Page 69 of How You See Me
I rub the new throbbing ache at my temples.
Me:There’s nothing to talk about. She’s the sister of a friend and riding along until we reach Vegas.
Kayla:But you don’t like spending that much time with people.
Veronica:True. And we don’t count . . . before you think it.
I was totally thinking it. I enjoy spending time with my family. Or at least, I did before thistext thread.
Me:She’s waiting on me. Get to the point.
Raidyn:If you like her, go for it.
If I’d only ignored the first message . . .
Veronica:Totally. If she rejects you, she’s either stupid or blind.
Me:She’s neither of those things.
Veronica:Good. Then, there’s no risk.
There’s plenty of risk. I feel the way her body responds to me and see her eyes lingering longer than they used to. I’d be stupid and blind not to take that for what it is at face value.Encouragement.
She may be secretly reciprocating my feelings or have some curiosities where I’m concerned, but that carries zero weight in our situation.
Raidyn:He’s worried about her brother.
Veronica:Ooooo. Is he scary?
Raidyn:No. He and Hayes are good friends and served together.
Kayla:Shouldn’t that make it easier? They know each other so well.
Veronica:It’s the same as you pining for Steph’s brother. She already said how weird that would be if youtwo dated.
Kayla:But he’s so H O T.
Raidyn:Stephanie’s older brother or younger?
I watch the girls discuss my life like I’m not here and go off on their tangent, wishing I didn’t have to.
Which, I realize, I don’t.
Me:Gotta go.
Kayla:Making you uncomfortable, big brother?
Raidyn:We’ve only scratched the surface.
Me:I know. That’s why I’mshutting off my phone.
Veronica:We know better. You can’t disconnect from us. You secretly love the attention and advice.
Me:Not this time.
I readtest the watersat the start of the next message and shove the phone in my back pocket before reading the rest.
There will be no more testing tonight, especially if it might confirm my suspicion. My system won’t survive it.
