“Don’t beat yourself up too much. You’re only human, and you can’t help who you like.”
I don’t miss how his eyes find Peyton’s back as she continues up the stairs. I have no idea what is going on with them, but the tension between the two could stifle a room.
“Thanks, Beck.” I smile and continue up the steps.
I pause right outside of Grace’s door and watch as she and Peyton laugh. While I adore both Grace and Peyton, sometimes I wish I had someone who just got me like they get each other.
“Knock knock. Can I come in?”
Grace looks over at me, and I wait for her smile to drop, but it never does.
“Hey, I was wondering when you would stop avoiding me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say as I walk into her room and drop down into the beanbag she has set up in the corner.
Grace rolls her eyes. “Sure you don’t.”
“Fine, maybe a little bit,” I say, holding up two fingers almost touching.
“So Kellan was the guy that you were telling me about, huh?”
“Yep.”
She tilts her head to the side and studies me. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”
Unable to find the words to explain myself, I shrug.
“She was worried you wouldn’t approve,” Peyton says, chiming in as she scrolls on her phone while she lies on Grace’s bed.
Grace shakes her head as she frowns. “That’s dumb.”
“Is it though?” Peyton asks from her spot.
Grace looks over at her and glares. “Yes.” Grace looks back at me. “You know I don’t care if you want to date him, right?”
“Honestly, I don’t know what I know right now,” I confess.
“Okay, well then tell me, do you have feelings for him?”
“Yes…” I whisper as I stare up at the ceiling.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her nod. “Good. Then I think you should go for it.”
I tip my head forward and stare at her. “Really?”
“Really.”
“I…”
Grace sighs. “Look, I’ve known Kellan since high school. Even with shit being weird between us, he’s still one of my best friends, and I want nothing but the best for him. I want him to be as happy with someone as I am with your brother. If that person is you, then I’m all for it.”
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
“Oh come on, you can’t be too surprised,” Peyton teases.
Grace picks up a pillow off the floor and chucks it at her. “Stop teasing her.”
“Never,” Peyton quips.
