Page 52 of Texting My Valentine

“If you really want her, you’ll have to take it slow. Anyway, maybe the casual thing will be good.”

“How’s that?”

“Have some fun. Don’t take it too seriously. Then maybe this feeling will pass.”

“No,” I snap. “This isn’t going anywhere.”

It’s already a fire that won’t stop burning.

CHAPTER 17

TORI

“Why don’t you just ask him?” Lily says as I sit in front of the mirror the following evening, applying makeup for my poetry event.

“I don’t know…” Cleo sounds unsure.

“What don’t you know?” Lily snaps.

“Easy, Lils. No need to bite my head off.”

Cleo is right. It’s rare for Lily to sound angry, but when she does, it comes like thunder.

“You’re the one trying to stand between her and a man she cares about.”

“That’swhyI think backing off might be for the best,” Cleo says. “Look, Lily, you found the man of your dreams. I get that. You’re the one-in-a-million case where it worked out perfectly. But not everybody is going to be as lucky as you. And, well, Tori… You already care a lot. Too much, honestly. This was supposed to be fun.”

“Who said I care too much?” I hiss.

“Babe, you don’t have tosayit.”

She’s right. I’ve known these girls for far too long to be able to hide my true feelings from them.

“Why would the name of his nephew be in quotes? Why wouldn’t he have any texts?”

“Oh, gosh,” Lily says. “Next, you’re going to say you think he arranged to save you from that Damien freak?”

“Well…”

“Tori,” Lily says firmly. “All that stuff with your mom has made you doubt every little thing that happens. I’m sorry, but that’s a fact. I think you owe it to yourself to ask him.”

“Maybe Cleo’s right. Maybe I’m too young to care this fast,” I whisper.

“You’ve always been an old soul,” Lily says.

After our latest group call ends, I think about what Lily said. She’s right. I even told Alex the same thing early on in our texting. I stand in front of the mirror, brushing down my denim overalls.

When I walk into the hallway, Mom is waiting for me, wringing her hands in front of her. We haven’t spoken since last night when she dropped the bombshell. Damien’s attention might not be organic. It might be a warped form of revenge for his dad, who my mom cheated on.

“Where are you going?” Mom asks.

“Out.”

“Is that a good idea?”

When I try to push past her, she touches my arm. “Hey, Tori.”

I turn reluctantly.

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