“You didn’t have to do that.”
Chip laid back and sprawled next to me.
“I think I did.” His voice was low and soft. “That’s the guy I want to be. And I don’t think I have been, very much, before.”
I angled my head a little closer to him. “How come?”
“I don’t know.” He drummed his legs with his fingers. “I’ve known Trent for as long as I can remember. When my parents were going through their divorce, he was the one who let me sleep over at his house so I didn’t have to hear all the fighting. And after Evie was born, he was the one who taught me how to take care of her. To change diapers and stuff. You should see him with her. He’s like a completely different guy.”
Chip thumped the ground with his fist. “He was the only guy who ever saw me cry. Who let me feel like it was okay to cry in front of someone. Until you.”
Trent was Chip’s Sohrab.
“So now what?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to lose him. But you were right. He’s kind of an a-hole. And I want him to be better than that.” Chip blew out a breath. “I want me to be better than that.”
“I think maybe you already are.”
Chip turned to face me. His eyes were misty.
“I really am sorry. I messed everything up.”
“Not everything,” I said.
And then I said, “I really missed being your friend.”
“Me too.” Chip chewed on his lower lip.
He had really nice lips.
“Does that mean we can try again?”
“Yeah.”
“What about... what I said?”
My heart thudded. “What do you mean?”
“About... you. Me.” Chip’s ears turned pink. “I still think you’re beautiful.”
It was my turn to chew on my lip. Chip’s eyes darted down to my mouth.
I sighed.
“Landon and I broke up. I guess you probably heard.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
“Don’t be. It really wasn’t. But I need some time. You know?”
“Yeah. I get that.”
I finally looked into Chip’s eyes. They were warm and hopeful.
“But I think you’re beautiful too.”
Chip’s grin lit up like a warp core.
