Page 106 of All at Once

“Did he say anything else?” she asks.

“He said that he knew this entire time but thought I liked Enrique so he didn’t think it was relevant to bring up which I’m still kind of annoyed by.”

“Isn’t that what you’ve been saying all this time, though? How much you like Enrique and want him to like you back?” she argues. “I mean, if you didn’t like Luca the way you kept trying to tell me before, what’s there to be annoyed at? I know a few days ago you said you’re starting to like him, but I completely see why Luca would keep it from you.”

I roll my eyes because I know she’s right. “Okay. I get your point.”

“I knew you liked him the minute you told me that you don’t think that he likes you.”

My brows furrow at her implication. “You mean thefirst dayI met him?”

“That’sexactlywhat I mean, yes,” she confirms. “And I mean, he could stillbe your first boyfriend.”

“I don’t know. We almost kissed, but it didn’t happen.”

“WHAT? Why didn’t you start with that?!” Georgia’s voice is so loud that I almost jump.

“Because it didn’t actually happen,” I say. “And because…”

“Because what?”

I push down the knot in my stomach. “What if he just wanted to kiss me because I wanted to kiss him?”

“What is it going to take for you to understand that he likes you?” she says, frustrated.

“For him to actuallytell methat he likes me,” I reason. “And with the way he left tonight I don’t think he does.”

“Well are you and Enrique still together?”

“I don’t knowwhatwe are,” I admit. “We’ve just kissed a few times.”

“Okay,” Georgia says as if she’s solved a mystery. “There’s your answer then. That’s probably why he didn’t kiss you. Just talk to him.”

“Why doesn’thetalk tome?” I argue.

“Because he doesn’t know how you really feel about his friend? Doyoueven know how you feel about Enrique now?” Georgia is bringing up all very valid points.

“I think he’s a really great guy, but we don’t really have a connection,” I confess.

“And Luca? Do you like him for sure now?”

I sigh. “What’s the point in even admitting that if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

She rephrases, “Which guy do you want to kiss right now?”

“That doesn’t count. Luca and I just had that moment,” I defend, not really knowingwhatI’m defending.

“It absolutely counts,” she argues. “Your answer would be the same even if you didn’t have a ‘moment.’”

What can I say? Georgia knows me.

I conclude, “Maybe Luca just likes me as a friend and leaned in to kiss me just because he thought I wanted it.”

“Jasmine, why would you think that? It sounds like he’s more thoughtful than to do something like that,” she points out.

“I don’t know. Maybe because blondes don’t like me.” I shrug with frustration at one of my insecurities that Georgia already knows about as I struggle to tell her therealreason why I’m having a hard time grasping that Lucacouldeven like me.

She sighs knowingly. “I understand you’re scared, but how you handle things from here on out could make all the difference in actually having a chance with him.”

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