Page 14 of Tangled Up In You

Sudden tears shone in her eyes under the streetlight, and he held her hand tighter in response.

“Shite friends, if you ask me,” he said, and she laughed weakly.

“It wasn’t just being excluded. They were mean. They spread rumors. They stole my assignments and jammed my locker. They put things on my chair so that I’d stain my clothes. It was just … nonstop. And if I dared to call them out, they’d organize these awful episodes at lunch where they’d have everyone turn away from me at the same time so I was literally an outcast. Nothing I did could change it. And I’ve never understood why they did that to me.”

“Jesus. Now I see why you came here.”

She stopped walking and looked up at him. “Please don’t tell anyone else. Not even my parents know that I came here as an escape. I’m sure it makes me look weak, me running away?—”

“Weak? Not at all. Sophie, you moved to another country all on your own. That’s an incredibly brave thing to do. And I’m just so lucky that you did.”

New tears filled her eyes and she tried to blink them back but one escaped and he captured it with the tip of his finger.

“That’s so sweet of you to say,” she said softly.

He took her hand in his again and they continued walking, stopping again once at her house.

“Thank you for telling me about back home,” he said.

“Thank you for listening.”

He took a chance and pulled her to him, fitting his body to hers in a way that was even closer than how he’d seen her with Conor. There was no resistance from her. Instead, she rested her cheek on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist, exhaling until he felt all that earlier tension leave her body. He stroked her hair and held her, enjoying how perfectly they molded to each other.

He wanted so badly to tip up her chin and take her mouth with his. But it didn’t feel like the right moment. Not with her raw and emotional from sharing her story with him. Instead, he pressed his lips to her cheek, lingering for a long moment.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, darlin.’”

She pulled away from him. “Let me give you your shirt?—”

“Keep it. You look good in it.”

Smiling, she took a few steps backward before turning and heading to the door of the house. Once she got it open, she looked back and he waved. He stayed until she was safely inside, even as he wished he could follow her in.

7

SOPHIE

“Iheard Gav broke up with Mary, rather spectacularly, it seems,” Felicity said.

“What?” Sophie asked, her eyes growing wide.

They were in Conor’s back garden, waiting as he and the guys got their instruments sorted.

Felicity smirked. “Guess he thought he’d made it clear to her on Friday afternoon but then she showed up last night acting like she still had a chance. So, he cut to the chase and told her right in front of Conor that they were over.”

“Oh, I see.”

She had tried so hard not to read too much into the connection she’d felt with Gavin when he walked her home last night. She’d even told herself the long hug he gave her was just out of pity for what she’d confessed about the bullies back home. But now she revisited that walk in a new light, including what he’d told her when he followed her out of the club.

I’d rather be with you.

Smiling, she let herself enjoy the sight of Gavin as he went about strumming and tuning an acoustic guitar. There was an ease he had in his own skin that was so attractive.

With a tug on Felicity’s sleeve, she whispered, “Gavin looks so good today!”

Felicity responded by rolling her eyes. “Please. He looks like he hasn’t bathed in a week. Conor, on the other hand—he looks delicious.”

Taken aback, Sophie looked at her friend. Felicity had never said she was interested in Conor before, but now that Sophie thought about it, there did seem to be some kind of closeness between them that went beyond friendship. She knew that Conor had a habit of showing up to group outings with Felicity in tow. Sophie had seen them tease each other or join forces in arguments against others. They even had nicknames for each other that no one else used. It all added up to a natural fit for a romantic relationship, and Sophie was surprised she hadn’t put it together sooner.

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