I hum as I make my way to my room, smiling like I’ve never smiled before in my life. That seems to be happening a lot lately—me smiling. And that’s all because of the special girl who makes my heart soar every time we hang out.
When I told Raven I’m happy we’re friends, I really meant that I’m happy we’re growing closer to each other. I would like us to be more than friends. I didn’t tell her that because I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Things are going great between us, but I messed up last time and I don’t want to mess up again.
I’mnotgoing to run away from her like I did a year and a half ago.
The guys are in the room when I walk in. Beck’s on his stomach, eyes on the TV that’s playing a movie. Jasper’s got his headphones on, head bopping to the beat of the music. And Leo is on his bed, staring at the ceiling. All are dressed in pajamas.
“Where have you been?” Jasper asks. “We thought you might break curfew and we’d have to vouch for you.”
Still grinning, I drop down on my bed. “I was with Raven. We made hot chocolate and sat by the fireplace. It was…”
“Romantic?” Beck waggles his eyebrows.
“I feel so close to her. It’s like nothing happened between us, even though so much did. I don’t know if she feels the same, though.”
Beck snorts. “She’s crazy about you, too.”
“You think?”
“Yeah,” Jasper says. “Don’t you see the way she looks at you? I thought you looked like a lovesick puppy, but she’s just as bad.”
“It’s kind of adorable,” Beck adds.
I smile to myself, my stomach doing weird somersaults. “Guys, I really like her. I mean, I’ve always liked her, but I never let myself feel that way because of all the pain. But now that we’re past that, I think I’m ready.”
“To kiss her?” Beck asks.
“To be her boyfriend.”
Jasper and Beck slap my hand. “Nice!” Jasper says. “About time, really. We thought you guys would stay in the friend zone forever.”
I hold up my hand. “I’m just not sure she’s ready for that. I messed up royally last time and I don’t want to push her away again.”
Beck taps his chin as he thinks. “That’s something you’ve got to figure out because it seems like sheisinto you. Dude, she freakin’ wrote a love song because of you.”
“What? The new song isn’t about me. It’s about love in general.”
Jasper snorts. “Yeah, right. She wouldn’t have written a love song if she didn’t feel anything for you. Geez, man. You’re so clueless.”
My gaze moves to where Leo is still staring at the ceiling. “You okay there, Leo?” I ask.
He doesn’t respond.
“Dude’s been sitting like that for nearly an hour, since he got back from whatever he was doing,” Beck informs me.
Getting to my feet, I head to Leo and place my hand on his shoulder. “Leo?”
He blinks, returning to the real world. “What?”
“You’ve been sitting like that forever,” Jasper tells him. “What’s eating away at you?”
A tiny grin captures his mouth. “I spent the evening with Lilah, guys. It was awesome. She’s awesome.”
The guys and I cheer, clapping him on the back.
“Finally,” Beck says.
Leo scowls at him. “You and the others thought it would never happen. You told me to give up. Had I listened to you, she and I wouldn’t have hung out.”
