Page 79 of Rookie Moves

His gaze drifts to the ceiling as he rubs a hand over his face.

“I’m just worried about you… I’ve noticed you and McKay have been spending a lot of time together. I’m worried that you’re getting yourself into something that’s just gonna end up with you getting hurt.”

And there it is. My closest friend here at Whilton U can see through me like a pane of glass. It pains me to have to lie to him, but I have to.

“We’re just friends,” I say, the words leaving my lips in a reflex, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue.

“I’ve been in that position before, dude, having feelings for someone who will never return them.” He gives me a sad smile, pity gleaming in his eyes. “It can fucking break you, bro. I don’t want to see you get your heart broken, that’s all.”

“I won’t, because there’s nothing going on. We’re just friends,” I repeat with a slight bite in my tone.

Liam’s silent as his eyes bounce between mine. A long minute passes before he lets out a sigh and holds his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll take your word for it.”

I give an incline of my head in thanks.

“You know I’m here for you, right? I like McKay. He’s a good guy, but you’re one of my best friends, and I’ll always have your back.”

Acid claws its way up my throat, leaving a path of fire in its wake, chest aching in a way that has tears pricking the back of my eyes.

I hate lying to him. He’s been one of my closest friends since freshman year, and we’ve gone through so much together, but this? This isn’t something he can know. Not now, maybe not ever.

Needing to get out of this house, I clap a hand on Liam’s shoulder and give it a squeeze, offering what I hope is a reassuring smile.

“I appreciate it, but there’s nothing to worry about.” I let my hand fall to my side and take a step toward the door again. “I’ve gotta go. My buddy will be waiting for me.”

Liam tips his chin in a nod, but he doesn’t return to the living room. He follows me outside and stands on the porch, watching as I put my guitar in the back of my car and reverse down the driveway. His concerned frown is still visible in my rearview mirror as I head down the road.

Fuck, this is a mess.

The dark, moody cloud follows me as I head over to Colby’s and park my car further down the block. I’m sure no one will see my car parked outside and instantly know I’m visiting Colby, but Liam’s words linger in my mind like a shadow.

I’ve tried so fucking hard to keep my cards close to my chest when it comes to my feelings for Colby.

Sure, we’ve sat next to each other on the bus and shared a hotel room on the road, but when we’re around the facility, we’re separate. I force myself not to look at him in the locker room, afraid someone will catch a glint in my eye at how fucking gorgeous he is.

I’ve tried to do everything I can to protect him, to protect us, and I’m worried I’m fucking it all up.

I fire off a text to Colby as I take the steps up to his building to let him know I’m outside, then press the call button. The buzzer comes seconds later, and the loud click of the door unlocking eases some of the tension in my neck.

Pushing open the door, I make my way up to the second floor. I raise my hand to knock on his door, but the sound of another door opening behind me has my hand freezing in the air. I turn around and see the pink-haired pixie from the party.

She stomps over and stands in front of me. She’s at least a foot shorter than me, and the way she’s glaring up at me could break a man in half.

“Hey, you must be Stassie,” I say, plastering on my most charming smile, and hold out my hand.

She looks at it with a sneer before her narrowed eyes drift back up to me.

“Tyler Beckmann,” she starts, crossing her tattooed arms over her chest. “I need to have a word with you.”

My nerves spike, and I give a small shrug. “Sure.”

Her eyes dart around, maybe to check if we’re alone, and then she focuses on me again, her voice quiet so it doesn’t carry up the stairwell.

“First of all, I want to thank you for the fridge magnet from Tampa. Colby told me how he forgot, but you remembered, so thank you.”

I huff out a soft laugh, remembering how stressed Colby was on the morning we were flying back to Boston because he forgot to buy Stassie a fridge magnet. I ran down to the gift shop in the hotel while he was in the shower and bought the most touristy-looking one I could get.

“You’re welcome.”