Page 41 of The Fangirl and the Playboy

I move back into the living room and plop down onto the couch as I type out a reply.

Me:Yes. I believed him when he explained everything, but Julia’s revelation sealed it. He never betrayed me the way I thought he did.

Pressley: Where do you go from here?

Me: I saw him tonight. I went to the shop for some tea and he was leaving Wolfsbane. We talked, and mutually decided it would be better if we stayed as friends.

Keegan: Boo! I don’t like that decision.

Me: Then we kissed.

Pressley: Wait, what?

Keegan: Oh, my God, bitch, you should’ve led with that!

Keegan: How was it?

How was it? I don’t know if there are any words in existence to describe it.

Me:It was nice.

Pressley:Nice?

Before I can respond or amend my stupid and underwhelming description, my phone starts to ring. Seeing Keegan’s name flash across the screen, I sigh and answer the call.

“Your brother is in the shower, so I only have a few minutes to talk in private,” she says as a greeting, then adds, “What do you mean,nice? Was it terrible?”

“Last I checked, nice does not mean terrible,” I deadpan.

“Willow,” she growls, and I blow out a loud sigh.

“It was perfect, okay?” I groan. “Everything you could ever ask for in a kiss. Left my bones vibrating and my underwear drenched. Happy?”

“Yes,” she squeals, making me roll my eyes.

“It can’t happen, Keegan,” I moan.

“Why the hell not?”

“We’refriends. We decided, and Gavin must’ve realized that kiss was a mistake, because he just left right after.”

“What did he say?”

“He kissed my cheek and whispered ‘good night’ into my ear.”

“Oh, the classic leave ‘em wanting more routine,” she says with a breathless sigh. “I love that move.”

“It wasn’t a move, Keegs. It was a message. One I got loud and clear.”

“Why are you fighting this so hard?” she asks, her tone sharpening. “You guys were in love once, and circumstances out of your control tore you apart. Now he’s back, obviously interested, and you’re fighting him tooth and nail. Why, Willow?”

“He doesn’t live here,” I say, grasping at excuses.

“Neither did I when I met Trace. Look at me, now.”

“We already went over this. You had nothing to go back to,” I blurt, then suck in a sharp breath. “Sorry. That was rude.”

“No, it’s true,” she says, brushing off my contriteness. “I had nothing holding me in Seattle. But what you’re not realizing is that even if I did––even if I had the world at my fingertips in the city––I would’ve given it up for Trace. He’s worth it.We’reworth it. And I think you should find out if Gavin is worth it, too.”

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