Page 59 of Tagging Bases

“Do you think that you are? Into another guy?” he asks.

I shrug miserably. Roy’s brow furrows even deeper as he studies me through the phone.

“Have you ever looked at Daniel as more than a friend? Like, have you checked him out before? Or thought about him romantically?” He closes his eyes and lightly shudders. “Or… sexually?”

My face burns hot, and I avert my gaze, suddenly finding the pattern on my bedspread utterly fascinating. Jeez, trust Roy to cut right to the heart of it with his blunt questions.

Do I lie? Pretend I’ve never entertained a single impure thought about my best friend?

No. I can’t do that. Not to Roy. He’s always been straight with me—as much as he’s willing to be. I owe him that same honesty.

I owe it to myself, too, for that matter.

Taking a deep breath, I meet his eyes again. “Maybe? On New Year’s Eve, we were wearing these ridiculous pink mankinis, got arrested, and…I may have checked his ass out a time or two.”

“I’m sorry. Did you say…mankinis?” Roy’s eyebrows, always sobushy and noticeable, have now disappeared into his hairline. “And…arrested?”

My eyes pop out, realizing I neglected to fill him in on that little adventure. “Long story involving too much beer, Olivia, and a dare. The point is, yeah, I guess I have thought about Daniel in ways I probably shouldn’t have.”

Roy nods slowly, water dripping from his hair still, as he processes this information. “Okay, first off, we’re definitely circling back to the mankini thing later. But for now, here’s what you need to do. Spend some time with Daniel, just the two of you.Clothed,might I add? Pay attention to how you feel when you’re around him. Do you get butterflies? Does your heart race? Do you find your fingers itching to want to touch him?”

I squirm uncomfortably at the thought of analyzing my emotions and physical reactions to Daniel’s presence. It all seems so…revealing. Like admitting to myself that there may be something there that wasn’t there before. Something more than friendship.

“Okay,” I say, my voice suddenly small. “I’ll do it. I’ll hang out with him and…and pay attention.”

Roy nods approvingly. “Good. That’s the only way you’re going to get any clarity on the situation.”

Hanging up with Roy, I lay my head on my pillow and stare up at the ceiling. Spending time with Daniel is usually the highlight of my day. But now? It feels like every interaction will be the perfect opportunity for me to make a complete fool of myself.

“This was an amazing idea, bro!”Daniel beams at me from behind a gigantic stick of cotton candy that he devours in seconds.

We’re at Coney Island, a suggestion I made this morning when I finally left my room and sat down next to him on the couch where he’d been channelsurfing.

The place is bustling. It’s a beautiful day, and I have a war going on inside my head. Daniel has no idea that there’s an ulterior motive for why we’re here, and for that, I feel shitty.

Daniel chatters incessantly, which does nothing to quell my anxiety. He points out every single ride he wants us to go on as if he’s a kid at Disney World. His eyes are wide with wonder, and his grin stretches from ear to ear.

“I haven’t been to an amusement park in years! This is gonna be epic!” He bounces on the balls of his feet, making his thick ass shake. Something that I definitely do not notice.

But even as my stomach twists itself into knots, I find myself smiling at his enthusiasm.

“C’mon, let’s hit the Cyclone first!” Daniel grabs my hand and starts tugging me toward the iconic wooden roller coaster. His palm is warm and slightly sticky from the cotton candy. His fingers curl around mine, and my heart stutters at the contact.

Is this what Roy was talking about? A racing pulse? Fluttering in my belly?

It’s hard to tell if it’s simply the normal excitement of being at an amusement park with my best friend or more.

Lost in thought, I don’t notice that Daniel has stopped walking until I nearly collide with a pole. He turns to face me with a mischievous expression.

“Race ya to the entrance!” And then he’s off like he’s rounding the bases, long legs pumping as he weaves through the crowd.

“Cheater!” I yell as I take off in hot pursuit. People dodge out of the way, some shaking their heads in amusement at two grown men acting childish.

I’m closing in on him, the distance between us shrinking with each stride. There’s a smile on my face as I let myself go. Then, as I’m about to overtake him, Daniel veers sharply to the left. I try to adjust my trajectory but end up stumbling, nearly falling face-first onto the gum-stainedpavement.

I right myself and find Daniel looking smug as can be at the back of the line. “I win, McManus. What’s my prize?”

Still catching my breath, I flip him the bird. “Your prize is getting to ride next to me while I scream bloody murder the entire time.”

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