Page 74 of The Friendly Fall

I furrow my brow, completely taken aback. “What word?”

“Friend,” Vanessa chimes in, poking me in the shoulder. “I was shocked when you told me about the fake dating stunt you two pulled—after the fact.” She shoots me a look, showing her disapproval of keeping it from her. “But I just … I think Nick hasrealfeelings for you, Eliza. It’ssoobvious. He never hangs out with women the way he does with you. If you would’ve told me the two of you were actually together for real, I totally would’ve believed it. It makes so much sense.”

“Well … I…”My voice trails off as my heart lifts. “I think … I think I might…” I don’t know why I can’t get the words out about the feelings I nowknowI have. “I don’t want to ruin our friendship,” I finally utter, fighting the urge not to roll my eyes at myself.

I sound ridiculous, and I know I do.

“You’re in denial, Eliza Kate.” Granny shakes her head at me, her bright pink rollers bouncing. “I saw the way you looked at him.”

“Ooh,” Vanessa beams. “So there’s been a development that I’ve missed.”

“Ughhh!” I groan, throwing my hands in the air. “Yes. Okay. I have feelings for him that arewaymore than friendly. But I stilldon’twant to ruin our friendship, and I asked him if he was feeling any different about us, and he said no.”

“What is that question even supposed to mean though?” Vanessa giggles. “You cannot speak to men in riddles—they’ll never pick up on it. Trust me. If I want Daniel to do something, I have to justtellhim super bluntly. Otherwise, it’s a lost cause.”

“I agree.” Granny laughs. “It took me a lot longer to learn it, but she’s right. Beating around the bush gets you absolutely nowhere.”

I chew the inside of my cheek—a habit that I really need to work on. “But he’s beenavoidingme. I don’t want to get hurt.”

“Maybe he’s avoiding you because he feels used,” Granny says bluntly, giving me a chiding look. “He pretended to be your boyfriend so that your parents would be happy, and as it turns out, your parents love him.”

And I think I might, too.

The thought comes without warning, and I blink a few times, trying to figure out if that’s actually how I feel.

Could I seriously be in love with Nick?

Andof coursethe realization comes when we’re the worst we’veeverbeen. I haven’t even talked to him in days.

“I think he’s putting space between you two because he’s trying to getoveryou,” Vanessa says quietly. “Nick pulls away when he’s having a hard time with something. That’s how Daniel always knows there’s something up with him.”

I take a deep breath. “I owe him the biggest apology for all of the mess I caused.Andmaybe I should admit …you know.”

“That youluh-uvhim,” Vanessa teases me, poking my shoulder. “I think that would probably make his entire life.”

My face feels hot as I stare into the chocolatey liquid. “I don’t know. I just don’t want to get hurt again, and with how everything has been, if I were him, I wouldn’t even give me the time of day. I’ve been so selfish.”

Silence fills the room as the words leave my lips. I know they’re not saying anything because it’s the truth.

Ihavebeen selfish, and Nick agreed to help me because he cares so much.

Moisture pools in my eyes, and my mind replayseverythingthat’s happened between us.

The day hesavedme after I fell through that decrepit ramp.

The night he gave me a tour of the town before dropping me off at photography class.

The night of the festival when we danced.

The pictures at the orchard.

The driving lesson.

The way he agreed to be myfakeboyfriend just to help me out.

And the kiss.

I should’ve seen it. And maybe subconsciously I did, but I didn’t want it to be the truth. Because if it were true, it would mean that Imightbe willing to put my heart on the line for the second time.

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