Page 17 of Talk About… Rivalry

Now we were both laughing. Just like that some of the heaviness weighing me down lifted.

Grace had already set up the sectional like a cozy nest, full of pillows and blankets like usual. The TV was waiting on her list of Romcoms. That was about all Grace watched. I saved my trash reality TV watching for mine and Avery’s hangouts.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong so we can enjoyThe Princess Bride?” Grace called out as she shuffled around the kitchen loading up a tray with snacks and sweets. Instead of diving into the cozy nest she made, I followed her in and made two glasses of ice, added straws, and grabbed drinks from the fridge.

I didn’t answer her until I sat down and took a handful of gummy bears, chewing on one before looking up to find her watching me expectantly.

“Ugh, why do you hate me?” I groaned, not really wanting to get into it, though I knew it would make me feel better. Grace was fairly level-headed, even if she liked to think the best of people.

“I don’t, Sid, I’m trying to help,” she reminded me. Her patience had never wavered when dealing with me. Sometimes our friendship felt like it started with a hostage situation and now we just were friends and there was no going back. Honestly, wasn’t that how the best friendships started?

“So, Taylor asked me out today,” I said. Even though I was quiet she was listening intently enough to catch it, her gasp breaking the silence.

“Shut up. You accepted, right? You’ve been pining over that omega for months.”

I glanced up and her smile faltered, then fell completely.

“Dammit, Sidney!” She growled. “Stop punishing yourself. You don’t even know how he is going to react to finding out about your scenting.”

“It won’t matter,” I said, letting my head drop so she couldn’t see the tears forming. “In the end, every relationship I have will end the same.”

“No, you only think it will,” she accused. “Not everyone finds their scent match. Some mates are chosen and that’s okay. If they choose you, I don’t see the problem. Stop punishing yourself for things out of your control.”

“I’m not punishing myself.” I was saving myself. There was a difference.

“You are,” she said, refusing to budge. “You are miserable and you want him and he wants you. Yet, you’d rather force yourself to be miserable than give him a chance. Is it worth saving yourself some potential but unlikely heartbreak?”

“Yes?” I asked before realizing how awful it sounded said out loud like that. “It’s safer.”

“And lonely,” she said gently.

“I gave him my number so we could be friends. I didn’t outright reject him. Yet.”

She perked up at that.

“Wait, so you didn’t say no? We can fix this, Sidney!”

“Uh, no, we can’t,” I said, clutching my phone to my chest like she might snatch it. Her green eyes flickered down to it and back up to me. She was no longer cute and sweet, she was a woman on a mission.

“Text him,” she demanded. “I bet he flirts. Just let him take you out once and see how you feel after.”

“I’ll feel the same,” I bit out. She winced and nodded, sitting back like I’d slapped her.

Fuck.

“Grace...” I trailed off, not sure what I was even going to say.

“No, it’s fine. Hailey always tells me that I’m pushy,” she said, giving a small smile. “Sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped,” I said. “It’s just stressful.”

“Movie time,” she announced, snatching the remote and starting the movie. She had relaxed again, snuggling against me, but wasn’t going to be letting it go.

My phone was heavy in my hands as the movie played, only half paying attention and half fighting with myself on texting.

As if Taylor knew I was thinking about him, my phone dinged with a message. Grace sat up so fast she started to tumble from the couch until I caught her.

“Is it him?”

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