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Piper shrugs. “She’s fine. Besides, something’s off with her lately and I kind of want to keep her around so maybe she’ll tell me what’s wrong.”
I nod. “I get that. For what it’s worth, she seems pretty happy with her decision to move here.”
“I’m happy she’s here,” Piper says. “Truly. Having my sister here makes it feel like I have everything I want. But I want to know that it’s what she wants and that she’s not just doing it for me. I don’t want her to ruin her career over her quarter-life crisis.”
I smile. “Do you think that’s what she’s going through?”
Piper sighs. “I don’t know. But I plan to find out. Enough of me, though. Back to you. What’s got you so flustered when it comes to this repair job?”
My gaze shoots to hers. “What?”
“Is it just the money? Or is it something else?” she asks. “Because something has you acting a little off.”
I shake my head in denial. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m just worried about the salon and the money.”
“Linc said he can fix it,” she says. “Luke says he’s a good guy, and I trust Luke.”
I nod, fighting against that fluttery feeling at the mention of Linc’s name.
“Hmm,” Piper says, a knowing tone in her voice.
I narrow my eyes at her. “Hmm? What, hmm?”
She points a finger at me. “You get weird whenever I say Linc’s name.”
I open my mouth to argue, but my face betrays me when a blush creeps up my cheeks.
Piper makes a startled sound and her mouth drops open. “Holy shit! I’m right, aren’t I?”
I shake my head. “Shut up!” I whisper, looking around as if someone might overhear us, though no one is looking in our direction.
She looks absolutely delighted by this new revelation. “Did something happen?” she asks in an excited whisper. “Did he kiss you? Are you two secretly a thing? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shove her arm lightly. “No!” I say, suddenly annoyed by the line of questioning. “Stop it. There’s nothing between me and Linc.”
Piper eyes me for a moment, clearly trying to piece together this new puzzle. I can feel those stupid butterflies in my belly going nuts again.
“Were you guys ever a thing?” she asks in a quiet voice. “Like, back in high school?”
My face goes hot, and I feel like the air has been sucked out of the room. I manage a laugh that I hope sounds dismissive, but I’m pretty sure it just sounds like I’m choking.
“Me and Linc?” I scoff. “No. Definitely not.”
Piper just looks at me, not saying a word. But I know her. She’s waiting for me to crack, to spill the tea. The problem is that there’s never been any tea to spill where Linc is concerned. There’s only ever been my crush on him and his absolute indifference to me. I’ve never told another soul about that crush, either. It’s always just been this secret that I’ve kept, barely able to acknowledge it even to myself. I always thought I’d get over it eventually. Now, here I am almost 20 years into this crush and I’m starting to wonder if this is just my life. Am I always going to wonder what it would be like to kiss Lincoln Prescott?
I look up to find Piper watching me, waiting for me to speak. I feel the butterflies in my stomach having a full-blown riot as they do anytime I’ve thought of anyone finding out how I feel about Linc. But it might be nice to share this secret with someone. It might be good to get it out. And this is Piper. She’s my best friend. I trust her not to say a word. Besides, I think she already suspects something is up, especially since I can’t seem to be myself around him. I sigh.
“Linc and I have never been a thing,” I say, letting the truth of how I feel about that fact color my tone.
Piper’s eyes widen slightly, but her voice is soft when she speaks. “But you want to be?”
My heart pounds harder and I suck in a shaky breath. Then, I say aloud the one thing I’ve sworn to never tell a soul. “Yes,” I whisper. “I’ve had a crush on him since we were ten.”
I bury my face in my hands, trying to hide the blush I can feel heating my cheeks.
“Holy shit,” Piper says. “Have you tried telling him?”
My gaze shoots to her, eyes wide, and I know she can read the horror on my face as I shake my head. “What? No! Absolutely not!”
