Page 107 of Easy Steal

I looked up at Toni and Larissa standing in the doorway watching me.

Toni smiled, and lead Larissa out of the room, even though I heard her protesting.

“I am now.”

“Are you really with Larissa now?”

“Yeah, I guess,” I sighed.

“You guess?” she laughed.

“I don’t know, Val. I thought she was what I wanted, but…”

“But what?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

I wished that she was here so badly.

“How did you know? How did you know that Ren was the one for you?”

“I’ve loved him since I was a kid. Everything is just right with him, you know? Why do you ask?”

I nodded, though she wouldn’t hear it. I heard her let out a deep breath, and then a noise letting me know she had caught on.

“Sammy, just because you had a crush on Larissa when you were a kid, doesn’t mean that you need to stay stuck with her. I know that it’s what youthoughtyou wanted, but everyone else can see that she’s not right for you. Literally everyone. I don’t want to tell you what to do, because I know you’ll just do the opposite. But just because Ren and Ihappenedto end up together, doesn’t mean you need to be a stubborn ass and stick with a decision you made at fifteen. You’re allowed to change your mind.”

“I know.”

“Well, how do you feel when you’re with her?”

“Val,” I groaned.

“Tell me.”

“I don’t know. Nothing.”

“Well isn’t that your answer?”

“Yeah, but-”

“No, Sam. You should feel like you’re hanging out with your best friend, like you can tell her things you’ve never told anyone else. Like you can be your grumpy old self around her and she doesn’t even mind.”

I nodded again.

“Do you feel like that?”

I sighed.

“Yes,” I stood, “but not with her.”

“Well with who?”

“Val,” I shook my head, “I gotta go.”

“Hey-” she started, but I hung up the phone.

I pulled on a fresh shirt and headed down the hallway.

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