Page 49 of The Games We Play

Smiles—like she’s actually happy to meet me.

“Oh Tess! Ryan has told me so much about you! I’m sorry about ruining your plans today. Ryan insisted I come, even though I told him you probably wouldn’t want me here.”

“What? That’s crazy,” I say, but my voice is tight. Ryan gives my hand a reassuring squeeze and I try again. “I’m delighted to meet you, Katie.”

“See babe. I told you.” He lets go of my hand and takes Katie’s, and we walk side by side to get our tickets. I glance at him in my periphery, noticing how he doesn’t stop smiling, and I catch him staring at Katie with adoring eyes more often than not.

She steals glances at him, too. It’s cute and sweet. As we skate around, them still hand in hand and me slightly behind, my mind continually wanders to X. I could never picture him on the ice, skating around with me, holding my hand or even giving me love-struck glances.

I balk at the sudden pain in my chest.

Holy shit. Do I want that? Do I want the dates and the handholding? I mean, I enjoyed it at the frat party, but I know that isn’t a future I get with someone like X. There isn’t commitment or declarations of love.

My stomach flips at that word.

Love.

Is that what I’m feeling? Is it something more than an infatuation? When the hell did that happen?

The moment you let him cut your chest, probably, I internally scoff.

“Shut up,” I hiss.

“Did you say something, Tess?” Ryan asks as he slides to a stop. Katie peers at me through her glasses and I shake my head.

“Just talking to myself,” I say, and Ryan arches a brow. “I’m going to take a break and warm up!” I skate to the opposite side of the rink and order a cup of hot chocolate. Sitting, I watch people for the rest of the evening. Katie and Ryan are so cute. It’s nauseating, but I’m glad he finally found someone.

I’m a terrible friend for not noticing it earlier. Aside from at school, we weren’t hanging out like we used to, but I had my head shoved so far in delulu land with X that I didn’t notice. Somebest friend I am.

I stand to the side by his car as they say goodbyes. They hug and kiss. He whispers something sweet that has Katie giggling.

“It was really nice to finally meet you, Tess,” she says.

“You too,” I reply with a smile.

I slide into the passenger seat while they finish their goodbyes and rub my hands together to thaw out my fingers.

When Ryan finally climbs in, his eyes are full of light and he’s grinning so widely, his cheeks probably hurt.

“So, tell me,” he says as he starts the car. “What did you think?”

“She seems really nice and you clearly really like her.”

“I really do.”

I don’t have to fake the smile that lifts the corners of my lips. “Where did you meet her?”

“At Haunted Nights,” he admits. “She helped me look for you.”

I sit back, stunned. That is certainly not what I was expecting. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He adjusts his grip on the steering wheel and shrugs. “I never want our friendship to change and…I was worried that it would come between us.”

“But it should,” I tell him and his mouth falls open. “Our friendship will change, Ryan. She should come between us, because she should be the person you pick over anyone else. It doesn’t mean we’re any less than best friends, but things should change and it’s okay.”

My heart aches at the realization that Ryan won’t be there for me because he has Katie now.

He has someone and all I have is a fantasy that what I have with X is more than it is.

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