“You look good for midnight,” I blurt, watching as she snaps her head back up and seemingly stares into my soul with her big, deep blue eyes.
“Uh, thanks?”
I run a hand through my hair then take a sip of water Gertrude brought over a moment ago. “No, I mean… It’s midnight, but you are wearing a pretty blue sundress and have make up on.”
Cassidy wore sundresses all the time…
“Oh, uh, yeah. Well, I was wearing this out to town earlier in the day after you left and I just haven’t changed.” She sips a strawberry milkshake. “I told Gertrude you were coming. She should have your chocolate shake out soon.”
Right on cue, the spritzy older lady sets a tall, rounded glass filled with my favorite flavor milkshake and topped with whipped cream on the table in front of me. I thank her then pop the bright green straw she handed me into the drink. The first cold sip tastes like heaven sliding down my throat, but I knowbetter than to chug it right now. I don’t want it coming back up later.
Gertrude then sets a basket of hot fries in front of us, and Karoline and I both reach for the exact same fry, our fingers brushing against each other. The warmth of her skin against mine is something I momentarily wish I could spend forever experiencing. She pulls her hand away first, so I grab a fry and toss it into my mouth, trying not to salivate at the salty goodness.
“Mm. These are the best fries in the world, hands down.”
“Agreed,” she says, grabbing a handful for herself and setting them on a napkin in front of her. “So, how was your birthday party?”
“Eh, it was all right. Kinda wished you were there.” I want to kick myself for letting words out of my mouth before I verify them. Meeting Karoline in this state wasn’t my best idea, especially because of my growing attraction to her. I’m good at hiding the buzz, but she knows me. She’s going to catch on.
“You could have invited me,” she whispers, then sips her shake. As her lips wrap around the blue straw, I envision her puckering up for a kiss and leaning into me…
I cough, shaking the thought away. “Not your scene. You wouldn’t have liked it.”
“Fair enough.”
Silence ensues between us as we sip our drinks and munch on fries. Eventually, Karoline asks, “So, why the impromptu diner dash at midnight?”
I shrug. “We do this a lot. Plus it’s my birthday.”
“Wasyour birthday,” she teases, motioning to the gold chain watch on her left wrist. “It’s officially over now.”
“And here I was hoping for another gift from you.” I wink then catch myself again.Dang it, Mason. Quit flirting with Karoline. Just because Cassidy rejected you doesn’t give you the right to hit on your best friend who you’re pretty sure has feelings foryou, and… You might reciprocate them. At least to a physical degree.
“I do have something I want to say,” Karoline says, her words jumbled together as she rushes to get them out. “Mason, I—I love you. And I know that may be shocking to hear, but I can’t hold it in any longer. I have loved you for a very long time, and this summer, you’ve been more flirty and have teased me more than you ever have before. I could be totally off the mark here—I don’t think that I am—but I think you like me too. Maybe you don’t love me, but that’s something that can be built. There’s something between us. That’s for sure. And I really hope I’m not wrong…”
Karoline’s anxious gaze burns my body more than the liquor did. She likes me. She loves me. I knew this already; Karoline was never good at hiding her emotions. But she finally admitted it to me…
See, Cassidy? Someone thinks I’m worth loving as more than a friend…
I swore I’d never date Karoline because the woman is way too good for me, she’s my best friend, and she’s basically like family.
But she isn’t family…
And she looks hot in that sundress, confessing her feelings for me…
Maybe I could let the liquor talk just this once…
Without another thought, I stand, slide over in the booth until I’m shoulder to shoulder with Karoline. When she looks up at me with wide eyes and parted lips, the haze of the night takes over and I wrap my hands into her hair, dragging her lips to meet mine.
Chapter Twelve
Karoline - Present
Attention! Karoline Wright haslost her mind. Reward guaranteed if found.
Me:Okay
I stare at the four-letter word I sent moments ago to Mason’s long-winded text inviting me to go hiking. It’s Friday, nine o’ clock at night, and a small part of me wonders if I was too latein sending the response. I shouldn’t care, and I remind myself of that, but it still doesn’t stop me from hoping I wasn’t too late.
