Page 16 of His Shy Girl

Me:I don’t want to be friends.

I want to be so much more than friends. I’m in love with this girl. But I don’t want to say this over the computer. I want to tell her in person. I want to look into her beautiful eyes and tell her that this friendship we’ve built has grown into something so much more for me. Way beyond a crush. Deeper than a first love. It feels like we were meant to be, and I don’t want to write that on a note and have it sent with flowers. I want to deliver those flowers myself and tell her that she never needs to be embarrassed or nervous with me. I don’t care if she has a stutter or struggles to get her thoughts out. If anything, it makes me love her more.

I seriously want to beat up all the obnoxious jerks who’ve made her feel bad about herself. I want to grab them by the nuts and make them all apologize for making fun of her.

I rip off the piece of paper with her address and quickly log off my computer. It’s time to go get my girl once and for all.

11

Willow

I’m staring at his words. Each one making another tear in my heart. He doesn’t want to be friends. He logged off and now he’s gone. That’s that. It’s over. I’ve lost him.

Deep down I knew this was coming, but I wasn’t prepared for this cratering feeling that’s taking me down. From the moment he sent me his picture, I knew this would happen. A guy like him deserves better. He deserves someone who isn’t flawed. This is why I didn’t want to meet in person. I wanted to live in the delusion for as long as I could.

There’s a knock on my door, and I quickly wipe my face, knowing I won’t be able to hide the truth from my mom. She’ll just say good riddance. She’ll tell me that time will heal my broken heart and that I’m young. There are plenty of boys at college. Plenty of boys who would love to date me. She’s wrong.

Besides…there’s only one Brennon. Only one boy who owns my heart, and I don’t know how I’ll ever get it back.

“Hey, sweetie.” She opens my door, probably coming to tell me dinner is ready. Her smile drops when she sees me. “Why are you crying again, sweetheart?”

I shake my head, not wanting to stutter the words. More tears fall down my cheeks.

“H-h-he t-t-told m-m-me h-h-he d-d-did-n’t w-w-want t-t-to b-b-be f-f-friends.”

She reaches out, cupping my cheeks, her lips tipping up into a smile. “Then why is he waiting downstairs for you?”He’s downstairs?“Why don’t you take a moment and get yourself cleaned up. Your dad and I will keep him occupied.”

I quickly stand and run downstairs, needing to see for myself. My feet stop as I round the corner to the living room. Brennon is deep in conversation with my dad, talking football. Go figure. He looks up as I enter and his face lights up when he sees me. But his smile quickly drops before he rushes towards me.

“Baby, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Why am I crying? The last message he wrote me said he didn’t want to be friends. I thought it was over between us. But he’s here. In my house. Holding a beautiful bouquet of red roses.

“I thought you hated me. Your last message said you didn’t want to be friends.”

There’s a gasp of shock from behind me, and I realize we have an audience.

“Shit. Sorry, baby. That’s not what I meant. God, I could never hate you, Willow. I’m…” He stops and looks over my shoulder, realizing my parents are listening.

“Do you want to come to my room?” I ask, wanting privacy.

Another gasp has me turning to see my mom. She looks shocked and there are tears in her eyes. “Sweetie, you just… Your voice was so smooth.”

Oh my God. She’s right. I didn’t stutter. I spoke to him twice and my words came out clear. How is that possible? That’s never happened before. I’m almost afraid to open my mouth again, worried I’ve just jinxed myself.

“I d-d-did.” My shoulders slump, feeling defeated again. I wish she hadn’t said anything. It was like he’d cast a magic spell of calmness over me, but now the spell has been broken.

Brennon’s hand locks with mine as he steps up closer. “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you.” His whisper sends a shiver through my shoulders. There’s a storm of butterflies going crazy in my stomach now. I can’t believe he’s here. “Mrs. Carber, would it be all right if I talk to Willow in private? I promise to be a gentleman. There’s just something I really want to ask her.”

My mom nods, smiling. And I hear my dad grunt in the background but thankfully he doesn’t say anything to embarrass me.

“Yes. You two run along. By the way, dinner is almost ready if you’d like to stay for chili and cornbread, Brennon.”

“I’d love that, Mrs. Carber. As long as it’s okay with Willow?”

“Please call me Annie. And Mr. C is Buck.”

I look up at Brennon’s handsome face, swallowing down my nerves. “I’d l-l-like you to s-s-stay for dinner.” I’d like him to stay for as long as he can.

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