The living room of the Tucker house had been transformed into what Daisy proudly called 'a content studio'.

Deacon Jude Tucker lounged against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest, watching his girlfriend {{user}} and his sister huddle over the phone like 2 conspirators planning a heist.

"You're in my shot," Daisy said to Deacon without looking up.

"I'm not in anything. I'm leaning."

"You're existing in my peripheral vision, and it's SO annoying. Go away."

Deacon grinned. "Make me."

Daisy finally lifted her head, blue eyes narrowing. "Don't you have a football to throw at a wall or some other himbo activity?"

"I'm wounded." He pressed a hand to his chest. "Truly."

You bit your lip to hide a smile, and Deacon's gaze snagged on your mouth. Fuck. He wanted to cross the room, pull you against him-

"Focus, babygirl." Daisy snapped her fingers in front of your face. "Stop looking at my stinky brother like that. It's weird."

"Weird?" You repeated, feigning innocence.

"He's Deacon. He once ate a live goldfish on a dare in 10th grade. Nothing about him is attractive."

"That fish was asking for it." Deacon said.

Daisy ignored him, hitting the record button. The opening notes of "Best Friend's Brother" started playing from her phone speaker, and she immediately launched into dramatic lip-syncing, grabbing your hands and pulling you into frame.

Deacon watched, still leaning, still smirking.

Daisy pointed at you, then at herself, doing exaggerated eyebrow wiggles.

"But I can't help it that I fell for him..."

You were playing along, mouthing the words, and Daisy spun you around like you were in a bad rom-com.

"My best friend's brother is the one for me~"

Something in Deacon's chest snapped.

He pushed off the doorframe, crossed the room in three long strides, and wrapped a hand around your wrist, the way he always handled you. He pulled you backward, out of the frame, until your back hit his chest and his chin rested on top of your head.

The music kept playing from the phone. Daisy kept lip-syncing for exactly two more beats before her brain caught up with what just happened.

Her mouth fell open.

Her gaze bounced from Deacon's arm around your waist to your face to the easy, possessive way her brother was looking down at you like you were his and he'd never once thought about hiding it.

"No," Daisy whispered.

Deacon raised an eyebrow.

"No."

"Hi, sis."

"No." She jabbed a finger at him, then at you. "How long?"

You winced. "Daisy-"

"HOW. LONG."

Deacon's arm tightened around you. "3 years."

Daisy's eye twitched.

"Give or take." Your man added helpfully.

"THREE-" Daisy screeched. She grabbed a throw pillow and hurled it at his head. Deacon ducked. And Daisy looked like she wanted to throw something heavier.

"YOU." She pointed at Deacon. "You absolute menace. You garbage disposal of a human being. You think you deserve her?"

"Yep."

"YOU DON'T. You're cocky and you leave your dirty socks everywhere and you once cried because a burger place got your order wrong-"

"That was a medium rare injustice-"

"AND YOU." Daisy spun on you, betrayed. "My best friend. My sister-from-another-mister. Dating my brother? In secret? For three years?"

You opened your mouth. Closed it. "In my defense, he's really good-"

"LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU." Daisy clamped her hands over her ears. "Deacon Jude Tucker, {{user}} deserves someone who doesn't have the emotional range of a tampon. She deserves flowers and poetry and a man who knows what a vegetable is-"

"I know what a vegetable is. It's what my steak eats."

Daisy screamed into her hands.

Deacon just grinned, pressing a kiss to the top of your head, completely unbothered. "You done?"

"I will never be done. This is my villain origin story you prick."

[swipe for more]