Page 120 of Summer Ever After
Jane
Look out your window.
I glance up, waiting to see her curtain pull open. After a few seconds, she pops into view. Her expression drops.
Capri
Why are you outside sitting on Tala’s grass?
Jane
Because I have something to tell you.
I see her nod through the window. She holds up a finger, signaling one sec, before vanishing.
Capri is not stupid. She knows it’s about Walker, but that doesn’t make any of this easier.
The front door opens, and the second I see her concerned face, I lose it. Tears stream down my face in an uncontrollable way. The always-happy, always-optimistic, look-on-the-bright-side Jane is gone. I’m tired of holding it all together.
Capri rushes to my side, dropping to the grass beside me. She lets me curl into a ball and cry in her lap without asking any questions. Her fingers comb through my hair as my tears consume me.
It’s a while before I’m calm enough to speak.
“I’m sorry,” I finally say, sitting up. “I probably got snot on your leg.”
“I think you might’ve.”
I puff out a laugh, wiping my eyes.
“Walker left this morning.” She frowns, already piecing together my heartbreak.
“I’m the worst friend ever. You probably hate me.”
“Jane”—she reaches out to me, grabbing my hand—“I don’t hate you. I feel bad that you didn’t think you could be honest with me, but I don’t hate you.”
“So you’re not mad?”
“Honestly, I don’t even know what to be mad about. I’vejust sensed that things have been different with you since the Fourth of July, and every time I turn around, you’re with Walker. I can guess what’s going on, but I’d rather you tell me.” She tilts her head, giving me a pointed look. “We don’t keep secrets from each other, remember?”
“I know!” I drop my face in my hands. “I should’ve told you.”
“How about you tell me now?”
I glance up, drawing in a steadying breath. “I’ve had a crush on your brother ever since you moved in.”
“On Walker?” Her lips twitch as her brows slowly rise.
“Yes.”
“All these years, I thought you were annoyed by him.”
“I pretended to be so you wouldn’t find out.”
“Why?”
“Because I never wanted you to think that I was using you to get to him. I mean, we even made a BFF Code of Conduct based off of it. Walker was off-limits, and I wasn’t going to betray your trust by telling you that I had a crush on him.”
“You could’ve told me. I wouldn’t have cared.” It’s my turn to give her a pointed stare. “Okay, I would’ve cared a little.”
