“A little?” She said, disbelieving. “I see the way you both are staring at each other at work while trying so hardnotto.”
“He’s staring at me?” I sat up and instantlyregrettedit.
“Ha! See? Don’t act like it’s no big thing. Now spill so I can live vicariously through you.” Gwen waved her hands, insisting Iproceed.
“I really don’t know. I mean, I think there is the connection of two people who used to be best friends. I feel like I want to talk to him and that I already know him because of that. But then he’s also, like, all grown up now.” Gwen smirked at me and I coveredmyface.
“Allgrownup?”
“I mean, he’s really hot. I’m definitely attracted to him and there’s this strange chemistrybetweenus.”
“Chemistry,huh?”
“Yeah, okay. So the way we feel right now, like we’re going to be sick? That’s the way I feel every time I see him. My stomach just drops and I feel my heartspeedup.”
“That’s so adorable,” Gwen said before I said anything else. Thank goodness. I was pretty sure something about getting lost in his eyes would have comeoutnext.
“I guess. But I don’t know what he’s thinkingaboutme.”
“I told you he stares at you at work,” shepointedout.
“He’s glowering at me. I’m pretty sure that’s just the way he looks atpeople.”
“No, he’s definitely staringatyou.”
“But he’s always so standoffish. Like, he can’t be bothered to talktome.”
“Maybe.” Gwen looked lost in thought. “He’s been through a lot, Katie. The last girl he dated was really awful to him. He might beafraid.”
“Afraid?” I asked in a tone that made it obvious I wasn’tbuyingit.
“I know he seems all tough, but I think it’s for show. Maybe consider going out on a limb and making the first move, if you want to explore yourchemistry.” She lifted her hands and made air quotes with the last word while lookingdevious.
“I don’t know,” I said, but my heart betrayed me and beat wildly inside my chest at the prospect of putting the moves onJulian.
ChapterSixteen
Julian
It had beenseveral weeks since Katie cried in my arms in the backyard. Things had been pretty awkward between us since then. This hadn’t stopped me from checking my backyard at least once every night to see if she was laying on my trampoline. I had hoped she would come back, but sheneverdid.
I missed Katie. Not in a romantic sense, simply as afriend.
Or at least that had been the way it felt originally. But the more I saw her, the more I wondered if there was something else brewing beneath thesurface.
So when I spotted her that night in my back yard, for the first time in weeks, I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed the blanket as Iwalkedout.
“Want some company?” I asked, as Iapproachedher.
“I’dloveit.”
I handed the blanket over and jumped upbesideher.
She began to wrap my blanket around her body, even though she was dressed much more appropriately this time around. She wore a light sweater and jeans. After getting some of the blanket wrapped around her shoulders, she looked at me. “Um…you could come share the blanket with me. You know, if you want. If you’re cold.” Her eyes started to dart everywhere but at my face. “But you’re wearing your hoodie, so I guess you’re probably not cold.Which–”
“You know what?” I asked, stopping her before she could say anything else discouraging me from getting underneath that blanket with her. “I’m actually feeling a littlechilly.”
“You are?” She looked back upatme.
