There’s no way Aiden would ever try to get into my pants. We’re close, but notthatclose.
“Mmhmm.” Brandon smirks, mistaking my shock as denial. He focuses on his webcam like he’s right in front of me. Jealousy darkens his gaze, and he cups his chin with his thumb and two fingers resting on his cheek. “He got friend-zoned, but be careful, okay? He’s probably working that magic on you.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from blurting out that I want nothing to do with my brother. I wanthim, and the way he’s talking about other guys wanting me makes it seem like he’s not as interested in me as I thought he was.
Wait, did Brandon friend-zoneme?
My mood takes a turn for the worse.
Did I not make it clear that I’m into him?
Did I not flirt enough?
“You okay?” Brandon’s deep voice drags me out of my spiraling thoughts.
I force a smile and wave off his concern. “Yeah, sorry. I kind of checked out, but how do you know so much about biker culture? Do you ride too?”
“Sometimes.” He checks the time on his cellphone, then groans. “But seriously, I need to go. I’ll catch you later.”
I give the camera a half-assed wave. “Talk to you later.”
His display name flips dark when he logs off. I exit Discord, take off my pink cat-eared headphones, and then lay them on my desk beside the keyboard. My eyes slide shut, and I take a deep breath through my nose as I work through my hurt feelings.
I’ve never had a boyfriend. Being in a relationship never interested me. I’ve been too busy with gaming and cosplay since Aiden got me into them. It was a great escape from the bullshit at school and life with our foster parents. I didn’t have the time or spoons for entertaining guys, while Aiden was the opposite and slept around.
And now that I live with my brother, I gravitate toward Brandon like a moth to a flame. We share the same interests outside of our late-night gaming sessions, and he listens to me when I talk his ear off about little things that would be unimportant to most people.
How do I get the attention of a gamer boy who sees me as just a friend? How do I woo him and make him see me as girlfriend material? The best I can do is pretend to be something I’m not.
Covering my face with my hands, I let out a dry sob and pinch my lips together to silence my pitiful woe-is-me session. I shove out of my gaming chair with a shake of my head and walk to the bed.
I don’t know if I can be what he wants. Why can’t I be myself? Why can’t he like me forme?
I drop onto my mattress and pull up the internet browser on my phone. I typehow to get a guy to like youinto the search bar, then cringe at the results.
I click the Reddit link with the title,help! I like a guy, and I don’t know if he likes me back.I scroll through hundreds of comments until the words blur together and an invisible mass sits in the middle of my chest.
I read the comments; some are helpful, while others are more entertaining and annoying because of the men wanting to argue.
By the time I get to the end of the thread, I sigh and lock my phone screen.
I don’t know what I’ll do about my situation with Brandon, but I can’t keep sitting aside, waiting with bated breath for him to make a move on me. Something’s got to give.
The blender’sloud grating fills the kitchen as it mixes my green-tea chai smoothie. It’s the perfect pick-me-up after a nightof tossing and turning, then having nightmares after I finally fell asleep.
While waiting for the blender to stop, I check my phone for a new message from Brandon. He’s usually the first one to say good morning and ask about my day.
I sigh and set my phone on the counter. No new messages from him.
He must’ve gotten sidetracked with work and hasn’t had the time to send me a text. Which is fine. It’s not like we’re dating and he has to text me. We’re friends, and there aren’t requirements in this friendship.
My phone chimes, and I snatch it with an excited smile, not caring how pathetic I look to the audience of zero in my kitchen as I lose my mind over a guy. The excitement bursts like a bubble when I see Olivia’s and Madison’s names in the notification bar.
Olivia
are we going to the fair this weekend?
it’s the last one, and I don’t want to miss it.
