Page 97 of April

Linden turned to her and asked, “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“I don’t recallyoutelling me howyoufelt.”

“It’s different.”

“Why?”

“Because you were the straight best friend, as Bryce likes to say.”

“So? You still could have told me.”

“No, Ash. I couldn’t have. First of all, I didn’t realize it fully until very recently, but even when it had been just a crush – or, Ithoughtit had been just a crush back when we first met – I would’ve ruined everything. If I’d been out back then and told you how I felt, you would’ve treated me differently. It wouldn’t have to do with me being a woman. It’s just about how when you don’t feel anything for someone and you know they feel something for you, it’s awkward. If I’d brought you a cup of coffee because I happened to be in the kitchen and thought you could use one, you would’ve thought it was because I liked you. It would’ve been awkward, and we wouldn’t have had what we have now. I wasn’t out, though, so it wasn’t an option anyway. Then, when I came out, I really did want to find out what and who I could like. I’d pushed this part of myself down for so long that I was worried I needed to meet a lot of different women to make myself happy and make up for lost time. But even if I hadn’t wanted that, you were still straight, and for part of that time, you were with Gavin.” Linden sighed. “And when you told me that you were interested in dating women, it didn’t click that I could maybe be that woman.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m the friend. I don’t know. It felt like you were telling me because of that and because I had recently come out myself, so I would know a few things and could help. Then, you asked me to help you meet women, and we were talking about you getting your profile set up. I had no reason to believe that you wanted anything like this with me. If you wanted to date around, too, I wanted to support you how you’d supported me.It was only fair.” Linden looked around the Square. “Then, you started dating women, and I found myself not wanting you to.”

“Yeah?” Asher asked with a smile.

“Yeah. Emily was pretty, Ash. I sat at that table with everyone and just kept looking over at you two, even though I could barely see you from my seat, trying to figure out if you were having a good time. Part of me wanted you to enjoy yourself. The other part of me wanted Emily to tell you that she was a serial killer or something so that you’d never go out with her again.”

Asher laughed and said, “You’d want my date to be a serial killer?”

“No, but maybe she’d tell you that she had six cats and nine dogs, living in a studio apartment, with litter boxes and chew toys surrounding the bed or something like that.”

“That’s very different than being a serial killer, Linden,” she said with a smile.

“I didn’t want you to go home with her, but I didn’t know why for sure.”

“And you left your sure thing because of Cindy?”

“She stood you up. That pissed me off. But I told you that I’d leave a sure thing for you anytime. That has always been true, even when I had no idea that I wanted this.”

“And Stephania?”

“Is sexy, and it’s unfair.”

Asher laughed and said, “Sheissexy. I’ll give you that.”

Linden lifted an eyebrow at her.

“Linden, so are you.”

“She’s a su–”

“If you say supermodel one more time, I’m going–”

“Okay… Okay.” Linden laughed and started swinging their joined hands.

“You just have no idea how hot you are, and that only makes you hotter,” Asher noted.

Linden’s eyebrow lifted again, higher this time, and she said, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard your voice dip low like that.”

“Well, it’s true,” Asher replied. “Your profile picture is sexy as hell, Linden. Your haircut makes you look like… Like you were always meant to be this version of yourself; like you’re comfortable in your own skin, and you know you’re hot, but you don’t use your powers for evil.”

“I have powers?” Linden asked.

“You have women messaging you every damn day. Yes, you have powers.”

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