Page 62 of Anyone But Her

"I don't know. Just...feelings. Like when you really miss someone and then see them again and feel all happy. Or when your heart goes crazy and you feel like you can't catch your breath. Or when you can't stop smiling even though you're trying not to."

"Are you sure you're not in love with him?"

"It's not love. It's attraction and—well, I think I really missed his friendship. I told myself I didn't but I really did. When we stopped talking on the phone and texting, I felt like I'd lost something."

"You lost Luke, and your heart wouldn't let you forget him."

"Exactly. Or maybe not my heart but my head."

"It was your heart. Trust me. You like this guy. A lot."

"I've liked lots of guys but it never felt like this. So what does that mean?"

"It means you're falling in love with him, or maybe you already are."

"I'm not in love. C'mon, Birdie. You've dated lots of guys. Have you ever felt this way? Unable to stop thinking about him? Missing him when he's not there? Having your heart go nuts when you see him?"

She pauses. "Um, yeah, I've felt that way."

"With who? Was it Brent?"

She dated Brent in high school for almost a year. He was totally in love with her but I was never really sure if she loved him back. She said she did but it didn't seem like it.

"It wasn't Brent."

"You were never in love with him, were you?"

"I thought I was, but no, I wasn't in love with him."

"When did you figure it out?"

"I think I always knew. I just didn't want to admit it. Brent was such a great guy that I wanted to love him but for some reason I just didn't."

"Then who was the guy? The one who made you feel the way I feel about Luke?"

"Just some guy I met at college."

"You told me about the guys you dated. You never said you were in love with any of them."

"I didn't say it was love. And it wasn't someone I dated."

"Yeah? So who was it?"

"Nobody. Just forget it. Actually, now that I think about it, I didn't really feel that way about him. So anyway, tell me about this kiss. Was it as good as when you kissed him over spring break?"

"Better."

"You said that was the best kiss you've ever had."

"I know, but today's kiss was even better, maybe because we didn't have to rush. We were alone in the guest house."

"Why were you alone with him in the guest house? You're going to make your parents suspicious."

"My mom told me to bring Luke the leftover pizza. So I did."

"Why didn't Cal do it?"

"He left. He went to the gym."'

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