My friendship with Kelly was cemented in that biology class through whispered jokes, written notes, and easy smiles. My initial attraction to her never faded, but as soon as I learned she had a boyfriend back home where she moved from, I forced those thoughts aside. Besides, Kelly never gave any indication she thought of me as anything more than a friend. So, I was content, figuring we could be those cool people who can handle being friends and not letting it get weird. You know, like Joey and Dawson from that stupid show some of the girls in my class watch.
But everything almost changed one day in the spring. I found Kelly sitting in the bleachers during our study period, and she was crying.
“Kell? What’s wrong?” I jog up the few rows to where she sits as she wipes her sleeve across her eyes.
“Sorry. I know we were meant to meet in the library. I just, umm, I just needed some air.”
“That’s okay.” I fidget in my seat. I don’t know what the hell to do right now. Kelly’s never cried in front of me. Slowly, I put my hand over hers and squeeze. She gives me a watery smile, then lets her head fall to the side to land on my shoulder. I move my arm around her shoulders. “What’s going on?”
“Kyle broke up with me.”
My heart thumps loudly in my chest at those words. Kyle, the boyfriend from her old school. I met the guy once, he seemed okay, but he wasn’t exactly a fan of us being friends.
“He said he didn’t want to do long distance anymore. I tried to convince him it wasn’t so bad, but he refused to listen. I think he’s cheating on me.” Kelly sniffs loudly. “But you know what, good riddance. He was a bad kisser, anyway.”
A laugh escapes me. “Really? You dated him for like, a year, and he was a bad kisser?”
She lifts her head and I immediately miss the feel of her tucked against me. I’ve been careful not to get too close to her and always keep things on the side of friendship. But this changes things.
“Yeah, the worst. He was a total guppy, you know?” She opens her mouth widely and makes a stupid face, and we both start laughing. That’s better. Kelly should always be happy. It’s who she is.
She wipes at her face again, then turns on the bench to face me. “Thanks, J. You always make me feel better somehow.”
I just shrug. “My job as best friend is done. Can we study French now?” I need the distraction of conjugating verbs to stop myself from doing something I shouldn’t. Like kiss my best friend.
Then again, maybe this is my shot. She’s single. I’m single.
This is it.
I look up to see Kelly rummaging in her backpack.
“Kell,” I say, but her name comes out hoarse across my lips. She looks at me with that soft, perfect smile that’s just mine. I don’t think about it. I lean in, wrap my hand around the back of her neck, and press my lips to hers. I feel her gasp against my mouth, but then she melts into me, and everything around us ceases to exist.
But apparently, heaven can’t last forever because after a minute of pure bliss, Kelly pulls back. I know what she’s going to say before she even says it.
“Jensen, I… We… You’re my best friend. I kind of need just that for now. Okay?” She looks at me worriedly, and I know it’s on me to reassure her that the kiss didn’t mean anything. That our friendship is fine, even if a part of me is dying at the sense of rejection I’m feeling.
“Of course. We’re fine. I just figured you needed a good kiss after a year of duds, that’s all.” I nudge her with my shoulder and force a wide grin on my face. “Don’t read too much into it, we’re friends, I was doing you a favour.”
The relief on her face is another arrow to my heart. “A favour, huh? Yeah, sure.”
“C’mon. Study period’s almost over and I still don’t know the different tenses for conjugatingcacher.” The irony that the verb I’m stuck on is the French word meaningto hide, just like I’m hiding my feelings for Kelly, isn’t lost on me. But I’m an expert at ignoring those by now. If she needs a friend, then that’s what she’ll get.
Because Kelly is the kind of person who deserves anything and everything in life. And that’s what I want to give her.
Even if I wish she wanted everything with me.
Chapter one
Kelly
“Toffee peanut butter chip and triple chocolate.”
My boss licks her lips. Literally, wiping away drool as I tell her the cookie flavours I plan on baking today.
“I was also thinking of experimenting next week with a play on German chocolate cake. Chocolate cookie with some sort of caramel coconut topping.” I smirk as Mila Monroe’s jaw drops open.
“Are you shitting me, Kelly? Is that… Can you… Seriously?”
