Page 107 of Wallflower

"I really admire that. How you said exactly what you felt. I was just wondering"—he cleared his throat—"how you got up the nerve to do that?"

I laughed a little self-consciously. "I don't think it was bravery as much as it was being afraid I'd miss my shot."

Tyson sat forward. "What do you mean?"

"Well," I said, "you were supposed to be moving all the way to South Korea. I didn't know if I'd ever see you again, and I thought it was love."

"And now, you know it wasn't?" he finished.

"Sorry," I said with a shrug, but his smile widened.

"That's okay," he said. "It was still nice to hear it, that someone loved me at all."

"Really?"

He nodded.

"I'm assuming there's someone you love, but you haven't told them yet," I guessed.

"Yeah…but it's complicated," Ty said back.

I shrugged. "Isn't it always?"

"Our relationship has never been about that. It can't be. I know it would never work—but I still really want to say it. I just don't want to mess anything up, you know?"

"I do," I said. And truly I did. "I understand that better than probably anyone."

"Well, this sounds interesting."

My eyes narrowed on his grinning face. "Don't even go there, Ty."

"What? I just said it was interesting." There was a sparkle in his eyes. "So, this thing you've got going with Dare, how's that working out?"

In answer, I shrugged.

"I have to say I totally bought it," he said.

My eyes snapped to his.

"You two, together. I meant it when I said you were couple goals. I don't think I've heard Dare talk so much about a girl or keep one around for this long."

"Well," I said, "it was all part of the act. He's really good at convincing people."

"Is he, though?"

Tyson and I stared each other down.

"One thing you should know about my best friend," he said. "He doesn't always trust his feelings, has trouble admitting them—even to himself."

He was giving me false hope again, and I really didn't need more of that.

"Tyson, thank you for asking me here," I said. "I had a good time."

"But?" Ty said.

"Honestly, I need some space to think, and you're in love with someone else."

He lifted his chin at me. "Would it make a difference if I wasn't?"

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