AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I should have lied to him. Yes, I was planning to come back, but not to hang out at the football field. Cole’s younger brother, Benjamin, is a senior this year, so of course, the whole family will be there watching.
Connor: It’s only for a few hours, and you can do your work with Wi-Fi if you’re behind. And I know you don’t have a date. Besides, I need your help.
Damn him. Layla slows to a stop in front of the fire station. What are we doing here? Please tell me we aren’t doing the shoot here.
Next to Cole’s pickup is a Black 4x4 lifted pickup that I don’t recognize. My heart lodges in my throat as she shifts into park. “What’re we doing here?”
“A photo shoot.”
“Why are we doing a photo shoot here?” My hands ball into fists. “I don’t want to do a photo shoot here."
"Too bad." She shrugs. “The lighting is great here, and the flowers in the park are gorgeous this time of year.”
“Why do you bend over backward to do awesome things for everyone but me?” I cross my arms over my chest and glare at her.
“Face.” Her eyelids narrow into slits.
“I don’t care about my make-up.” I uncross my arms and fling my hands into the air. “You didn’t answer my question. We’ve been best friends since elementary school. I’ve been there for you whenever you needed me, including after that fiasco with–”
“Don’t say his name.”
“Fine. I won’t. That was a low blow, but when cornered, I lash out.” I shouldn’t have brought it up. That guy she sort of dated back in San Francisco was a douchebag. “I’m serious, Layla. You know I don’t want to run into Cole, and yet, you’re here in front of the station and expecting me to do a photo shoot when you could have picked anywhere else in town but here.”
She gnaws on her bottom lip. “Because I want you to stop running from your feelings. You like Cole, but you won’t do anything about it. And by not doing anything about it, you’re miserable and alone back in San Fransisco. If you and Cole got together, you’d move back here, and we’d all be happy.”
“You’re forgetting one important piece of information. He doesn’t like me.”
My phone dings as Connor sends me another message.
Connor: 7 o’clock on Friday night. At the game.
Damn it. Why is everyone I love intent on making my life miserable?
Me: Fine. I’ll see you then. I’m headed back as soon as Layla drops me off at home.
Connor: Thank you. Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
Me: Yes, it was.
I bite back a chuckle. Connor and I have always been the most contentious of the siblings, but I’d do anything for him, including spending the entire homecoming weekend brushing shoulders with the townsfolk.
What else were you going to do? Work from home and eat microwaved burritos? At least you’ll have good food here.
“I think he likes you, but he’s afraid you’ll turn him down. First, because your brothers would be on his case and second because you’re still living in San Francisco.”
“I have a job there. And there’re no openings here for a personal assistant with as much money and influence as my boss has.”
“Then do something different.” Layla grabs her camera and slips out of the car. She makes it sound so easy. But it’s not. If I move back home now, it’s like I’m admitting defeat and coming back home to Mom and Dad with my tail between my legs.
‘Harbor couldn’t make it as a big girl in the city.’ My brothers would trash-talk me to the grave.
“I’m not doing something different. I love my job.” I practically stomp my foot as I get out of her car and stand on the sidewalk. If she says she wants me to lean against the fire station, I’m walking back to my parent’s house, climbing back into my car, and blocking her calls. The last thing I want to do is look like a desperate loser begging for his attention.
****
Twenty Minutes Later
I lean against the brick wall and put on my best come-hither expression. Before she can snap the shot, I giggle and double over at the waist.
