I open the message. At the bottom, the app asksHas love struck? Take this match to the next level. It also offers activity ideas, letting me know the planner found upcoming events happening in our area, suggesting the hockey game for a date.
Oh good. Of course there are read receipts. I can’t stalk the chat without responding. He already knows I’ve seen his message. Love that for me.
MightyPuck:What the fuck? No way.
CraftyCutie:Awkwaaaard [laughing emoji]
MightyPuck:I can’t believe it haha. How did we match? What are you even doing on here?
I relax. It seems he’s more amused by this than weirded out.
CraftyCutie:Me? Why are you on here, hmm?
MightyPuck:Don’t worry about it.
CraftyCutie:Who says I’m worried?
MightyPuck:Bet your brother will get a kick out of this [laughing emoji]
CraftyCutie:Hell no! Don’t you dare tell him. OR my dad!
MightyPuck:Okay. I’ve always got your back, Evie. They don’t have to know anything. It’ll be our secret.
The smile I didn’t realize I had while we were having fun challenging each other drops off my face. My thumbs hover over the keyboard while my heart beats hard and fast.
Maybe it’s the nickname only he uses. Maybe it’s the way I’m able to picture his sincere expression perfectly.
Hell, maybe it’s the wine going to my head.
I start to type out a confession I’ve kept to myself for years.
I’ve always through about y?—
Before I finish, I delete it quickly. My cheeks heat. I can’t believe I almost told him I’ve thought about him. Thought about being with him. Fantasized about it.
Shaking my head, I huff out a laugh and reach for my wine glass, downing the last of it.
“That was close,” I murmur.
CraftyCutie:Soooo, we’re going to pretend this didn’t happen and never talk about it again, right?
MightyPuck:If that’s what you want, my lips are sealed.
A flutter tickles my stomach. I swipe my tongue across my lower lip while trying not to think about lickinghis—or any other part of him. Why does he have to be so unbelievably hotandsweet, considerate, kind, freaking sexy as hell?—
Okay, okay. I need to stop.
It would never work between us. He fits perfectly with my family and they’ve always loved him. What if it ended badly and it was on me for making things weird for everyone?
Besides, there’s no way he sees me that way.
It’s just a silly old crush. Who doesn’t crush on their older brother’s best friend? It’s a rite of passage. Growing pains that you laugh about.
Except I’m not laughing and the flutter dancing between my chest and my stomach isn’t going away on its own.
I’m sure I’d do something to drive him away like my other exes.
It would gut me for Cole to get frustrated by the things I do that drove Shawn crazy because I couldn’t justfunction like normal people.
