Not My Brother's Best Friend: The Rulers

By Linie Bener

Bailey

I've been invisible my whole life.

Only one year left of high school and I will be free to shine.

Free of my oldest brother and his best friend.

A new beginning.

One without Ethan.

 

Ethan

Two things I look forward to each day—basketball and Bailey.

Both will be gone when I graduate.

My senior year is supposed to be the year I make my mark.

Win the championship and get the girl.

Both are impossible.

 

A standalone small town forbidden love sports romance and a guaranteed HEA. No cheating. No cliffhangers..

Adult contents included.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linie Bener
• Release date: Mar 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9798223148746

Book preview

Not My Brother's Best Friend

A Small Town Sports Romance

Linie Bener

Copyright © 2021 by Linie Bener

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

1.Chapter 1

2.Chapter 2

3.Chapter 3

4.Chapter 4

5.Chapter 5

6.Chapter 6

7.Chapter 7

8.Chapter 8

9.Chapter 9

10.Chapter 10

11.Chapter 11

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Chapter 1

Bailey

Ikeep my head low and hug my books close to my chest as I dodge others rushing to get to their next class. My head turns as I hear a loud commotion in the hallway. Just like me, everyone turns to watch the Rulers. Of course, it’s my brother and his crew. I roll my eyes and duck behind a couple who stop and watch the antics of the basketball stars of the school.

Hey, Bailey. Isn’t that your brother? Madison, a girl my age, walks with me to our next class.

Yeah. I shrug.

It must be nice to have a popular brother. Does Cole bring his hot friends around the house often? she asks in a dreamy voice.

I take a deep breath in as I try for patience. These girls always come and talk to me about my brother. They think that, since I’m quiet, I’m a sure way into getting to hang with my brother and his friends. Some even try to befriend me, but ditch me as soon as they get what they want.

Yeah, no. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I rush to the door and take my seat, done with the conversation.

I’ve been avoiding girls like Madison like a plague. After a handful of disappointments and a few tears, I’ve learned my lesson. It’s been a curse living under my brother’s popularity. What’s worse is, my twin, Bryce, recently joined the Junior Varsity team and is trying his best to make Varsity. Since it’s a small school, they often pull players from the JV team when needed. Plus, they all hang out. Thank goodness Zeke, my youngest brother, has shown no inclination for basketball. However, with the three of them going to the same high school with me, it has been a nightmare. It’s bad enough having them around at home, teasing me to no end and scaring off any boy who shows any slight interest in me. Now, I have to see all three of them in school. At this rate, I’ll be the only junior that hasn’t had a boyfriend yet.

The chair next to me squeaks, and I look up to see my twin brother. Hey. Give me your homework, quick.

No. Do your own homework.

C’mon. Stop being like this.

Nope.

No? Bryce says in disbelief, then irritation flashes on his face. When he sees that I’m serious, he turns to plead. Please, I can’t fail this class. Mom will have my balls.

Well, maybe you should have done the work.

You know I had work after practice last night. Please, B. I’ll owe you one, he begs. I’ll do your chores for a week.

Isn’t JV done? You guys lost. Why are you even practicing?

Thanks for the reminder. He glares. I need to make varsity, so I need the extra practice. If I don’t, I’ll never hear the end of it.

Taking pity on him, I cock my head. Hmm. How about you let me take the car for a week, and you hitch a ride with Cole?

Are you crazy?

Well, then, no homework.

What the fuck do you need a car for? You don’t go out. He stares at me with a slight shake of his head and a frown.

I shrug and face the front.

He glances at the clock and cusses. Fine.

I stick out my pinky.

Are you five?

I stare at him pointedly.

He sighs and grasps my pinky with his. I hand him my homework, and he hurriedly copies it down, barely finishing when the teacher walks into the room. Mrs. Thomas calls roll and then collects our homework and lectures about algebra. The class tunes her out since she kisses the board as she writes on it while her glasses fall to the tip of her nose. She continues to lecture, even though the class doesn’t pay attention and only cares about our grades and attendance. As long as we show up and turn in the homework, she leaves us alone.

I lay my hand on top of Bryce’s desk and gesture for him to hand over the car keys. He frowns, fishes for them in his pockets, then drops the keys on my waiting palm. I smile brightly as I clutch them and eagerly watch the clock tick down to three.

As the bell rings, I have my stuff gathered in my arms, and my ass is out of the seat.

Where are you going in such a hurry? Bryce catches up with me.

None of your beeswax.

Can you give me a ride home?

Nope.

C’mon. I have a date tonight.

Well, get a ride from your girlfriend, I call over my shoulder.

Fine, be that way.

I wave and practically run to the car. I’m free! My brothers keep a close eye on me, so it’s rare for me to be alone. This week will be the best week of my life. I can feel it.

I run down the steps and grunt as a large guy runs into me. Right before I fall on my ass, he grips my shoulders and steadies me. Hey. Easy there, B.

I look up, and my heart does a flip-flop like always when I gaze at Ethan Smith’s baby blue eyes. Oh, hey. Sorry.

Where are you going in such a hurry?

Oh, um… I stammer since I don’t actually have a destination in mind. I won the car from Bryce. I shrug with a wide grin.

He matches my grin, and I have to look away as my heart thunders behind my chest.

Why does he have to be so gorgeous?

Ethan is about six feet tall, with ash-blond hair and broad shoulders. However, he’s my brother’s best friend, and he practically grew up with us. So he’s like my fourth brother. I’ve been trying to get rid of these inappropriate feelings I’ve had for him since middle school, but my crush is getting stronger each year. Maybe because he’s the only boy I’m allowed to interact with outside of my brothers. Perhaps I need to find a boyfriend outside of school to finally get over this stupid crush.

Gotcha. Mind if I tag along? Cole is with a date, so I’m flying solo. He tucks his hands in his pockets and hunches his shoulders like he’s unsure of himself. Ethan, a star basketball player, is standing before me, looking uncertain.

So freaking cute.

My lips turn up slightly, failing to hide my amusement. I know I should quit spending time with him, but it’s like there’s a constant war inside of me with Ethan, and the one that likes him always prevails.

Sure. Where to?

I know this cool place, but it’s quite a drive. Are you up for it?

Yep, I say, letting the p pop between my lips.

So, what did Bryce do to lose the car? Ethan asks as he buckles in on the passenger’s side.

He didn’t do his algebra homework. I turn up the song to a popular country station.

Oh, God. Really? We’re listening to country? he whines.

Driver gets to decide the music. It’s the rule of the car. I pull out of the parking lot.

Fine. But I’m picking on the way home.

I guess.

Are you going to the game this weekend? Ethan asks.

You know I hate crowds, I whisper.

I haven’t had a panic attack in ages. Probably because I now know my trigger. I know to avoid large crowds or uncomfortable situations where several people’s attention is focused on me. He knows about my anxiety, but he always asks me to watch his games.

I prefer to be alone most of the time, but it gets lonely. My best friend, Harper, is always busy with high school band practice. If she’s not with the band, she’s at home taking private lessons, or just obsessing over