Page 61 of Always You

“What?” I squeal, a little indignant. “We don’t share longing looks.”

I’m so full of shit.

“Sweetie, you guys share nothingbutlonging looks.”

I push out a frustrated breath, glancing over my shoulder again to make sure no one can hear us. “It’s complicated, okay?” Maybe if Hunter didn’t have such a fucked-up childhood, I would have taken the plunge by now. But I’m scared it won’t work out and we won’t be able to save our friendship. He’ll be left with nothing.Again.

“Oh, now you’re going with the Facebook status of your relationship?”

“It’s not a relationship,” I hiss, shooting her a glare. “We’re friends. That’s it.”

“Charlotte Roux, you really wanna lie to my pretty face, and tell me you don’t love that boy?” She cocks an eyebrow with a look full of sass.

“Of course I love him.” I shrug. It was never about me not loving him. I think I’ve loved him since the moment I stepped into his truck that night. “He’s my best friend. I love you too.”

It’s one thing to feel more for your best friend than you’re supposed to feel. But actually voicing it makes the world go to shit, because before you know it, everything changes. I can’t handle change. Not right now. Not when I have no clue if my mom will be around next year. Our friendship is all we’ve got. And I can’t lose that. Neither of us can.

“Don’t bullshit me like that. You don’t love me enough to want to kiss me. But you love him enough to do a lot more than that. And I sure as fuck know he does.”

“What do you mean?” I snap my head toward her.

“Are you kidding me? Girl, that boy is head over heels in love with you.”

“No, he’s not,” I blurt, incredulous, my heart galloping away from me.

“Oh, please. You don’t actually believe that, right?”

I blink at her slight scowl, not even knowing what to say, trying to process what she’s telling me.

“What makes you think he’s in love with me?” I finally whisper, glancing at the boys.

“One, it’s written on his face. Two, he doesn’t see any other girl than you. Three, he has been flirting with you from day one. Four, he keeps sabotaging your dates. Five—”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” I interrupt, trying to shut her up, not wanting to hear any more at this point.

“There is a whole list, really.”

“He sees other girls.”

“Not anymore.” She shakes his head. “Trust me, girls are complaining about it.”

“You wanna tell me he hasn’t slept with anyone in the last couple of months?” I find that very hard to believe.

“Where would he find the time, Charlie? He’s with youallthe fucking time.”

My lips press together, not wanting to believe her. I mean, I know he’s with me all the time, but I figured he just meets up with girls whenever he leaves my house. Even if that’s at one or two a.m.

“We’re just friends,” I say again when I have no clue what else to say.

“Even if he is? Do you want to bejustfriends?” The look on her face grows serious. She reminds me of a young Dolly Parton, a real southern belle with the sass to match. She’s playful, always looking for fun, but the stern expression in her eyes tells me she’s not trying to be funny right now.

I swallow hard, fully aware of the answer to that question.

“Maybe,” I admit, pushing out a breath.

“Well, all I know...?” she says as she looks over her shoulder. “It’s adefinitelyfor him.”

21

---