She was, she had been the whole time.
My phone, still in my hand, vibrated.
Aiden: again with the radio silence
Aiden: you’re still alive, Devin would’ve told me if you died
I snorted, smiling down at the screen.
“Oooh.” Chris nudged my shin with his toes. “You’re not cheating on Devin already are you?”
“No,” I said. “No, never.”
I meant that. I couldn’timaginedoing that to him. Or anyone, for that matter.
Still alive, so much to tell you, can’t talk right now
“Good, because Brad was always telling him how hot he thought other people were,” Julie said. “I mean, I share my silly little crushes with Marta, but the way Brad said it was… different. I dunno how to explain.”
“I believe you,” I said, realizing Julie had probably known Devin the longest, aside from Marta. That might come in handy at some point.
“Devin never believed me,” Julie said softly. “Brad really wrecked his self-confidence. I’m glad he has you.”
“So who’s the mystery text from?” Chris asked, clearly not about to be distracted.
“Aiden,” I said automatically. “Uh, Devin’s brother.”
“That’s the middle one, right?” Chris asked.
“Yeah. He’s my best friend.”
Chris whistled lowly. “Risky to date your best friend’s brother.”
“Aiden’s been encouraging me to tell Devin how I feel foryears,” I said. “I’m not worried about how he’ll react. Also not sure what to tell him, though. So I guess you’re right.”
“Wait, hold on,years?” Chris asked. “Like as in,years?”
I blinked at him. “Does years have some other meaning I don’t know about?”
“Consecutive spans of twelve months?” Julie tried. “Usually beginning on January first and ending on December thirty-first?”
“That’s what I mean when I say years. Maybe not… the exact dates,” I confirmed.
Chris blinked at me.
“And it’s taken youthis longto get together?” he asked.
I glanced up at Devin again. Had they moved along the line? They must have, there were only three groups between them and the table now.
It justfeltlike it was taking an eternity, especially since I was being interrogated by his friends. Which was absolutely what this was—they cared about him, and now that they knew there really was something going on between us, they were assessing me.
I wanted to pass. I wanted Devin’s friends to like me and think I’d be good for him.
“Well. Yeah? Look at him,” I gestured toward the line, watching Devin laugh at something Alex had said and glad to see Brad wasn’t quite sheltered by Marta’s umbrella, either. “He’s perfect.”
A low whistle from Chris made me blush.
“Youhavegot it bad,” he said.
