?<strong>Chapter 383:</strong>


    Katherine quickly cut in, refusing to let her friend finish.


    “Stop! You’ve noticed?”


    Joelle chuckled.


    “So something is going on?”


    Katherine sighed, knowing she couldn’t keep things hidden from Joelle for long.


    “He confessed.”


    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.


    “And…?”


    “And what? It’s Shawn! He knows all the stupid things I did as a kid, and he’s your brother! If things don’t work out, it would be awkward as hell for everyone.”


    Katherine was clearly exasperated.


    “Awkward? Please. You’re overthinking it.” Joelle didn’t think so.


    Her best friend bing her sister-inw? It felt like a picture-perfect future unfolding before her eyes.


    Katherine shot her a skeptical look.


    “You’re seriously okay with the idea of me being with your brother?”


    Joelle didn’t hesitate.


    “Why wouldn’t I be? What’s wrong with my brother?”


    Shawn was handsome, smart, and stable. He could manage just about anything, whether it was cooking a decent meal, bncing 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 Joelle’s book.


    He was way better than Katherine’s ex-boyfriends, for sure.


    “Let’s be honest, he’s leagues above Bobby,” Joelle added with a knowing smirk.


    “Ugh, don’t even start!” Katherine replied, waving a dismissive hand.


    “Sometimes women want a little edge, you know? Your brother’s too stable. I’m not into the whole ‘perfect guy’ thing.”


    As they bantered, the girl Katherine had set up for Shawn walked into the cafe.


    Joelle recognized Lily Green immediately. They’d hung out before, and she seemed fine—sweet, 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. He’d clearly been hoping Katherine had invited him alone.


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