I did and got a reply less than a minute later.
"It says," I read, "don't come. I don't want you to get sick."
"Well, that's pretty sweet," Lola said.
Ana nodded. "It is, and honestly, even if he is avoiding you, can you blame the guy? You basically broke his heart without saying a word."
The protest died on my lips. "Do you really think so?"
Their silence was deafening.
"Well, what should I do?"
Hazel hit me with a hard, no-nonsense stare. "Do you love that Ryker guy?"
I shrugged. "I guess. But it's like how you feel about one of your book characters."
"So the deepest kind of love."
I gaped as she gave a nod.
"Best to cut Tolliver loose then. There's no help for it."
"No, that's not what I meant." My lips twitched. "I used to think of Ryker as someone I could magically fall for, a fantasy kind of love. But now that we've met, I understand it was just that. A story I made up in my mind."
"Nothing wrong with those," Ana said.
"Agreed," Scotlyn said. "I would live in books if I could."
I shook my head at her. "You remind me so much of Lottie it's crazy."
"Anyway." Lola raised her brows then said, "Where does that leave Tolliver?"
"Here," I said, placing a hand on my chest, right over where my heart was beating. "I know it sounds cheesy. But he's so deeply embedded in here that I can't remember how it felt before he was there."
"You're right," Hazel said. "Totally cheesy."
Lola elbowed her, but she was smiling.
"I think I love him," I said. Then took another deep breath. "I love Tolliver."
"Well, then what are you doing here, talking about it with us?" Ana said.
"You should go tell him that," Scotlyn said. "Also, mind if I use some of this in my book?"
"Okay," I said, and she began typing on her laptop.
"Thanks. Oh, and good luck."
Lola gave me an encouraging smile. "Say it like you did just now. Don't overthink it."
"Yeah, no point in adding frills and fireworks," Hazel said. "Get straight to the point."
I lifted my chin. "And what if it turns out he is ghosting me?"
"Then at least you said it. You always regret the things you don't say more than the things you do."
Scotlyn glanced up again. "That's brilliant, Haze. Can I use it?"
