“Quick question,” she says, moving her legs quickly to keep up with me. She’s taller, but my little legs are pumping with adrenaline. “Are we going to kick someone’s ass, or is this a wardrobe malfunction kind of emergency, because I didn’t bring any tampons with me.”
I stop and face her. I wish this was a wardrobe malfunction kind of problem. It would be easier to solve.
I glance around us for prying eyes and ears. I’m out of breath and my pulse is still racing. And every time I try to focus on anything else, the memory of that kiss hits me all over again.
Like a freaking tsunami.
“Okay. You’re scaring me,” Claire says, and her gentle words finally snap me out of it.
“I kissed Vaughn.”
As soon as I’ve blurted out the words, I want to take them back. I need her help, but she’s the last person I want to be telling this.
“Shit,” I say, then keep walking at a slower pace until wereach the patio, plopping myself down in an empty chair. I’m too keyed up to be still but also suddenly exhausted.
My best friend is staring at the ground as she walks toward me. Her entire body is painted green like the Statue of Liberty, but I can still tell I’ve managed to stun her speechless.
“Say something,” I plead with her.
“You kissed Vaughn?”
Is that anger in her voice or surprise?
“I guess technically he kissed me, but I definitely kissed him back.” I groan and cover my face with my hands. My lips are still tender from the rough way he had his mouth on me. I am the worst best friend ever.
“How was it?”
When I peek out from behind my fingers, she’s…grinning?
“So good,” I say without any thought at all. I leave outaward-winning. It doesn’t feel like the right moment to share that tidbit.
Worst. Friend. Ever.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t plan on kissing him. I’m not even sure if I like him.” I shake my head. “No, that’s not true. I like him, but I don’t want to, I swear.”
“Whoa. Take a breath.” Claire places a hand on my arm and squeezes gently. She forces me back to the chair I vacated and takes the one next to me.
“Drink this.” She hands me her cup.
I take a big gulp then cough when it burns my throat. “What is that?”
“Rowan made it, so there’s no telling.”
I take another smaller sip then hand it back. “Can you forgive me?”
“Stop. There is nothing to forgive. Vaughn and I have been broken up for months.”
“I know, but you were together for a long time.”
“And now I’m with Austin.” She doesn’t look upset, but I can’t help but feel like I just made a huge error in judgment. Claire is my number one. No matter what.
“Okay,” she says, looking at me with a serious expression, just a hint of a smile. “Now that I’m not worried I’m going to have fight someone wearing a toga, start from the beginning and tell me how this happened.”
I guess that means she’s not going to fight me either. I might feel better if she did.
But this is Claire. Even if she were going to hate me, I could never keep something from her. So I do what she asked.
I tell her everything. Starting with the time we spent together studying to him taking me apple picking and then finishing with tonight.
