Page 45 of Anyone But Her

"Is it that golfer guy?"

I look up at Willow. "What?"

"That golfer friend of your brother's. The guy you have a crush on?"

"I don't know who you're talking about. I don't have a crush on anyone." I hope she buys my lie. If she does, maybe my family will buy it too if they ever accuse of me of liking Luke.

"That guy who showed up at parents' weekend last semester. Did you see him when you were home?"

"Um, kind of. He was at the house a few times to see Cal but I didn't really talk to him."

"Why not?"

I shrug. "I'm not interested in him."

"You were last fall."

"I thought he was hot. That's it. I wasn't trying to date him."

"But would you? If he asked you out, would you go?"

"Probably not." I get off my bed and go to my desk to get my book. "I have to read some of this before class tomorrow."

She stands up. "Guess I'll just go to the gym. Maybe Caden will be there."

"Who's Caden?" I walk her to the door.

"The guy who manages the gym. He's ten years older than me but super hot."

"What about Silas?"

Silas is her first love. Her childhood friend. He asked her to marry him but she wasn't ready to so he went overseas to do volunteer work and has been there for almost two years now.

"Silas?" She laughs but it's an uncomfortable laugh. She doesn't like talking about Silas. When she does, she gets sad, and when I point that out, she denies it. She thinks she's over Silas but she's not. "What does Silas have to do with anything?"

"Maybe you should call him up."

"Why would I call Silas? I haven't talked to him in years. I don't even know where he's living right now."

"His mom would know. You're friends with his mom."

"I'm not calling Silas." She goes out the door, but then turns around. "But you should call that golfer guy, whatever his name is."

"Luke."

She grins. "You did it again."

"Did what?"

"Smiled. The same smile as when I came in here."

"I did not." I shut down the smile, not even realizing it was there.

"You smiled when you said his name." She leans against the door frame. "What's going on with you two? Did something happen over spring break?"

"We went golfing together but nothing happened. We went with Cal."

She eyes me. "I feel like you're hiding something."

"I'm not." I take hold of the door. "You better get to the gym. They're closing soon. See ya tomorrow at lunch?"

"Okay. Bye."

I wait for her to leave, then close the door and go lay on my bed. The book I'm supposed to read is beside me but I can't focus enough to read it. All I can think about is Luke and how his voice sounded on the phone tonight. And how it felt when he kissed me yesterday. And how much I want see him again.

We can't do this. We can't go down this road. But I think we're already on it.

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