Miriam giggled.
She had said that last bit just to mess with Allie. She didn’t even get a chance to touch Silas’ muscles while they kissed, and so she couldn’t really say how they felt beneath her fingers—though she remembered. Her face heated up at the memories.
“Oh my goodness. You’re thinking about him again.”
Miriam ducked her head trying to hide her guilty smile.
“So why are you sitting here and telling me about it instead of getting more practice?” Allie waggled her brows.
Miriam’s smile fell, and her mood sobered. “Because I ended things.”
“Shut up.” Allie laughed as she bumped her shoulder into Miriam.
“No, I’m being serious. Things are over between me and Silas.”
“But you made it sound like you were getting back together.”
Miriam shrugged. “Yeah, I know.” She wasn’t entirely sure why she left out the part where she drove off. Maybe she wanted to live in that dream world for just a moment. Now that Allie knew the truth, reality was creeping back in.
Allie stared at her. “I thought you wanted Silas.”
Miriam nodded. “I do.”
“And he wants you.”
“He does.”
Allie pressed her lips together. “So you guys have an amazing kiss in the middle of the street, right?”
Miriam picked at the fabric of her sofa. “Yeah.”
“And then what?” Allie shook her head. “You said, ‘That was fun, but I’m not going to date you?’”
Miriam winced. “When you put it that way…”
Allie shifted so that she could look at Miriam head on. “How would you put it?”
Tears pooled in her eyes. “I don’t know. I just saw that stalker girl talking to Silas, and I realized that I couldn’t do it. He can tell me all day long not to be jealous, but Iamthe type to feel insecure next to the supermodels that hang all over him. It would always be an issue. Better to not to try again than watch our relationship die by a thousand tiny cuts.”
Allie cleared her throat. “Get up.”
She didn’t think she’d heard her friend correctly. “What?”
Allie took a deep breath and stood in front of the couch. She put her hand out to Miriam. “Come here.”
Allie pulled her off the couch and led Miriam to her bedroom. She placed her in front of the full-length mirror that hung on the back of the door. “You are just as gorgeous as any of those wannabe groupies.”
Miriam wasn’t though. She was too short, too flabby, and her freckles made her look like a little kid. Her hair never curled right, and the humidity always turned it into a frizzy mess. Even next to Allie, she felt like she was just okay.
Miriam snorted. “Whatever you say.”
“You’re prettier than those girls. You’re real.”
Miriam rolled her eyes. “That’s just a kind way of saying I have imperfections.”
“Girl. Weallhave imperfections. If your looks are what’s keeping you from being with Silas, we can cross that reason off the list because that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Miriam turned to face Allie. “That’s not the only thing.”
