Page 42 of Breakout
I try leaving my interaction with Gabe behind, but I obviously fail. As soon as I walk into the coffee shop, Grace frowns at me.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“Can’t we order before you go all psycho bestie on me?”
She gives me a “come on, really?” look before she gestures to the empty line.
“Hello, welcome to The Carriage House. What can I get you?” the girl behind the counter asks.
“Triple espresso latte, please. Soy milk instead of regular,” I say.
“It must be bad for a triple,” Grace mumbles before giving her order. “Can I get a white chocolate mocha, hot, no whipped cream, please?”
I go to grab my wallet, but Grace beats me to it, paying for our drinks.
“Seriously? It’s my turn.” I huff at her.
“Too slow, Pey. Be quicker,” she jokes, moving toward an empty table, and I join her.
She doesn’t wait long to interrogate me.
“What’s going on, Pey? You may as well tell me.”
I sigh. “You’re like a chihuahua. You don’t let up, huh?”
“I will if you want me to, but something is bothering you, and I’m supposed to be your best friend. You helped me through all the Kellan and Clay shit, so the least I can do is listen to your problems. Wait, did you fail an assignment?” She looks at me with fake horror.
“Hardy har har. No, smart ass. One of the guys from class asked me out.” I look out the window, wondering how much I’m going to tell her.
“Oooh. What did you say? Why do you look like he pissed in your Wheaties? Oh shit, was he a scumbag?”
I roll my eyes, looking back at her. “He’s actually really sweet. We’ve talked a few times regarding class assignments when we needed to. I guess I don’t know where it came from. All of a sudden he asks me out after not having talked to me in a couple of weeks? Why me? Why now?”
The barista calls out our names, so I run up to grab our drinks. Once I settle back into my chair, Grace reaches across the table and grabs my hand with one of hers.
“You are beautiful and smart. Funny when you let someone close enough to see it. Why wouldn’t he want to date you?” She shakes my hand as she finishes her statement.
“I don’t know. I don’t date. I guess I figured I give off those vibes.”
She nods. “I’m well aware. You have no fun. It’s all work and no play for Peyton.”
“It’s how I’m going to make a better life for myself.”
“I know. Still, you know who would date you given the chance?”
“Who?” I ask, exasperated.
“Beckett.”
My heart skips a beat in my chest.
“Stop trying to make Beckett happen. If we dated and he did something stupid to ruin it, then our friend group would be fucked. I’m not willing to risk it.”
“You know what? You’re right. If you were to date Beckett and you didn’t work out, it would make things awkward in the group. At least for a little while, but you know what else? We areall adults, and we would all move on. That’s if it ended. You’re forgetting the most important thing.”
I look down at my hands, not willing to let her see the truth in my eyes. The want and need to tell her the truth about me and Beckett.
“What?”
