” Zach said, giving Eric a dirty look.
    “Wow, what a bastard thing to do,” Larissa agreed. “I can’t even believe someone could do that.”
    “She’s making it sound worse than it really was,” Eric tried to defend himself.
    “Yeah, because filming the whole thing then making a website to show everyone really makes it less hurtful and bastardly,” I snapped.
    Now that I’d told Devin what had happened, it seemed like it no longer had the power to hurt me. Maybe Dr. Stone had been right all along.
    “A website?” Larissa asked me. I only nodded my head. “Sick bastard.”
    “I’d punch you too if I didn’t think makeup would kill me for messing up their work,” Zach said coolly.
    “Two minutes!” someone called.
    I looked down at my watch. “I’m actually going to go. Thanks, guys,” I said. “Make sure this one doesn’t follow me?” I asked, pointing to Eric, who looked confused as though he didn’t quite realize what just happened.
    “We got your back,” Zach said.
    “You’ll text me?” Larissa asked.
    “Sure.”
    “Looks like someone just found her new best friend,” Zach said, elbowing his cast member.
    I stood up. “See you guys around.” I waved as I walked away.
    On the way back to Devin’s office, I couldn’t help but realize what had happened and the ramifications of what just went down.
    I had made it sound like Devin and I really were together, and if Eric didn’t know who had hit him, he did now.
    Perhaps worst of all, Devin and I would have to go on pretending we were really a couple. I couldn’t have Eric find out we weren’t really together. It was the only satisfaction I got last night, to see his surprised face when he thought Devin and I were an item.
    I walked back to Devin’s office, knocking hesitantly before opening the door.
    “Chris, you’re back. I thought for sure I’d have to come get you. I thought you would love to watch them film the show.”
    “I did love it. Only someone came to ruin my fun,” I said, pulling my chair closer to his. “Did you know Eric is working here?” From his reaction, I knew Devin hadn’t known. “It’s fine, Dev. Apparently he works behind the scenes doing something. Larissa wasn’t sure. And don’t worry, I held my own.”
    “I never thought you couldn’t.”
    “Anyway, Larissa and Zach know what happened, and I’m pretty sure it won’t take long for everyone to find out. He might just be forced to leave.” I said, wishing it were true.
    “Maybe, but you won’t go over there alone anymore,” he said, obviously making a mental note for himself.
    “But that’s not all that happened,” I hedged. “If I tell you, promise you won’t be angry?”
    “I promise.” He smiled.
    “Okay, here goes nothing. If Eric didn’t know it was you who punched him then he knows now. I kind of let it slip. I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t worry about it too much. I don’t think he would press charges. It should be fine, especially now that everyone knows what a bastard he is. Anything else happen I need to be worried about?”
    I bit my lip than decided it was best just to rip the Band-Aid off. “Not if you don’t count everyone still