Page 31 of Accidental Attraction

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Present

There is no way he does not like you.

Jenna’s words kept fighting their way into my head throughout the entire week. All these years of secretly loving Blake and I wanted to believe that Jenna was right, but I couldn’t. Why would Blake just all of a sudden start liking me? I was no different than I was years ago. I mean yes, my hair was longer and I had filled out more, but still. I wanted Jenna to be right, so badly. Even though I had dated plenty of guys, I still couldn’t get over him.

Blake had always been in the back of my mind, ever since I found out I liked him back in high school. While I was dating my first real serious boyfriend in college, Blake’s face was still in my head as I kissed my boyfriend or hung out with him. Not even once did Blake ever get jealous when I was with a guy, but I sure as hell did when he had girlfriends.

Over time I had gotten good at hiding my true feelings, but when we were alone, like when Liam and Jenna left us at the pizza dinner, I just wanted to grab him and kiss him senseless. But when I sat there listening to him talk about some girl that flirted with him at work the other day, I knew I couldn’t. Or when we were waiting to take pictures with Jenna and Liam for their engagement, and Blake came to sit right next to me, our arms touching. I wanted to believe it was because he liked me, but deep down I knew he didn’t.

The buzzing of my phone made me look away from outside. Grabbing it, I smiled, seeing Jenna’s name across the screen. I swiped to answer and held my phone to my ear.

“Hey, girl!”

“Hey, Lennon. What are you up to?” Jenna asked.

I looked around my room. “Absolutely nothing. How about you?” Over the last few weeks, Jenna and I had been getting closer. Even though she was younger than me, we got along great. I didn’t care that she took the stupid deal Liam proposed, because I could tell she was starting to fall for him. I didn’t think she knew it just yet, but I could see the look in her eyes when we talked about him. It was the same look I had when I fell for Blake. The boys had even had that same look in some of their past relationships.

“Same. I was wondering if you wanted to go eat with Liam and me?”

“Sure, I have nothing else to do,” I answered. It sounded better than sitting around my apartment by myself.

“Okay, great! Want to meet us at Rick’s Pizzeria in about ten minutes?” At the sound of food, my stomach growled.

“Yeah, I’ll be there soon. Thanks for inviting me.”

“No problem,” Jenna replied, her voice sounding a little weird. Shrugging it off, I said goodbye and hung up. I stood up to get ready, still clad in my PJs even though it was one in the afternoon. With nothing to do for the day, I hadn’t wanted to get ready.

Seeing as it was only going to be us three, I just threw on a pair of teal skinny jeans and a cute off-the-shoulder grey shirt. I left my brown hair down around my shoulders and only put on a little bit of mascara and lipstick. I didn’t feel like doing my face this late in the afternoon. Slipping on a pair of matching grey flats, I grabbed my bag and phone before heading out of my apartment. Rick’s Pizzeria was only a six-minute drive from my place.

The ride was over quickly, and before I knew it I was pulling into the small parking lot. Not seeing Liam’s car yet, I figured I was the first one. I opened the door to the small place, and a smile slipped on my face. This place was one of my favorites to come to, with its homey and friendly atmosphere. Plus, who didn’t like pizza and yummy breadsticks?

Walking in, I smiled at Hilda, who waved at me. The place was pretty empty, leaving plenty of seats open for me to choose from. I picked a booth and sat there awkwardly by myself, waiting for Jenna and Liam. Hearing the little bell ding by the door, I looked away from the window expecting to see both of them, but it was Blake who came into view. He swept the room with a look which came to rest on me. Smiling, he walked over to me.

As he made his way to the table, I looked him up and down. He was wearing what he usually wore, a pair of light blue, low ride jeans that had a few paint stains from work. An also paint-stained white shirt hugged his muscular upper body. His blonde hair was getting a little long and was messed up, probably from his fingers. I saw how good he looked, and my stomach clenched. Damn, he is hot.

“Hey, Lenn, what are you doing here by yourself?” he asked, sliding into the seat across from me.

“I’m not here by myself.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “I am here waiting for Jenna and Liam. Why are you here?”

“That’s weird. I am too. Jenna called me asking if I wanted to come out with them but didn’t mention you.”

“That is weird. She didn’t say you were coming either.”

“Wow, I am hurt you don’t want me here!” Blake said dramatically, clenching a hand to his chest. I rolled my eyes at him while grabbing my phone. Dialing Jenna’s number, I held it to my ear.

“Hey, Lennon,” Jenna said, her voice high.

“Where are you guys? And why didn’t you tell me Blake was coming too?” I asked. I wasn’t mad that Blake was here, but it was just weird that she hadn’t mentioned him.

“Oh I am so sorry, Lenn, but we can’t make it. Turns out Liam had to go back to work early and I have to babysit Sky. But you stay and have lunch with Blake.”

“You all of a sudden can’t come? Well isn’t that convenient?” I said sarcastically.

“Talk to him, Lennon.” With that, Jenna hung up on me. I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it. She did this on purpose. She wanted me to be alone with Blake and finally tell him how I felt.

“Looks like it is only us then,” I finally said, setting my phone down on the table.

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