Page 33 of Petals and Plot Twists
“Uh-huh,” Allison says. “I’m sure that’s all it is.”
I stop. “What?” I ask. “Just say it. You’re clearly thinking something.”
She bites her lip and looks over at me. “I’m not thinking anything,” she says. “I’m definitely not thinking about you darting away from my brother like you were caught doing something sneaky.”
I shoot her a look. “You just startled me. Don’t make this a thing.”
She chuckles. “Funny. He said the same thing.”
My ears perk up. “He did? What did he say? What did you ask him?”
Allison stops in her tracks and spins to face me. “So itisa thing. You wouldn’t have just asked all those questions if it wasn’t.”
I scoff and put my hands on my hips. “You tricked me.”
“You’re avoiding my questions.”
I huff out a breath and start walking again, hugging my arms around my sides. Iamavoiding her questions. Because I have no idea how to answer them.
Was holding Peter’s hand a thing? Or was it totally innocuous and friendly? Do I want it to be more?
It’s not lost on me that in the past two weeks, I’ve spenta lotof minutes noticing things about Peter that I’ve never noticed before. But when he held my hand—that’s the first time I’ve truly recognized how good of a boyfriend he would actually be. There was a spark, a real connection, and a potent awareness that he’s pretty much everything I want in a man.
The thought hit me like a brick to the forehead, but it was quickly eclipsed by an overwhelming sense of fear.
I don’t remember much about when my dad left. But when my stepdad left, my mom and I both fell apart, and it was Peter who held us together. Peter who promised I would still go to college even though Mom’s savings were gone. Peter who let me cry on his shoulder. Peter who listened to us both lament over my stepdad’s betrayal, over his careful paper trail that made it look as though his actions weren’t criminal.
Through it all, I was okay because Peter was there to keep me grounded. To take care of me. But ifPeteris my boyfriend, and things don’t work out, who will be there for me? Not my mom—we haven’t been that kind of close in years. Willa, of course, but she’s got so much on her own plate, and she has Archer to focus on now.
It’s always been Peter for me. He’s always been my safety net.
I don’t know if I can give that up.
Allison falls into step beside me, her expression worried. She nudges me with her elbow. “I’m sorry, okay? I’ll let it go.”
I give my head a little shake. “It’s okay. I know how much you would love for us to get together for real. But it would be so complicated,” I say. “We’ve been best friends for so long. I don’t want to lose that.”
“Who says you would have to?” she asks.
History. Time immemorial. My own crappy dating history that indicates I am a master at torching relationships.
Instead of answering, I steer the conversation to safer territory. “Let’s talk about you, okay? How are you feeling about the move?”
She shoots me a knowing look. “I’ll allow the deflection, but only because of how much I love you.”
I loop my arm through hers. “Come on. Spill. Are you excited about South Carolina?”
She’s quiet for a long moment, so long that I start to worry there’s something really wrong. Finally, she breathes out a sigh. “Yeah. I guess so.”
“Wow. Way to really sell it,” I say, and Allison rolls her eyes.
“I am!” she says. “I promise I am. I’m just worried about Peter.”
“Peter is a grownup, honey. He’ll be okay.” I eye her, suddenly wondering if there’s more to Allison’s hesitation than meets the eye. “Is Peter really youronlyreason for hesitating? You know you don’t have to move, right? If you wanted to stay in Serendipity Springs, I’m sure your parents would understand.”
We walk in silence for almost a minute before she finally says, “I think my logical brain knows that, and it also knows a fresh start is what I need. But a tiny part of me is still clinging to the possibility that if I stick around, Chase might change his mind.” She winces as she says the words, like she knows exactly how ridiculous they are.
“Oh, you are definitely going to South Carolina,” I say as we finally reach Cookie’s. “You will not take that man back.”
