“That isliterallythe most offensive thing you have ever said to me.”
“Oh, please.You once forced me to go on a blind date with a guy who brought a PowerPoint presentation about his personal brand.”I deadpan.
“What?I thought you’d like that about him,” she says with a shrug.
I press my lips tight and my eyebrows nearly form a single line.
“And yet, here you are, trusting me again.”She beams back.
I mutter a curse under my breath.
Lily smirks.“It’s okay, babe.You’re in safe hands.”
“I literally feel like I’m about to die.”
“Yeah, that’s love.”
My stomach flips.That thought—that one right there, makes me feel like I’m about to hurl.
But then Lily is parking and my blood pressure is ratcheting up on a mission to the moon.Weirdly, the second she shifts into park, she slaps the lock button like she thinks I’ll dive out of the car and bolt.
I glare.“Really?”
She shrugs.“I’ve seen you sprint when startled and we need to have a chat.”
“That wasonetime.”
She shoots me a knowing look but doesn’t say anything.
Okay, fair.
And for the first time in a long time…
I don’t want to feel safe.
I just wanthim.
God, this must be what going crazy feels like.
Lily shifts in her seat, turning to face me fully.“Okay.Before we go in, I need you to hear me.”I sigh, rubbing my hands over my thighs.“Oh god.”
“I know you, Anna.”She ignores my dramatics.“You’re about two seconds away from overthinking this to death.From coming up with some bullshit excuse about why you shouldn’t be here, why you shouldn’t want this, and why going to see Joel is a terrible idea.”
I scowl.“I mean...have you met me?”
She points.“See?That right there.That’s the voice of a woman about to sabotage thehellout of herself.”
I groan, tilting my head back against the seat.“Lily?—”
“Nope.”She cuts me off, holding up a hand.“Listen to me.Do you like him?Be honest.”
My stomach does awhole-ass gymnastics routine.“Lily.”
“Answer the question.”
I swallow hard.My hands are still gripping my jeans.My chest feels tight.My pulse won’t slow down.
And all I can see—all I can feel—is him.