Page 65 of Already Falling

She returns a sly smile and plops down on the couch just as Dandy finds her and curls around her, wanting pets. “I’ve been watching you two closely since you confessed your love for Reid to me.”

“I don’t love him. Okay…maybe a little bit, but go on.”

Now she’s the one to give me an eye roll. “First of all, Miss Delusional, you love him a lotta bit. You always have. Second of all, ten thousand percent he feels the same way. I can see it when you two look at each other. It’s different when he looks at me or anyone else. Or when Tyler looks at you. When Reid looks at you, his whole demeanor softens, and his eyes get all sparkly. Like what you are saying or doing is the most important thing in his life. He leans closer to you and it pains him to look away.”

“Are you reading romance books again?”

“No…maybe…whatever, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I am right, and I saw my chance to finally help you. I meant it when we cried over pancakes a few weeks ago, you always help me, and not only do I want to help myself, but I want to be there for you when you need it.”

“So, you lied. You don’t have an event.”

“Of course not. You know my work schedule better than I do. I was worried you were going to ruin my whole plan.”

“Wait, if there’s no event, then why did Tyler go along?” I ask.

“Tyler was a wildcard I threw in, and I am pleasantly surprised he followed my lead. I have a feeling he is picking up on the feelings between you and Reid too.”

“Pssht, doubt that.”

“He’s Reid’s best friend. Reid definitely told him about your history. I think he’s on Team Annid.”

“Annid?”

“Your couple's name, or it could be Reika. Oooo, that’s kinda beautiful. Maybe I’ll name my firstborn after you two.”

I am so flabbergasted by these events that I can’t help but fall back smiling, Chloe joining in.

“Chloe, are you sure? Am I sure about this?”

“Do whatever feels right. Even if you don’t do anything yet, you and he can have a few hours alone, and it should help you decide what to do.”

A bundle of emotions builds up in my stomach. I don’t know if it’s nerves or excitement or joy or gratitude or maybe all of it at once tumbling together. “Thank you, Chloe. I’ll buy you some merch.”

“It’s the least you can do, honestly. I’m absolutely gutted that I’m missing the concert for my fake work event. Okay, Dandy, your fur is too warm, and I’m melting, get off of me, please.”

“Will you help me pick an outfit? Because now it’s just me and Reid. I want to look hot and confident.”

“Duh.” And with that, we scurry off to my bedroom, and it feels like we are freshmen in college again, planning outfits while giddy feelings bubble through me.

THIRTY-FIVE

REID

Just me and Anni, going to the concert as friends. This is not a date at all. We are two cool pals, going on a friend-hang to a concert.

So, what if this will be the longest amount of time she and I will have spent together since our newfound friendship? If she and I are hanging out, it’s for maybe twenty minutes, an hour tops, and even then, it’s because we are waiting for our friends. This is different. We have an hour's drive to the concert and a two-hour set, then an hour's drive back. I release the breath that I’ve been keeping trapped in my chest and am suddenly self-conscious of the outfit I pulled together. I felt weird asking Chloe and Annika how my outfit looked, so I just sent it to Tyler. Who, by the way, I’m intensely suspicious of because this whole concert was his idea.

He seemed to approve of my navy chino shorts and a band tee. I almost put on a new pair of Vans, but I am so nervous for some reason that I put on my Converse. My security blanket shoes. I went against Tyler’s suggestion to wear white ankle socks and instead picked a pair with yellow and black smiley faces. I figured it’s a concert, so why not be fun, but now I’m worried that I’ll be underdressed.

I pull up to Annika’s house and almost get out to knock on her door, but that feels too much like date behavior, so instead, I hit the horn on my steering wheel a couple of times. A few more minutes go by, and I hit the horn again. Didn’t she want to leave punctually? But then I see the front door swing open, and she hurries outside and over to my truck.

She is wearing a white high-neck tank top tucked into short light denim shorts. Her legs look a million miles long, and they go down to a pair of white Converse, just like the ones I have on. And she’s wearing some funky socks. I can’t help but chuckle at the coincidence of our outfits.

She has on a light green oversized denim shirt with little patches sewn on the shoulders and about four gold necklaces around her neck. She’ll need the extra layers later. Late August is still warm, but we are reminded that autumn is around the corner as the sun dips below the horizon.

Her hair. Whenever she does anything to that black shoulder-length hair, I go nuts. Today, she did two small braids on either side of her face with little green clips at the bottom. She’s so fucking adorable. I breathe out another sigh and chant silently in my head. Friends, friends, friends.

I keep searching her facial expressions to see if she feels anything else for me but push those feelings away. I don’t want to ruin this again. I fall too hard for her. Every. Time.