To Love My Brother's Rival

I had fallen head over heels for Kyle Weston for five years, and my best friend, Miles Weston, was just as hopelessly romantic as I was when it came to Sydney Barton.

Then, tragically, we both got stood up on New Year's Eve.

I shared my movie popcorn with an empty seat, while Miles had to eat the other ice cream before it melted like tears.

In the end, our expectations were shattered by a sudden post: Kyle and Sydney were officially together.

This news was disastrous for both of us. But later, Miles gave me a call.

"Hey, listen Maybe we can also have what they have."

I sat in silence for a long while before nodding, "Alright."

Like busy little bees, we rushed into gown shopping, venue picking... basically everything that could let us tie the knot before they did.

But then, just as I was tangled between all kinds of pre-wedding tasks, Kyle actually came to my door.

He stood in the dark, looking as if someone had wronged him horribly. He bit his lips, his voice shaky.

"Seriously? Miles? Do you even know what you're doing?"

*****

On New Year's Eve, I was waiting at the mall as colorful balloons floated across the huge window. Countless couples were cuddling, enjoying every second of this romantic moment.

Two movie tickets were resting in my palm.

It was snowing outside, and my heart was just as icy.

The truth was, I had too little vocabulary to describe how I felt.

My affections for Kyle ran endlessly for five long years, but now, it seemed to freeze in an instant.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced down at the message.

It was from Miles, Kyle's little brother.

It read:

[Guess what? Sydney stood me up, too.]

I had known the Weston brothers since childhood.

Later, I had a crush on Kyle, and Miles fell for my roommate.

Both desperate for love, we became each other's wingman.

Sadly, New Year's Eve became the doomsday for our unseasonal love.

I sighed helplessly and turned to leave when I received a call from Miles.

His side was a noisy mess, but his voice squeezed through, clear but slightly hoarse.

"You saw that post, didn't you?" he asked.

A terrible feeling rushed through me.

I clenched my phone tightly, but I was too scared to check my social media.

It was like a Pandora's Box.

Once opened, everything would change.

Finally, I couldn't hold back any longer, and when I saw the photo, confusion overtook my sadness.

It was a photo of Kyle and Sydney in their school uniforms.

They were standing together on the school field, with wide, bright smiles and playful gestures.

They looked so happy. But when Kyle and I took photos, his smile was as rare as summer snow.

Sydney wouldn't even take pictures with Miles, either.

Sydney was my high school classmate. She had a falling-out with her family, so she stayed at the dorm for a while.

I didn't want to go home either, so my parents, feeling helpless, asked Kyle and Miles to bring me things.

After a few visits, Sydney ended up getting close to them.

But Kyle and Sydney When did their romance start to bloom?

And how did Miles and I get kept in the drum for so long?

The overwhelming bitterness muted me for a long while.

Miles didn't hang up, also drowning himself in the silence.

Finally, he asked, "Are you still at the cinema?"

"Yeah," I replied softly.

"Wait for me, then. I'll get us tickets," Miles offered.

"Okay," I replied.

Today was more than just awkward, but at least I wasn't suffering alone. And somehow, that made it hurt a little less.

While waiting for him, I didn't rummage through my memories just to find some tiny evidence of their romance.

Instead, my mind was too blank to give any reaction.

I didn't cry.

I just felt like everything was happening too fast.

After what felt like ages, my legs had gone numb from squatting.

Finally, I saw Miles coming toward me from across the escalator.

He had dyed his hair a few days ago.

A fresh new color for a fresh New Year, he had said.

I had wanted to dye my hair, too, but he went first, so I followed suit and chose a soft brown.

When Miles saw me, he quickened his pace and came over.

I waved weakly.

"Help me up. My legs are numb."

Miles took my arm, looking at my face with a smile. "The crybaby didn't cry? That's new."

I punched my numb legs with my hands, the sensation almost delightful in a strange way.

"Save it for yourself," I replied.

"Ugh," he waved it off.

"Let's check in. It's about time."

Neither of us brought up our awful experience again.

After the movie, Miles drove me home.

Later, after washing up, I saw a message from Sydney.

[Miranda, Kyle's my boyfriend now. Are you angry?"

I closed my eyes, letting out a long, frustrated sigh.

I flopped back onto my bed and replied expressionlessly: [Nope.]

Sydney was free to be with whomever she liked, even if it was Kyle.

But then I thought about how I had considered her my dearest friend and had shared every part of my secret love story with her.

Sydney never shared anything with me.

And now, after I've watered Kyle with all my love, she snatched him before I could ever make a move.

The sadness and anger almost crushed me.

I wasn't mad because Kyle chose her. It was because Sydney never told me she liked him as well.

What was on her mind when I shared those so-called love stories with her? Did she laugh at me for being such a fool?

Now, I found Sydney utterly unfamiliar and scary.

It seemed like she had expected my brief and cold response.

[Sorry, Miranda. I'm relieved to hear you're not mad. I did want to explain, but I just didn't know how to begin]

Her message was long, but I didn't even finish reading it.

Finally, she asked: [Miranda, how about we grab pizza at Queen Street tomorrow?]

Typical Sydney. She just wanted to find out if I was truly angry.

But our friendship died today. Whether I was mad or not didn't matter anymore.

[No, I'm tired. I'm going to sleep now.]

Finally, there was no more message from Sydney. But Kyle's message came in.

[I fell for Sydney, that's why I went for it. Better know your target before doing anything stupid, Miranda.]

Well, what could I say?

I really did love Kyle. My feelings for him filled every part of me.

But now

It all became disgusting. How could they just suddenly be together? How could this happen out of nowhere?

Maybe Miles and I were just a joke to them.

We showered them with everything we got, only to be told that they didn't feel the same for us.

Even such a devastating failure couldn't crush me.

But all those years of love wasted on a scumbag, rotten to the core, were just unacceptable.

In the end, I didn't reply.

I just took screenshots of their messages and sent them to Miles.

[Did Sydney send similar crap to you?]

Later, Miles replied. Sydney did send him something.

Yeah, all those "thank you for loving me" crap.

Miles texted: [Five years, Miranda. She didn't even beep! What exactly are we? Pathetic losers who don't know when to quit? God, I should've locked them together until they have five kids!]

Indeed. I had openly pursued Kyle for five years, but my love for him was even deeper.

I replied: [Just my rotten luck. Worse, we can't avoid them forever. When we meet, we have to force ourselves to forgive them, and they'll laugh and pretend to feel relieved. Geez I'm gonna be sick."

While typing, my irritation almost drove me to block Kyle and Sydney for good.

[I know, right? Just now, Kyle even came to ask whether I was asleep, but I said nothing. This is just exhausting. I can accept her seeing someone else. But why does it have to be my brother?"

How could they do this behind our backs?

Suddenly, something flashed across my mind.

The next second, Miles called me.

We were both naughty and bold by nature.

Even the bad ideas we came up with were surprisingly alike.

"What if"

"What if"

I pursed my lips. "You go first."

"Ahem." Miles cleared his throat. "How about we get married? We both know each other well enough."

I fell silent. Though he couldn't see me, I still nodded solemnly. "Alright."

After a brief pause, I thought of something and hissed, "But we must beat them to it."

"As you wish, ma'am," Miles said playfully.

I'd never known Miles to be so efficient.

Last night, I couldn't cry a single tear for the years I'd wasted.

I just sat there, heart-sore, wondering if those hopeless days had snuffed out every last bit of how I felt about Kyle.

Then this morning, way too early, my mom banged on my bedroom door as her life depended on it, each knock louder than the last.

"Mom, what the hell?

It's the crack of dawn"

I swung the door open, hair sticking up everywhere, and my complaint died mid-sentence when she clapped a hand right over my mouth.

"Honey, shh. Just get ready and come downstairs. Hurry!"

My eyes were still glued shut with sleep, and I mumbled, "What's going on?"

"Your boyfriend's here," she whispered in my ear, practically buzzing with excitement.

My mom's been on my case for years to settle down, so eager that she even tried setting me up on blind dates.

She must've been over the moon the second she heard.

I gasped.

The words jolted me fully awake in an instant.

I stumbled over to the banister and peeked down to the first floor.

Familiar faces were everywhere, and a pile of gold glinted like fire under the crystal chandelier.

I flew through my morning routine and bolted downstairs.

Christina Weston looked up when I came over, smiling softly as she waved me close.

"Miranda, have a sandwich. We made it especially for you."

Then she turned to my mom, her smile tinged with a little apology.

"Kenya, I know we popped by out of the blue, but we didn't mean to startle you all."

"Oh, nonsense!

" my mom laughed. "These two grew up together.

I'm thrilled they want to take things to the next level."

"Absolutely," my dad chimed in. "We know each other inside out; no silly formalities needed."

Miles was in a sharp, crisp suit, hair slicked back neatly, sitting ramrod straight on the couch.

"You really didn't waste a second, huh?"

I plopped down next to him and took a big bite of the sandwich.

He leaned in, his voice low.

"Kyle left home early. I figured bringing him along to meet your folks might upset you."

I just raised an eyebrow, saying nothing.

Meanwhile, our parents were already deep in an animated chat about the wedding, going at it like it was the most important thing in the world.

"I think the fifth of next month's perfect for the wedding."

"Totally agree!"

"Great, it's settled then"

Miles and I stared at each other, eyes wide, both dumbfounded. "Since when are they the ones in a hurry?"

I asked.

He leaned in again, his breath brushing my ear.

"They just want to seal the deal before we both chicken out."

And suddenly, it all made sense.

My mom had been nagging me nonstop lately, going on and on about how young people these days have zero interest in getting married.

Miles and I had been drowning in wedding prep lately: sifting through wedding gowns till our feet ached, scouting venues that felt just right, and drafting invitations with our names side by side.

Meanwhile, Kyle and Sydney had jetted off to that coastal town an hour away, flooding social media with photos that practically radiated happiness.

I was killing time in the suit shop while Miles changed, my phone in hand, staring at the ocean behind them in the photo.

I'd planned that trip to the coastal town with Miles years ago.

I'd shown Sydney the blogger's video I'd stumbled on online, gushing about how I wanted to visit the cliffside cafes and walk the boardwalk at sunset.

I'd even secretly hoped I could go with Kyle for my birthday, back when "us" still felt like a possibility.?

But then Sydney sprained her ankle, and I'd dropped everything to take care of her. The trip got shelved, pushed to the back of my mind.?

Never in a million years did I think they'd be the ones to go instead.?

"What're you staring at?

"?

Miles stepped out of the fitting room in a sleek black suit, a soft, knowing smile playing on his lips.

I didn't bother hiding it, just flipped my phone around to show him the photo.

His fingers paused mid-button, and he glanced down, his expression unreadable for a beat before he met my eyes.? "Let me," I said, stepping closer.

By the time I pulled back, he'd finished looking at the photo.

He set my phone gently on the nearby counter and asked, his voice low and steady, "Wanna go there?"?

I nodded, my throat feeling a little tight. "Yeah."?

Even though Miles and Kyle were identical twins, they were nothing alike once anyone knew them long enough.

Kyle's always had that icy detachment, like anyone who wasn't worth his time was beneath him.

But Miles had his mom's eyes, crinkling at the corners when he smiled. He was sunny, steady, the kind of person who stayed calm when everything was falling apart.

"I don't wanna go 'cause they did," I said, my gaze firm, like I was convincing myself as much as him.

"I've wanted to go since that first video.It's always been my trip."?

He smiled and steered me toward the full-length mirror. "I know."?

We stared at our reflection, and for the first time, it felt real.

We looked good together, like we were meant to be standing there, side by side, staring at a future that suddenly didn't feel so scary.?

The salesgirl, who'd been hovering politely in the corner, chipped in at just the right moment.

"You two are such a stunning couple. That suit was made for him."?

Miles leaned down a little, his breath brushing my ear. "How about this one? Do you like it?"?

I hesitated, chewing my lower lip.

"It's perfect, just not perfect for you," I said, searching for the right words.

I gestured vaguely at the suit.

"It's missing that little spark. That 'this is so Miles' feeling."?

Miles burst out laughing. In the glow of the crystal chandeliers, his eyes sparkled like they'd captured a sky full of stars.

"You're cute when you're picky."?

"Excuse me? Did you find anything you like?"

The store manager approached us, her smile warm and professional, like she'd been reading our hesitation.

She nodded at the suit.

"I can tell you're on the fence. Would you be open to waiting a few days? We're getting a shipment of exclusive wedding suits and dresses from Paris, handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces."?

She pulled out a folder from under her arm.

"The designer's vision is all about capturing personality, no cookie-cutter styles. Maybe I can take you to the lounge, and I shall explain her brilliant ideas to you."?

Then, the manager looked at us eagerly. "So, what do you think?"

I glanced at Miles, my eyebrows raised in question.

He squeezed my hand gently, his smile reassuring.

"Like I said, as you wish."?

I turned back to the manager, grinning. "Absolutely."

A few days later, the bridal shop called.

Our new dresses had arrived, and we were summoned for the fitting.

Miles had a last-minute work emergency, so I told him not to bother picking me up.

"I can head to the shop alone," I said, brushing off his quiet hesitation over the phone.

Just as I grabbed my bag and reached for the door, Sydney rounded the corner, a paper bag swinging loosely from her hand.

She looked sun-kissed from her trip, her hair styled neatly, and her smile brightened the second she spotted me.

"Miranda?You heading out?" she asked casually, like our recent awkwardness never existed.

I skipped her question. "What are you doing here?"

Her grin softened, and she held out the bag.

"Got you something; local treats from the coastal town."

Sydney continued, "It's exactly like the video you sent me, y'know? The ocean stretches on forever, and every spot's perfect for photos. Wait, why didn't you like any of my posts?"

She chattered excitedly, her eyes lighting up as she rambled about sunsets and seafood.

But I just stared at her.

We'd been friends for years and shared countless late nights.

But standing here, close enough to smell her floral perfume, she felt like a stranger.

Her words trailed off abruptly, her gaze locking on my left hand.

Specifically, the diamond ring on my middle finger.

Her smile faltered, replaced by an odd, tight expression.

"Miranda you shouldn't wear a ring on your middle finger. It's bad luck, or something. When did you get this diamond? It's stunning."

I glanced down at the ten-carat stone, its facets catching the light and casting tiny sparkles across the floor.

Miles had insisted on buying it.

Our wedding was happening fast; there was no engagement, but he'd refused to skip the ritual.

We'd tried on everything from one carat to ten, and honestly? The bigger, the more dazzling, the better.

"I know," I said flatly.

"Then why"

I cut her off, my voice steady and calm. "Because I'm getting married."

"What?"

She froze, eyes widening, and the words spilled out before she could stop them.

"How is that possible? So soon? Have you even gotten over Kyle?"

The second his name left her lips, her face drained of color.

Panic flickered across her features as she realized her slip, and she stared at me, tentative and guilty.

But I felt nothing.

No anger, no hurt, just a quiet disappointment for all those years I had wasted on Kyle.

She'd assumed I'd linger on Kyle forever, that I couldn't move on, all while shoving her perfect trip with him in my face like a trophy.

She recovered quickly, linking her arm through mine and shaking it gently, her signature fake pout back in place.

"Oh, Miranda, don't be mad. Remember? You promised I'd be your bridesmaid if you ever got married. I haven't even met the groom yet!"

Her tone was sweet, but the subtext was clear: she needed to see who'd chosen me.

I'd always known she thrived on taking what wasn't hers, on the thrill of winning, of feeling superior.

I wondered, not for the first time, if she'd ever cared about Miles.

The boy who'd driven her home from school for years, who'd stayed up with her when she was heartbroken, who'd loved her quietly and unconditionally while she pursued his brother.

I smiled slowly, my expression calm. "Sure."

"Really?

Let's go, then!"

*****

Thanks to Sydney's unexpected visit, Miles beat me to the bridal shop.

His eyes softened when they met mine until he saw Sydney beside me.

Sydney's smile vanished instantly.

She blinked, as if unable to process the sight, and tugged nervously at the hem of her shirt. "Miles? Why is he here?"

Slowly, I stepped forward, slipping my arm through his.

The message was loud and clear.

He glanced down at me, a faint, amused sigh escaping him, then turned to Sydney, his tone polite but firm.

"We're getting married early next month.

You're invited."

"No," she whispered, shaking her head violently.

She stared at Miles, her lips trembling, and all she could stammer out was, "You you"

Wasn't that what she wanted to say?

I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Why not, Sydney?"

She and Kyle got together overnight. Why couldn't we?

The air turned thick with tension, silence hanging heavy between us.

Just then, Sydney's phone rang, cutting through the awkwardness.

She fumbled for it in her bag, her hands shaking, and stepped away to answer, as if relieved by the distraction.

I settled onto the couch as the salesgirls wheeled out rack after rack of new dresses.

I popped a grape into my mouth, nodding at Sydney's pale, rigid face.

"Look," I murmured to Miles. "Even she knows she's in the wrong."

"World doesn't do empathy well, does it?

" he replied quietly.

I grinned, nudging his arm. "Do you think she actually liked you?

He shot me a deadpan look, his tone dry. "No. Next question.

He gestured at the dresses, shaking his head like he already knew I'd take ages to choose.

"See anything you like?"

I glanced up and froze.

Dead center, hanging under a spotlight, was a dress covered head to toe in tiny, glittering crystals.

It was romantic, elegant, and when the light hit it, it shimmered like someone had stitched the starry night sky into silk.

Miles followed my gaze, a soft laugh escaping him.

He waved a hand in front of my face, pulling me out of my trance.

"Go try it on. Before you start staring holes into it."

Marriage might not be every girl's dream. But a dress like that? Absolutely.

Sydney's voice drifted over from the corner, faint and shaky, and Miles replied in short, clipped tones, acting polite but distant.

I was just zipped into the dress, the fabric fitting like a second skin, when her voice cracked with hurt.

"Miles, you never used to be like this. Why are you so cold to me now? Don't treat me like this, please. Can't we still be friends, even if we weren't meant to be more?"

I held up a hand to stop the salesgirl from pulling back the curtain, leaning in to listen closely.

I wasn't about to walk out there and face her alone, not when I needed to make sure my wedding wasn't going to end up a disaster before it even began.

"You're being ridiculous," Miles said, his voice sharp with impatience.

"Was I supposed to fawn over my brother's girlfriend? And friends? Forget it. We're not a good fit for that. I'm getting married."

"You"

Sydney sputtered, lost for words.

I gave the salesgirl a small nod, and the curtain swished open in an instant.

Every sound in the shop died.

The hum of the lights, the rustle of fabric, and Sydney's quiet sniffling were all gone, swallowed by a thick, stunned silence.

Sydney stared at me, her mouth hanging open in shock. And Kyle, who'd burst through the door just moments before, frozen mid-step, his eyes wide and bright with pure, unadulterated awe as they locked onto me.

Perfect. Every penny spent on this dress was worth it, just for the shock, the awe, and the flicker of regret I saw in both their eyes.

I was still admiring my reflection in the full-length mirror when Miles leaned in close, his breath brushing my ear as he murmured, "Wonder why both of them showed up out of the blue like this."

"Take a photo, hurry," he added, grinning, nodding at the mirror.

"We look incredible. I'm so handsome, and you're so gorgeous."

Miles chuckled and pulled out his phone, striking a silly pose beside me.

He was being his usual cocky self, and I was just reaching for the phone to check the picture when Kyle finally found his voice, sharp and disbelieving.

"You're getting married?" he said, his jaw tight. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He frowned, like he thought this was all some childish prank, and turned to Miles, his tone hard.

"Miles, Miranda's being foolish, but you should know better. You didn't even tell Mom and Dad about this? This is reckless. Stop acting like kids, both of you."

Sydney's face brightened at his words, the color creeping back into her cheeks, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes.

If even Miles' own brother didn't know, it had to be a lie, a little show I'd put on to get back at them.

Miles didn't argue. He just stared at his brother, calm and unyielding.

"Call them. Ask them yourself."

Kyle hesitated, his eyes flicking between Miles and me, searching for any crack in our composure.

But we didn't flinch. Finally, he turned to me, his lips pale.

"Is it true?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He still didn't believe it.

With a shaky hand, he pulled out his phone, dialed his parents' number, and put it on speaker.

But it was true. Miles and I were getting married.

The shop was silent under the brilliant, glittering lights.

The four of us stood there, no one saying a word.

Kyle stared at me, his eyes clouded with confusion and something that looked a lot like hurt.

I stood a little behind Miles, my hand resting lightly on his arm, and met his gaze, and for the life of me, I couldn't figure it out.

He never loved me.

Not really. So why did he look like his whole world was falling apart at the seams, just because I was getting married? Why did his face go white when he heard the news?

I squeezed Miles's sleeve without thinking, and he instantly turned to me, his hand covering mine, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles.

I took a deep breath, then looked at Kyle and Sydney, my voice soft but firm.

"Can you leave now? We have a dress to finish trying on."

They stared at each other, frozen, their faces tight with shock and shame.

Sydney forced a brittle, shaky smile.

"Miranda you promised. You said I'd be your bridesmaid, remember? You said it a million times."

Memories flashed through my mind. The once innocent and timid Sydney had changed completely.

"No matter what," she'd said, squeezing my hand tight, "whoever gets married first, we'll be each other's bridesmaids.

We'll walk each other down the aisle, we'll watch each other find happiness, and we'll be there for each other forever."

That Sydney was gone. Replaced by this version: all sharp edges and painted smiles, a girl who'd smiled to my face while stabbing me in the back.

I don't know if it was the memories or the cold, hard truth that the friend I'd loved for so long was never coming back, that we'd never be those little girls again, that adult friendship could break this easily and irrevocably.

My chest ached, a dull, hollow sort of sadness.

I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper, and the word fell from my lips, final and unyielding. "No."

It felt like saying goodbye, not just to Sydney, but to the little girl I'd been, the one who believed in forever friendships.

Sydney stumbled back a step, her face draining of all color, her eyes filling with tears.

"Miranda" she whispered.

But I ignore her. I didn't care how much of her sadness was real. It just didn't matter anymore.