Page 47 of What if I Told You

I crinkle my nose. “I don’t think I would go that far.”

“No?”

“Nah. He meant what he said in front of the guys. It was one of those statements you make when you’re not thinking and usually those are the ones you mean, you know?”

“Then why would he say otherwise with you in his bed last night?”

I shrug. “To save face would be my guess, but…”

She waits a moment before asking, “But what?”

I lean forward toward my phone and lower my voice so nobody walking by my room can hear me. “Paige, I think I liked it. I liked being in bed with him. There was this moment when his palm rested against my bare stomach and I liked his hands on me. And even if he didn’t mean it, hearing him say those things to me last night, right in my ear as he held me, it felt…nice. I found myself getting a little hot and bothered.”

Paige beams back at me through the phone. “Of course you did! Also, this doesn’t surprise me. I think it’s to be expected. First of all, you two have been best friends since you were tiny humans. You have this bond that few people have. You’ve always been that way. Secondly, you were feeling great, looking like a gazillion bucks, and you were in the arms of your best friend in the entire world who also happens to be a hot as hell professional hockey player. So, the question is, when are you going to just drop the good-girl act, and go for it with him?”

Sometimes I wish…

“Why would I do that? It could mess up everything if it were to not go well and as you said, our bond is too strong for me to want to fuck it up over crazy physical attraction.”

She shrugs her shoulder. “The way I see it, the only reason it might not go well is if the two of you can’t get your heads out of your own asses.”

Her words sit with me, soaking in and spreading through my mind.

“Do you have feelings for August, Ella? Like more than just friends?”

I take a deep breath mulling over my answer.

“I…maybe? I think part of me always has. I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t hot as sin and that I haven’t thought about…you know, stuff.”

She grins. “Yeah. Stuff. And I think you’ve liked him longer than you want to admit to yourself and that’s totally okay. So, maybe it’s time to take the next step and see where he is. Maybe he feels the same. If he was poking you in the back last night, then there’s obviously a part of him that was attracted to you.”

“Yeah,” I giggle. “The horny part. The part who hasn’t gotten laid since I got to town because I think I’ve become a cock block for him.”

“Good. Then it’s time to drive him crazy and show him his eyes need to be on you and you alone.”

“What? How am I supposed to do that?”

“Come on, Ella. You can do this. Surely you can come up with a few ways to flirt with him or challenge his thoughts so that he’s constantly coming back to you. Turn on the hot girl charm. Ooor the bad girl charm. Read the room. You’re good at that. Make him want you. Make him desire you. Show him what he’s missing by not making a move and then when he finally does make a move, you’ll be right there with him.”

I nod my head at her suggestions. “Do you really think that’s the way to go?”

“Yeah. I really do. Auggie is headstrong. You know that. If he has feelings for you, and I kind of think he does, he might be just as scared to talk to you about them. So, play with that a little bit. Have a little fun. You have one week to make a couple moves and the next time we talk I want a play by play.”

“What do you think I should do first?”

She laughs on the other end of the line. “The only obvious choice.”

“Which is?”

“Go on a date,” she says. “A date with another man. Make the guy squirm.” A bell rings in the background and Paige looks away from her phone. “Hi welcome to The Nest.” She glances back at me and whispers, “Okay I’ve got to go. Customer just walked in.” She blows me a few kisses. “But lots of luck tonight! I’ll be sending you all the positive energetic vibes I can.”

“Thanks Paige. Love you girl.”

“Love you too! And good luck with August! Take the bull by the hornies.” She gives me one last wink and then she’s gone.

“Take the bull by the hornies…”

I end the call with a smile on my face and an eye roll for Paige’s creative word mashup but then sit in silence for a moment going through everything she had to say about August.

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