Sleeping with the Enemy

“So, we’re really doing this, huh?” Erin said, glancing over to her brother as she put the finishing touches on her outfit. She flashed him a small smile that was mixed with excitement and worry.

“Sure, we are!” Miles replied, putting on his suit’s jacket as he glanced at his own reflection in the mirror.

“It’s still so goddamn unreal, you know,” Erin said with a smile on her face as she leaned forward towards the mirror, taking note of her rich hazelnut skin as the light reflected off her green eyes. She quickly pulled out her dark lipstick, applying just a little to her soft lips. Erin raised her hands, making sure her side-parted bob was perfect.

“You’re taking the whole mirror, Erin!” Miles said, playfully shoving his own sister to the side as he flashed her a knowing smile. He stopped for a moment, a wide smile on his face as his eyes slowly glanced over to his sister’s outfit, taking note of every detail.

“What is it?” Erin said, her cheeks slowly turning dark red as she glanced downwards. “What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking at my perfect sister.” He said, placing a tentative hand on Erin’s shoulder as he took one more glance at her green dress. “That dress really matches your eyes.”

“Yeah…” Erin said, taking a step back to hide her flustered cheeks as she walked out of the bathroom. “I guess you get cleaned up well as well.”

“Damn.”

“What?”

“I’m out here telling you that you look perfect and all I get is that I get cleaned up well?”

Erin let out a hearty chuckle, leaning against the doorway as she flashed her brother a knowing smile. “Well, that’s all you’re going to get. Sorry.”

Slowly, the laughter died down as Miles continued to check over his suit, his confidence just oozing out of him as the wide smile on his face never left. Erin’s gaze slowly travelled towards the floor as she crossed her arms, the smile on her face dying down.

She let out a long, shaky breath, glancing over to her brother with an unusually worried look on her face. Her voice came out slow and careful, almost afraid. “Are you sure about this?”

“What are you talking about?” Miles replied, still focusing his attention on his reflection in the mirror as he was tying the black tie around his neck.

“You know… about the whole executive assistant thing…”

“I told you, didn’t I?” Miles replied with a smile on his face as he flashed his sister a knowing wink. “I’ll make sure you’re my executive assistant. No questions asked. And, soon enough, you’ll be a Co-CEO.”

“Miles, you understand what you’re doing, right?” Erin said, her voice shaky and worried. “You know that I just graduated last month.”

“So?”

“So…” Erin said, taking a deep breath as she faced the truth that she knew for a long time. “I have no experience. Like, no experience at all.”

“So?”

Erin raised an eyebrow at her brother, her arms still crossed. “So? I’ll screw it up, Miles!”

“So?”

“Alright, I’m going to have to ask for a better answer than just 'So' from you.”

Miles had finished tying and faced his sister, flashing her a warm smile in an attempt to calm her nerves. “Erin. If you weren’t ready for something like this, I would have never given you the position. I mean, you were at the top of your class when you graduated!”

“Yeah, but…” Erin let out another shaky breath, attempting to battle something that she felt was the reason for her hiring. Something that had been creeping into the back of her mind, and she was afraid it was true. She glanced at her brother once more, her voice serious. “Did you hire me just because I’m your sister?”

“Erin…” Miles said, taking a step towards her and wrapping an arm around her shaky shoulders, his warm touch calming her down a little. “Do you really think that?”

“How can I just ignore it, Miles?” She asked, her voice shaky as she took a deep breath, filling her lungs with air as she glanced up at her brother’s eyes. “How can I just ignore that possibility?”

“Erin, look at me…” Miles said as Erin slowly raised her gaze upwards, her gaze worried. “I’ve hired you because I know you can do it. I need you to say it back to me.”

“What?”

“Say that you can do it.”

“Miles….”

“We’re not leaving if you don’t say it.”

“Miles, we’re seriously going to be late.”

“I don’t care. Say it.”

“We really need to get going—”

“We have all night. Say it.”

“You’re going to be very late—”

“We’ll be fashionably late. Say it.”

A small smile formed on Erin’s face as she raised her arms in surrender. She shook her head left and right. “I can do it. Happy now?”

“Was that too much to ask for? Jeez.” Miles said as he walked past his sister, a teasing smile on his face.

“You’re the worst.”

“Thank you! I really appreciate it!” Miles said, flashing his sister a quick smile as she pointed her middle finger at him. He quickly tapped around his suit’s jacket, checking the pockets for a moment as his brows furrowed. “Shit. I don’t have my phone on me. Could you call Chris? Put him on speaker.”

“Oh? Chris is coming as well?” Erin asked, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow at her brother.

“Can’t attend the grand opening without my best friend with me, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. Right…” Erin said, fumbling with her phone as she lowered her gaze in an attempt to hide her flustered cheeks. “I’ll give him a call.”

Miles stood there for a moment, fixing his suit’s jacket as he raised an eyebrow at his sister. “Are you alright?”

“Hmm? No, no. I’m fine. I’m absolutely fine.” Erin quickly replied, letting out a breath of relief as she noticed that Miles had turned his attention somewhere else. She quickly pulled out Chris’ number, which was on her speed dial.

A few rings later, Chris picked out, his voice booming from the phone’s speakers. “Erin! It’s good to hear your voice! I haven’t seen you for a couple of weeks!”

“I’m fine, Chris,” Erin said, flashing her brother a quick smile as her voice was rushed, almost as if she wanted to interrupt Chris. “I’m on speaker right now and Miles is with me.”

“Miles! Right!” Chris said, quickly recollecting himself as he let out a quick cough. “How are you doing?”

“How am I doing? How are you doing, Chris?”

“What do you mean?”

“The freaking opening happens in just an hour! Where are you?”

“Oh, really?” Chris replied, his voice uncaring. “I thought it should be tomorrow night. Are you sure it is tonight?”

“What?” Miles said, his voice coming out rushed. “Chris, if you don’t get your ass here right now—”

“Relax. I’m just messing with you.” Chris said, letting out a quick chuckle. “Also…” Knock! Knock! Knock! Sharp knocks alerted Miles and Erin, both of them glancing at the door. Chris’ voice boomed from the speakers once more. “I’m right outside your door.”

“Could you open the door?” Miles nodded towards his sister, running back to his room. “I need to check on something.”

Without another word, Erin walked towards the door, taking a deep breath as her fingers brushed against the door handle. Slowly, a wide smile formed on her face as she pressed down, the door slowly giving way to the familiar figure of Chris Carter.

Her eyes widened as she glanced up at the larger frame of Chris staring back at her, his light blue eyes piercing through her. She had seen that look on his face before. She still couldn’t help but get flustered every single time.

Erin’s gaze slowly travelled towards his light skin, his long, light brown hair, his sharp jawline, and finally rested on his soft lips. They had known one another for years. They met each other almost daily, and yet, they couldn't help gazing at one another as if they had met for the first time.

“Chris…” Erin said, her voice low and careful as she flashed him a knowing smile. She felt her cheeks turning dark red as she stood there under his burning gaze, feeling butterflies in her stomach.

“Is Miles here?” He asked, his voice low as well as he glanced around for a minute, his gaze returning to Erin’s green eyes.

Without another word, Erin simply replied with a nod indicating that Miles was in the bedroom. Not wasting another second, Chris lunged at Erin, closing the distance between them with a quick, passionate kiss.

Their lips remained locked for a minute, both of them not willing to let go. Erin’s eyes slowly fluttered shut, drowning in the feeling of Chris’ lips on hers as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing him even closer to her.

“Chris…” She moaned, raising her neck with a wide smile forming on her face. She felt Chris’ lips plant a trail of fiery kisses alongside her jawline, slowly travelling downwards.

“God, I’ve missed you…” He mumbled, his voice low as he continued to kiss her neck upwards until their lips locked once more. They were desperate for one another, but they both knew they had to be careful.

As soon as footsteps boomed from the bedroom throughout the quiet apartment, Erin and Chris quickly pulled apart, each one of them taking a step back as they attempted to calm the fire burning within their bodies.

Erin flashed him a quick smile, her mind ran as she saw the all-too-familiar warm smile spread across Chris’ face. This was the first time Erin had ever felt that way about anyone in her life.

They had met years ago when Miles introduced her to Chris, and there was an instant attraction between them. To this day, Erin still remembered how flustered she was when she first laid eyes on Chris. She didn’t know how, but she felt that the feeling was mutual.

But it was not supposed to be. How would people react to her? The smartest girl in college? The girl that was always at the top of her class? How would people react to seeing her dating someone ten years older than her? What would he say about a twenty-year-old girl dating a thirty-year-old man?

And most importantly, how would her brother react to his best friend dating his younger sister?

There was too much on the line. They knew that if something ever happens between them, there will be consequences. Miles would never view his sister the same way again. Chris would lose his best friend. The stakes were too high, and yet…

They couldn’t keep their emotions in check…

They started dating. In fact, they had been dating for an entire year without anyone knowing about it. They made sure that they never tell anyone until the time is right, but they both knew that the time will never be right, so they continued to keep it a secret.

Erin knew how wrong it was. She knew that people would talk if they knew about it. She knew people wouldn’t approve of a ten-year age gap, and she was always afraid of it. She knew that she shouldn't be doing this…

But as she raised her worried gaze upwards and her eyes locked with Chris’ piercing blue eyes, all of her worries faded away. At that moment, she felt safe. She felt like no one could judge her or tell her what to do, and deep down, all she ever wanted was to be free to love whoever she wanted to love.

“Miles!” Chris quickly called out, turning his attention elsewhere. He quickly flashed Erin a knowing look, and Erin nodded as she took another step back.

Erin quickly followed suit, plastering a wide smile on her face as she turned around to face her brother. “Miles!” She called out as well, her eyes travelling back and forth between Miles and Chris. “What took you so long?”

“Well, I—”

“Sorry I’m late, everyone!” A familiar voice suddenly called out as the sound of heels approaching the apartment boomed throughout the place. Erin glanced at her brother, who was already wide-eyed and had the usual excited look on his face, and she couldn’t help but smile at him.

“You’re never late,” Miles said, approaching the door slowly as the sound of heels clicking and clacking against the floor became closer and closer until finally…

“Amy!” Erin called out, clasping her hands together excitedly as she watched her brother run towards her, wrapping Amy in a tight hug.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” Miles said, his voice barely a whisper as he and Amy shared a quick kiss, and Erin and Chris couldn’t help but glance at one another, flashing each other knowing looks.

“The day the love of my life starts his new life?” Amy said, planting another quick kiss on Miles’ lips. She flashed him a warm smile as she tucked strands of her brunette hair behind her ear. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Guys, I hate to break it to you, but we’re going to be late,” Erin said, showing everyone the time on her phone. 

“Shit, you’re right,” Miles said, quickly turning his attention towards his friend. “Chris, you’re driving us, right? You and Amy head towards the car and we’ll catch up.”

“Amy, how long have you and Miles been dating?” Chris asked, walking away with Amy, their voices bouncing off the quiet hallway leading to the building's elevator.

“A couple of years. Why?” Amy asked, carrying her purse around her shoulder as she walked away with Chris.

“I’ve been his friend for almost ten years,” Chris said, glancing back at Miles and Erin as he flashed Miles a knowing smile. “Let me tell you all about the embarrassing shit he was doing way back in college.”

“Wait, what?” Miles called out, but Chris and Amy were already inside the elevator and had already left. “Freaking Chris…” Miles mumbled. He couldn’t help but have a knowing smile on his face.

“What is it?” Erin asked, glancing back at the elevator as Chris and Amy already made their way down. “Why are we not leaving?”

“We will, I just… uh…” Miles said, glancing behind him carefully as an excited smile formed on his face. “I have something to tell you…”

Erin’s brows furrowed as she crossed her arms, her mind racing. “You have something planned,” Erin said, squinting her eyes at her brother.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Miles said, flashing his sister a knowing smile.

“What do you have planned? What are you going to do?” Erin asked, rolling her eyes. “It better not be some stupid shit.”

“It’s not stupid shit. It’s very important shit.” Miles said, his voice hesitant as he glanced behind him once more, his voice becoming more and more nervous. “I just… uh… a little scared about it. Well, scared and excited.”

“Miles, spit it out,” Erin said, placing a caring hand on her brother’s shoulder. “You know whatever it is, I’ll be there for you, right?”

“I know… but this is something that I have to do on my own.” Miles slowly reached his hand deep in his pocket, not breaking eye contact with his sister as a wide smile formed on his face.

“What are you doing?”

“Well, I found what I was looking for in my bedroom…” Miles said, his hand slowly pulling out of his pocket as it grasped something tightly, but Erin couldn’t quite make it out just yet.

“I thought you were looking for your phone?”

“Well, that and another thing…” Miles said, glancing down at the thing he had clutched in his hand, his gaze distant. “I thought you should be the first one to know what I had planned for the night.”

Without another word, Miles’ hand opened slowly under Erin’s gaze, her eyes slowly widening as she realized what it was. Miles was holding a small, black box in his hand with the logo of a ring engraved on it. Erin’s wide eyes slowly lifted upwards towards her brother’s knowing look as she let out a loud gasp.

“You’re going to propose?” Erin asked, her voice loud as she clasped her hands excitedly.

“No one else knows, alright?” Miles said, putting the box back in his pocket. “I need you to keep it for yourself.”

“Are you sure, though? Is that what you really want?”

“It is…” Miles said with a small smile on his face as he glanced back at his pocket for a moment, his mind was racing with possibilities and scenarios. “I’m sure of it.”

“I’m so happy for you!” Erin quickly lunged at her brother, wrapping him in a tight hug that almost broke his ribs.

“I’ve never felt this way about anyone other than Amy…” Miles said, his voice suddenly serious. “I love her, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

Erin wiped a fake tear out of her eyes, her voice was sarcastic. “So romantic!”

Miles shoved her playfully, letting out a hearty chuckle. “Asshole.”

“So, what are you going to do? Are you going to propose at the party?”

“Yes.” Miles said, nodding to himself. “I’ll propose to her at the end of the party.”

“My brother is getting married!” Erin said, shaking her head in disbelief. “I never thought I would see the day.”

“Hey, I’m thirty. I’m not getting any younger.” Miles said, his voice dropping low, suddenly serious. “But, the way I feel about her, Erin…”

Erin nodded along, a knowing smile on her face. “You really love her, don’t you?”

“I do. I really do, and I can’t imagine a life away from her.” Miles said, glancing at his sister. “This feeling, Erin… You just know it’s something special, you know?”

Erin nodded, her gaze distant. She couldn’t help but remembered the way she felt every time she glanced at Chris. The way she felt every time that a simple greeting from him could change her entire day for the better…

And the way her brother would feel if he knew about any of that…

“I bet it is special…” Erin said, her voice low as her gaze was a million miles away.

“I hope you experience this feeling someday, Erin. I truly do.”

“Yeah, maybe one day…”

“Anyway, I need you to not tell anyone, alright?” Miles said, adjusting his suit’s jacket and cuffs. “I want this to be a surprise. I don’t want anything to ruin this moment for me and her.”

“You got it,” Erin said, motioning as if she was zipping her mouth shut.

“Right then…” Miles said, offering his stretched hand to his sister. “Are you ready to go?”

Erin flashed her brother a wide smile, taking his hand in hers. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Trust me, sis…” Miles said, flashing his sister a confident smile. “Our lives will never be the same after tonight!”