Page 81 of Before We're More Than Friends
“It is.” I was waiting for the last time she’d ask me. She always checked things in fours. Never more, never less.
She looked one last time, but she didn’t ask. “Okay, I believe you.” Moonlight let out a deep meow and rubbed against her, and she stroked her fur. “I just want to make sure you’re okay and won’t get an infection or anything. My mind worries too much.”
“I understand,” I said as Sunshine sat in my lap. I was about to put my hand on hers before realizing that it wasn’t appropriate. “I’m always a mess, too. Not that you’re always a mess?—”
“Trust me, I am.” Raina laughed, holding Moonlight in her arms. “But it’s okay. We both have good reasons to be a mess.”
“Yeah, it’s been rough.” I held Sunshine in my arms as well, my heart melting as she looked me in the eyes and let out a high-pitched meow. “I think Moonlight and Sunshine like us the most.”
“They do.” Raina kissed Moonlight before putting her down. Moonlight meowed, rubbing herself against Raina again. “I’d adopt them if I had the chance.”
“My dad would flip if we got another pet.” I chuckled. “He already hates how high-maintenance it is to take care of my dog.”
“It’s always worth it to me.” She looked up at me, rubbing underneath Moonlight’s neck. “So I heard you turned down being the lead singer in Hayden’s band. I didn’t know you were into music.”
“I’m more of a listener than a performer.” Fireball reached his paw at me, and I shooed him away. “Plus, Hayden had only heard me sing once before asking me. It’s not like he’s that one talent show judge who hears the contestant sing one line before saying, ‘You’re going to be a big star.’”
“And that person ends up becoming a music teacher,” Raina said with a giggle. “Yeah, he asked me, too, because Arielle told him to. I never even sang seriously before, though I admit I don’t sound too bad.” Fireball reached at her with his paw, but she ignored him. “Arielle and I used to perform for our parents for fun sometimes, but we haven’t done it in years. Hayden’s just too desperate.”
“Do you miss singing to your parents?” I bit my lip. “Sorry, that’s too personal?—”
“It’s fine.” She scooted closer to me. “We’re friends.”
Friends. Every time she said that word, the hairs on my neck prickled.Friends don’t lie to each other. And neither do more than friends.
Which you can never be.
“What’s wrong?” Raina glanced at her wrist, and it took mea moment to realize I’d been staring at the friendship bracelet. “Why do you always look at my wrist like that?”
Shoot. “S-sorry, your bracelets are just pretty,” I said, my heart pounding all over my body.
“Thank you. I have my own jewelry business. I made these.” She traced her hand along her left wrist. “Well, my dad bought me some of them. My pen pal also made me one, but I might stop wearing it because he moved to Boulder Valley and completely ghosted me.”
The blood drained from my cheeks as she pointed to the purple-and-green bracelet. The big black star mocked me.You’re waist-deep in the mess you started, my friend.
“Oh,” I barely managed to say. “That’s cool.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Something’s wrong.”
“Sorry, I just remembered I forgot to do an assignment.” I nearly wiped my forehead from how naturally that lie came from my lips.
“You know . . .” Raina glanced at the bracelet again. Fireball swatted at it. “Boulder Valley is only a town away. And you have some things in common with him.”
My heart almost fell out of my chest.
I was going to throw up. I was going to puke all over the cats and her freaking lap and?—
“But I think it’s just a coincidence.” Raina waved a hand. “I don’t understand what I did wrong, though. He abandoned me when I needed him the most.”
“I’m sorry.”That I did that to you.
She shook her head. “Sorry, I got off topic.”
“It’s fine.” Sunshine sat back in my lap, and I rubbed her yellow fur. “But best friends shouldn’t ghost each other like that.”Except for when they have complicated feelings for you and don’t know how to be friends with you anymore.
“The last time I talked to him, he got reallysick, so maybe he’s in the hospital or something.” Her eyes went wide. “Oh my gosh, what if he is?—”
“Don’t spiral,” I told her, touching her bracelets. “H-He wouldn’t want you to worry.”
