Page 10 of Cross My Heart

“Ourbest friend,” I emphasize for good measure. “And I see the way you’re looking at her.”

“How?” he asks with narrowed eyes. “How do I look at her?”

The way I wish you looked at me.

“Like you have a crush on her.”

“I do not!” he denies, but it comes out high-pitched and squeaky.

“Better not.” I shrug. “It’ll ruin this whole friendship.”

“Alright, alright.” Tyler throws his hands up in the air in defeat. “I won’t do anything to ruin it.”

“Good.” I smile. “Race ya to Scarlett.”

And then I’m off, swimming as fast as possible toward the deep end of the pool. I hear Tyler hot on my heels, but I don’t look back. All I can hope for is that I got my point across. That this conversation will be burned into the back of his head. That he’ll realize Scarlett is off limits.

But where does that put me?

Chapter 6

TYLER

16 YEARS OLD

Noah slept over last night, and for the first time ever, he’s sleeping in my bed right next to me. We fell asleep watching a movie, the air mattress was set up right next to my bed. I just didn’t have it in me to wake him up.

Now I’m trying not to be creepy, but I can’t help staring at him. His lips are slightly parted as he breathes in steadily. His eyes fluttering as if he’s dreaming. His dark hair is sleep-mussed and messy. I stare at him intently, as if I’m willing him to open his eyes.

I can’t stop looking at him.

I shake my head in confusion, trying to decipher where those thoughts came from, while also acknowledging that it’s really how I feel. But I don’t have much time to think about it because he’s opening his eyes and staring straight into mine. My gaze drifts down to his lips, which are set in a smirk, and my breathing becomes labored.

“You’re so fucking pretty, Ty,” he breathes. “So pretty.”

“You think I’m pretty?” I gulp, trying to figure out why there’s butterflies raging in my stomach at the words.

He nods. “I do.”

Noah reaches out, stroking my cheek with his fingers, and I gasp. I’m frozen to the spot, unsure of what to do. So I just stay still for him as I look into his eyes, which are currently dilating and swallowing the blue. It’s as if I’m hypnotized, and there’s a smile on his lips, and I just want to lean in and?—

The door bursts open and Noah drops his hand between us, and when I look around him, in comes Scarlett. She gets on the bed and lies between us, turning toward me and grinning up at me. But for the first time in a long time, I want her to leave. I want to go back to the moment between Noah and I. I want to figure out what the hell that was because, for the life of me, I really don’t know. But it felt good, and I want to experience it again.

“What are y’all doing?” she asks cheerfully, and it makes me roll my eyes. “Slept on the same bed, huh?”

“It’s a sleepover.”

But I don’t miss the way Noah flinches, and suddenly I feel like shit about it. “Yeah,” he says solemnly. “Just a sleepover.”

“Sure feels cozy in here.” Scarlett smirks. “You sure you’re not fucking behind my back?”

“And if we were?” I ask her.

“That would ruin our friendship!” She pouts. “We’re The Three Musketeers.”

Noah rolls his eyes. “We’re too old for that, Scar.”

“Never too old,” Scar huffs.