“It’s just strange hearing you talk about this way for a girl. With how things were a while ago I never thought you’d let someone in, much less a girl.”
He is right. I didn’t see any of this coming.
If someone told me that I’d be dating a girl and having huge feelings for her I would have to curse them out.
The mere thought sounds ridiculous. Yet here I am.
Liking this girl so much that it feels like it’s more than just like at this point. What I feel for Hope isn’t a crush anymore. It’s evolved into this anchor that has plunged itself deep into my heart. There’s no way it’s ever coming out. If I try to rip it out, I know I won’t survive.
What’s the word for this feeling or situation?
I don’t know and I’m scared to know about it.
This feeling has been there for weeks. The more time I spent with her the deeper that anchor sunk. I can’t tell when it happened or how it wormed its way inside of me. All I know is, it happened without me realizing.
It should scare me or surprise me. But the truth is, I became obsessed with this girl the moment she looked at me from that window and made me pause. Dad’s words became background noise as I focused on this girl who had the courage to look me in the eye and not cower.
When we collided in the hallway, she proved to me that she was brave and standing up to me wasn’t a problem to her.
My twisted head took all those cues and rolled them up in a ball of fascination that kept growing the more interactions I had with her.
Unknowingly, she made me hers.
“I like that look on your face.” Sebastian’s voice is low.
“What look?” Calm carries in my reply. Just thinking about Rose brings me peace.
Sebastian just stares at me with a composed, thoughtful face that says he’s trying to figure me out.
Good luck with that.
“You’re in love with her,” he says slowly.
My stomach tightens.
My heart drops.
My mind goes blank.
“I’m not,” I grumble and straighten up.
My best friend is messing with me. He’s trying to freak me out. Of course, I’mnotin love with Rose. Ican’tbe in love with her.
“You are. You have been for a while now.”
I glare at him. “Stop saying it.”
A smile dances on his lips. “Even if I don’t say it, it won’t make it any less true.” He chuckles. “Marie and I both have known for a while. In fact, I lost the bet.”
“You placed a bet on me falling in… with Hope.”
Fuck. I can’t bring myself to say the L word.
“We did. It was inevitable.” He shrugs.
“You’re wrong. I don’t love her. I only like her a lot.”
Sebastian arches an eyebrow. “Liking someone a lot is considered loving them.”
