“Why does it feel like I’m not going to like this?”
Hayley angles the phone my way and I groan.
AMELIA: You should put your hand up to date Reed. It’s perfect. You get along so well and no one knows that you’re friends
Hayley laughs again but I refuse to look at her. “She’s got a point,” she says with a new happiness in her tone. And we can’t have that.
Grabbing the phone out of her hand, I hold it above my head as I stand up and move to the other side of the couch, typing out a message.
HAYLEY: I don’t think that’s a good idea. We’ll have to come up with another plan
“Hey.” She rushes around to catch me, trying to get to her phone, but I’m too tall for her to reach it.
“You are not making me out to be the bad guy. I’m not ruining their fun.”
Another idea comes to mind and I duck around her, running off to type another message.
HAYLEY: Actually Reed thinks it’s a great idea but he’s way out of my league. No one would believe it
I show Hayley the message and a snort escapes her as she shakes her head. “Speaking of not believing… Amelia is never going to believethat.”
“Why not?”
“Because I donotthink you’re out of my league.”
“Sure you do. You always tell me I’m too nice for the likes of you.”
Her expression wavers before she hides it with another smile. Fuck. I open my mouth to tell her I’m joking but her phone buzzes in my hand.
AMELIA: Ha. You’re hilarious. What’s the real reason?
Hayley’s eyes flash to mine, waiting with anticipation. “I’m sorry, Hayls. But I’m only saying no because I don’t want to ruin our friendship over a lost cause like Bria. I honestly don’t think it will work.”
Hayley’s face falls again, but this time, I know it’s for me. She feels sorry for me and I hate that. I want to get back to us. The happy-go-lucky friends.
“How about we watch the rest of the movie?” Hayley asks, beating me to it.
“Works for me.” We settle back onto the couch, but before I press play, I turn to Hayley with a smile. “Thank you. You mean the world to me.”
Her lips pull into a grin and she squeezes my arm. “Anytime.”
I understand she just wants to help. I do. But what if it changes everything? I have to hold strong.Don’t I?
Hayley’s sound asleep when my alarm goes off the next morning. So after tiptoeing around the house, trying not to wake her—not an easy feat when you’re my size—I write her a quick note and sneak out just after six. It takes everything in my power not to wake her to ask if she’s okay. She drank herself into an alcohol coma after our fake dating fiasco, and while she claims she was just enjoying herself, I’m certain the drinking had nothing to do with our dating conversation and everything to do with her audition.
I’d love for her to talk to me about it, but I’m smart enough to know that waking her up at five thirty in the morning to ask isnotthe way to make that happen. For anyone. But especially Hayley. She’ll tell me when she’s ready.
After a short drive, I pull up in the Storm parking lot to find Landon on the phone near the entrance, making me smile as I think about how much he’s changed since I first started mentoring him not too long ago.
He’s not a cocky rookie like we’ve seen in the past, namely with Zane, but he’s also not the shy guy he once was, and that’s progress.
I wave as I approach and he hangs up from his call, grinning my way. “Morning.” He holds his hand out for a fist bump—like I often do—and I smile as I return it.
“How are you, Landon? Ready for a big game tomorrow?”
“I’m ready to watch.” He laughs and it brings about my own.
“You’ll be game ready before you know it. Coach has been watching you more and more. Don’t pretend you haven’t noticed.”
