Page 173 of Before We're More Than Friends
“Aw, that’s heartbreaking.” Raina frowned as she looked at Moonlight. “If I brought you home, I’d keep you forever.”
Moonlight meowed and sat in her lap, purring up a storm.
I smiled, my heart on the verge of bursting. They belonged together.
And that was when the idea hit me, almost hard enough to knock me over.
Raina looked at me with wide eyes. “What happened? Did she scratch you?”
“What?” Had I gasped or something? “Oh, no, I just . . .” I looked at Moonlight, who wouldn’t stop reaching her paw at Raina. “I just hope these cats find a good home soon.”
Raina nodded. “Me too.” Moonlight let out another deep meow. She rubbed under Moonlight’s neck. “Yes, Moonlight. You’ll find a good home soon.”
During the entire time we played with the cats, I couldn’t keep my mind off my idea. The anxious excitement built in my chest whenever Raina interacted with Moonlight. The cat was freaking obsessed with her, like how Sunshine was obsessed with me.
As soon as we finished, I practically bolted to Mrs. Landers at the front desk, hoping my plan wouldn’t be a bust.
“Hey, Mrs. Landers,” I asked once she finished her conversation with one of the receptionists. “I have to talk to you about something important.”
Her golden-brown eyes met mine. “Yes? What can I help you with?”
I couldn’t help the smile that stretched across my cheeks. “Would it be possible to get my parents to adopt a cat for another family? I know who the owners will be.”
CHAPTER 42
Raina
Saturday marked exactly a week until Battle of the Bands. We had so much to catch up on, but if we spent the next week composing and rehearsing every free moment we had, we’d be ready. Hopefully.
I couldn’t contain my excitement as Arielle and I skipped our way into Oliver’s garage. We were practicing from one to six today, which meant we had so much time to go over “Disaster.”
Gosh, I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact Dallas and I had written a song. A full song, one that over a hundred people would hear in just a week’s time.
We spent the entire practice playing around with melodies before settling on something we liked. Caleb wrote the music down, and we recorded ourselves playing several times until we felt comfortable with the song. Nerves fluttered inside me when I thought about how late we’d waited to stick to a song.
Wehadto make it work.
At the end of this practice, we ran through the final version of the song, happy with it. I said goodbye to everyone and kissed Dallas before leaving the practice, but I needed to talk to Sienna. I used lunch period yesterday to catch up on homeworkin the library, so I hadn’t gotten the chance to talk to her and Gracelynn alone.
When Sienna left the garage, I pulled her aside. “Hey, is Gracelynn still mad at me?” I asked. Gosh, this reminded me of how our moms would ask about each other instead of speaking directly. But Gracelynn hadn’t answered any of my texts or calls, other than hoping my mom would recover well.
“I don’t think she’s too mad at you,” Sienna said as she strapped her purse over her shoulder. “She’s been in a bad mood because her mom doesn’t want her to go to New York. Her dad thinks it’s a good idea, but her mom wants her to stay in April Springs until college.”
Guilt weighed in my chest. Despite being friends since sixth grade and knowing her my entire life, I’d barely been to Gracelynn’s house. Had her desire to go to New York increased the tension? Were her parents fighting about their different stances?
“You need to talk to each other,” Sienna said. “In person.”
I bit my lip. “Do you think she could come over tomorrow evening? I can text her, but I don’t know if she’ll answer.”
“I’ll talk to her about it,” Sienna said with a small smile. “Also, are the two of us good? I know you were upset I didn’t tell you what was going on with the band. I wanted to tell you, but the boys begged me not to. I shouldn’t have listened to them.”
“Of course they’d do that.” I traced my finger along the bracelets I’d made for her on her wrist. “But don’t worry. We’re good.”
“Thank you.” She pulled me into a hug. “Good luck with Gracelynn.”
“Thanks,” I said, hopeful that I could fix things. As happy as I was with my boyfriend—gosh, that was still so freaking wild—and the rest of my friends, it wouldn’t be complete without Gracelynn.
Every person I loved was just as important.
