Page 95 of Introvert

At my silence, she threw me a big smile.

"Aurora," she said, "be honest. Are we crashing your date?"

"He asked," I said, "but I don't think he was serious."

Or at least, he hadn't been talking about a real date.

Right?

As Felix looked back over his shoulder and caught my gaze, I couldn't be sure.

What I knew was, three little words would be replaying in my dreams tonight.

I want you.

I just wish he meant it.

CHAPTER 15

I thought I'd feel different.

After admitting my truth (or part of it) to Felix, I assumed there'd be a change, that maybe even my appearance would be altered. But as I stared in the mirror, after doing my deep-breathing pre-show ritual, I wasthe same as always.Better hair, makeup, and clothes courtesy of the band's amazing stylist, but underneath all that?

I was the same person.

And my heart was still harboring a secret.

That must be it, I decided.

Despite my awkward confession, I hadn't told Felix everything.

The big L word never left my lips.

Which was good all things considered.

It was too soon. I was too young and inexperienced to know better. And Felix probably would've thought I was crazy.

Our sushi "group date" was a ton of fun. Everyone loved the food. No fights broke out—a clear difference from the previous night, thankfully. And we got back in plenty of time toprepare for the concert.

Felix didn't say much at lunch.

To me or anyone else.

But that was okay.

I didn't take offense, and I'd known when I confessed to him that he likely didn't feel the same. Didn't take the sting out of it though. He didn't say it back. And his non-response replayed over and over again in my mind.

"Enough," I said to my reflection. "You're here to play violin. That's it."

The hope in my eyes hadn't dimmed, but that could've been the makeup.

"The thing with Felix? It's fake. Just like it's always been."

There we go.

The light was definitely less intense now.

The truth hurts, I thought.

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