“You, here with me.” Her head shakes, sending tendrils of hair spilling over her shoulders in a glossy wave. “It’s so unexpected. I know I gave you a hard time about coming in with me, but I’m really happy you did. Much as I hate to admit it, coming here alone would’ve been hard. And…” She seems to be struggling to find the words.
I wait, barely daring to move as her eyes lift to meet mine. The look in them hits me like a punch.
“It’s nice to have someone to lean on, for a change,” she murmurs. “Thank you, Ryder.”
My heart clenches. That’s it.
Fuck the fact that I’m leaving.
Fuck the fact that it’s wrong.
Fuck the fact that the whole world is stacked against us.
If I don’t kiss this girl right now, I’m going to regret it for the rest of my life.
I lean forward. “Felicity—”
“You know what?” she asks, cutting me off. “Thisfriendsthing is pretty cool.”
I freeze, feeling my intentions turn to lead in my stomach. Reality hits me hard.
Friends.
We’re friends.
That’s what she needs me to be, right now. I can’t fuck it up by being a selfish prick. Not when she’s looking at me like that, her grin so bright, so full of hope.
I try my best to return it, hoping she doesn’t she notice my composure fraying at the seams.