Page 20 of Years in the Making

“That is the name she said, so I guess you did.”This is goingto be awkward, I think as I’ve now greeted him and told him what Zoe asked me to. What more is there to say?

He’s just standing there looking at me, and I’m doing mybest to not just throw myself at him or run away. Both seem like incredibly over-the-top reactions to a slightly uncomfortable silence. And then his hand is coming towards my face, and I all but stop breathing.

“Eyelash,” he whispers, pulling his fingers back. I’m just starting to think that this is one of those ridiculously romantic moments that only exist on screen when he goes and flicks the lash off his finger.

“Did you just flick away my wish?” I ask.

He looks down at his fingers, then in the direction he flicked it as if he’ll be able to find the discarded lash, then his head snaps back in my direction “Seriously?”

“You never know when one’s going to come true, Teddy.”

“There are like 300 of those dandelion things… Wait, did you just say Teddy?”

Oops, I hadn’t meant to let that slip just yet. “Who’s Teddy?” I ask, trying to play it off like I hadn’t said it.

His eyes narrow at me, and he sighs. “Fucking Zoe,” he curses up at the sky although the smile on his face softens the words a bit.

“Did she know I didn’t know your name?”

“Until tonight she didn’t even know you existed.”

“Hmm.” I tap my chin. “She knew about my boyfriend.” His eyes go wide, and all the color seems to drain from his face as he looks anywhere but at me.Lady up, Nell, tell him the truth.I let him stew in his embarrassment for half a second longer before adding, “Who doesn’t exist, by the way.” And when he looks back at me, it’s my turn to look everywhere but at him.

“As in, you broke up?” he asks.

I shake my head slowly. “There was no one to break up with.”

“Why did you tell me you had one?” he asks quietly.

“You were a stranger asking for my number.”

“You could have just said no.”

“No doesn’t always work. Hell, ‘I’m seeing someone’ doesn’t always work either.” He sits on the bottom bench, and I slowly lower myself down beside him. “If it helps, your acceptance of my answer made me feel bad for lying to you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?” Because I’m twenty, dumb, and a bit freaked out by this cute guy who seems to want to just spend time with me even if that means he can’t get in my pants? “Who was that guy at your house?”

“John’s just a friend. He’s been away at school in England, and I hadn’t seen him in eight months.”

“That definitely explains your enthusiasm, then.” He sighs, and his shoulders hunch forward. “I wish you’d just told me, LG.”

“Me too.” I reach over and take his hand in both of mine. “You’re just so damn nice, and I didn’t know if it was an act or like… real.”

He’s looking at his hand in mine and squeezes my fingers gently. “My curse is that I’m a nice guy.”

“I happen to like that you’re a nice guy.”

“Well, obviously we all want nice friends.” My god, he sounds sad.

“Look, we just met. I like this new friendship, but I kind of also want to kiss you or let you kiss me or mutually agree to let our lips collide.”

Those icy blues meet mine, hope and worry warring within. “I feel like there’s another ‘but’ in there.”

“But… I… it’s just…” Good lord, I’m making such a mess of this.

“But you’re not there yet.”

“But I’m not there yet.” I nod. “Iwantto be,” I rush to add.

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