Page 57 of Before We're More Than Friends
“It wasn’t too deep,” I hurried to say, sweat running down my back. “Just a conversation she brought up randomly because we were talking about our parents’ jobs and I asked what her parents did. Since we were talking about my family’s changes and all. Nothing super personal.”You’re making it obvious that you’re hiding something, you dip?—
“Dude, you okay?” Caleb asked. “You’re sweating like Oliver’s mom has the heat blasting in here.”
The air closed in my lungs. “I’m just saying that we—shedidn’t?—”
Sienna raised a dark eyebrow. “I feel like I missed something big.”
“We all did,” Oliver said, his own eyebrows drawing together.
“Dallas, what’s going on with Raina?” Kami asked.
“It wasn’t anything important!” I shouted, throwing my hands up like I was fighting with someone. “I didn’t—just forget it!” I bolted from my seat and out the door, not even bothering to slam it shut. I went into the food room to get the bag of puppy food before running into the puppy kennel.
Why, why, why is a stupid girl messing with my head? Just tell everyone the truth, transfer schools, and volunteer at a different shelter.
“Dallas?”
I jumped, dropping the bag onto the floor.
Hayden picked the bag up for me. “Sorry, I just wanted to check on you. You looked like you were about to have a panic attack.”
I was.“Everyone keeps thinking something big happened with me and Raina,” I said. “But it didn’t. And I don’t want anyone asking Raina questions when she’s already having a hard time. Or getting upset at her for what she shares with someone.”
“Nobody’s upset with her,” Hayden said. “But every time Raina’s around or mentioned, you start getting . . . panicked. We’re all picking up on it.”
“Well, we did humiliate ourselves at the Saturn Frenzy.”
“But no one even remembers that. And she’s been nice to you ever since.”
I drew in a deep breath. “I can’t explain it. But I promise nothing happened on Sunday.” I hated the way I kept talking myself into a hole, like Raina and I had hooked up in one of the closets or something. I nearly gagged at the image.
“All right, I believe you.” Hayden held his hands up.
“Thank you.” I held back a sigh of relief.
“But I am worried about you.” Hayden flipped his hair back again. How many times could he do that? My neck would kill me. “We don’t know each other that well yet, but I’ve enjoyed hanging out with you a lot. It’s not often that I meet someone who’s funny and just themselves.”
“I’m happy you see me this way.” I beamed as I opened the bag of puppy food. “Really. I didn’t expect to make great friends so soon.”
“Of course.” He put his hands in his pockets as I filled the first puppy bowl. “Do you want to do something this weekend if you’re free?”
“Sure.” I rubbed Vela the pug’s head. “My birthday is on Sunday, but I celebrate it the day before, so I’ll probably have a nice meal with my family and play with my dog like I do every year.”
Hayden’s mouth dropped. “Your birthday isthisweekend?” He said it as if I’d told him I was blasting off to the moon in a few minutes. “And you’re telling me this now?”
“I didn’t feel the need to tell anyone.” I closed Vela’s cage and opened the next. “Plus, my heart’s not really in it this year. My first birthday away from home and all.”
Hayden frowned. “I mean, if doing something will make you feel better . . .”
“You don’t have to do anything,” I said, pouring the next two puppies their food. They barked in happiness. “It’s kind of last minute.”
“It’s only Tuesday.” Hayden opened the next cage for me. “But seriously, if you ever change your mind, I wouldn’t mind doing something with you. I don’t want you moping around this weekend with your mind spiraling around your problems.”
I poured the food for the next litter of puppies. “This is starting to feel like a personal attack.”
“No pressure.” He held up his hands. “Just let me know if you have any ideas. Anything that makes you feel at home.” It still seemed like there was some pressure behind his words with the way his eyes widened.Please say yes, they begged.
“Well, I’ve been wanting to go outdoor ice skating in the evening like I did for my thirteenth birthday.” I opened the cage for the next two puppies and poured the food into the bowl. “If there’s any place we can do that, I’d be down.”
