Page 75 of March

“I don’t know,” Bryce replied. “I think that’s up to you and Megs to figure out. Do I think you’re compatible in just about every way I can see? I mean, yeah; you’re best friends for a reason.”

“Bryce, I want to fucking kiss her,” Kelsey blurted out. “It’s taking everything in me not to run to her house, burst through the door, find her, and kiss her hard until we both have to come up for air and I can tell her.”

“Tell her what, exactly? That youlikeher? Kelsey, Megs isin lovewith you. I don’t know that marching in and going straight in for the kiss is the way to go.”

Sophie cleared her throat, which made Bryce laugh.

“What?” Kelsey asked.

“Sophie’s here. She just reminded me that I did that to her last night.”

“See?!” Kelsey asked.

Sophie smiled and shook her head at Bryce.

“Our situation is different,” Bryce reminded. “You and Megan are best friends. Soph and I had one night, and when I saw her, I couldn’t stop it even if I tried.”

“How’s the sex?” Kelsey asked.

“Kels!”

“What? Is it good? God, Bry, I want to have sex with my best friend. That’s so weird for me to say, but it’s true. I stared at her fingers on the drive home, Bryce. We’d be at lights, and I’d look down at them and think about how they would feel.”

“That’s one of my friends, too, so I’d rather not think about Megs and her fingers like that, okay?”

“I’m thinking about them enough for the both of us,” Kelsey retorted. “And I know it’s different for us, but, Bryce, I don’t know what to do now. She said she was happy with what’s her name. I thought that they’d date and Megs would tell me one day that she was in love. I’d be a bridesmaid at their wedding and watch them pop out those kids while I sat back, thinking about how when I finally figured it out, I was too late.”

“Kelsey, I’m not saying you shouldn’t tell her. Just take it step by step. Don’t tell her you’re in love with her if you are. Don’t lead with the kiss. Tell her you’ve been figuring things out recently and that you didn’t say anything because Megs seemed happy, but now that that’s over, you needed to tell her that you have feelings for her. Tell her you’d like to explore them and maybe go on a real date, okay? Megs isn’t someone who jumps into things. She’ll need the steps.”

“Yeah. You’re right,” Kelsey said. “Do I bring flowers?”

Bryce smiled and replied, “Maybe for the date, but not for the time you tell her how you’re feeling. Shedidjust stop dating someone. She might want a little time.”

“Right. If she needs it, I’ll give her that.”

“I’d say so. She’s givingyouabout a million years.”

“Yeah… Yeah… I’m slow, okay?” her friend told her, probably rolling her eyes at herself. “So, I know you’re with Sophie right now, but give me a signal. How’s it going, Bry? Is it all you thought and more?”

“Yes,” she stated immediately. “It’s crazy and amazing and intense and perfect and somehow familiar.” Bryce noticed Sophie looking over at her as they walked. “It feels like we’ve been dating forever; like we’re kind of an old married couple but still brand-new, with so much to discover and explore together.”

Sophie smiled adorably at her and rested her head on Bryce’s shoulder.

“How will it work when you leave? Have you gotten to that part yet?”

“No,” she replied. “Not yet. And I should probably get back to my date, Kels. Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Kelsey sighed. “No. Wait… Yes.”

Bryce laughed, and Sophie squeezed her hand.

“I’m okay,” Kelsey added. “I will be. I’m going to plan my speech to Megs. Should I write it down so that I don’t ramble?”

“I think you should just speak from your heart. No speech, Kels. Just tell her how you feel, okay?”

“No speech? Okay. Fine. I still need to practice, though.”

“Whatever you need, I guess,” Bryce said.

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