Page 117 of Anyone But Her

I look down at my sleep shorts and matching tank top. "I'm wearing pajamas."

"I can see your ass in those shorts and you're not wearing a bra. You can't walk around like that with Luke here. You need to cover up."

Rolling my eyes, I say, "You shouldn't even notice what I'm wearing. And Luke isn't here. He's in the guest house. I'm going upstairs." I take my glass of juice and go past him toward the living room.

"Taylor, wait."

"What?" I turn back to face him.

"You don't um...like Luke, right?"

I laugh but it's too loud and sounds fake. I quickly stop laughing and say, "Of course not! Gross! Luke's like a brother to me."

"Then why do you always act so weird around him?"

"I don't act weird. I don't know what you're talking about."

"When he's around it's like you try to avoid talking to him. Sometimes you won't even look at him. I get that you might've been uncomfortable around him when he first moved in but he's been here for two months. By now you should be used to him."

"I am. I just have nothing to say to him. He's your friend, not mine." I turn and walk away.

Racing up to my room I take deep breaths trying to calm down. That was close. Really close. Cal knew I was hiding something. But did he believe me when I said I think of Luke as a brother?

"Hi, honey," my mom says as she comes up to me in the hall. "Did you just get up?"

"Um, yeah. I was going to head down to breakfast but thought I'd shower first."

"I checked your room earlier but you weren't there."

"Oh, um, yeah, I went downstairs to get orange juice." I hold up the glass.

She stares at me a moment. Why is everyone staring at me today? I'm acting totally normal, at least I think I am. Maybe I have a guilty look on my face, although I don't know why it would show up now. I've been secretly dating Luke all summer. My guilt should've shown up before now.

"Did you see Luke?" my mom asks.

"Luke?" I scrunch up my face like I have no idea who he is. I'm overcompensating, making myself look even more guilty. I need to get control of myself. "No. I didn't see him. Why?"

"I thought maybe he'd be up by now. I'm sure he didn't sleep much last night. He was so upset about his father."

"Yeah. It's too bad. I have to shower. I'll see you at breakfast." I continue down to my room and close the door. My phone rings. It's Birdie.

"Hey, aren't you at work?" I ask. She works mornings at the coffee shop and her shift starts at five.

"I'm on break. I called to see if you want to hang out after your coaching session. Maybe lay out by the pool."

"I can't. It's supposed to be really hot today."

"Which is why I want to hang out by the pool. I might even get in this time."

Birdie doesn't swim. She's afraid of the water because when she was five she almost drowned in a pool and the trauma of it has kept her out of pools ever since. She'll stick her feet in and on rare occasions will go in as far as her waist but she won't swim.

"Like get in all the way?" I ask.

"Maybe. I'm trying to conquer my fear of the water. I really want to go on spring break next year which will most likely include pool time and I don't want to look like an idiot for not being able to go in the water."

"You're going somewhere for spring break and you didn't invite me?"

"Spring break is for single people looking to hook up. You're already taken."

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