Page 61 of The Tattered Gloves
“Unless what?” I said, giving her a sideways glance.
The bookstore was within reach now. Just another block, and I’d be at the door.
“You like him!” she exclaimed, nearly loud enough for the whole block to hear.
“What? You’re crazy!”
A sly grin crept across her face. “Maybe, but you didn’t dispute it.”
“I do not like Sam Shepherd,” I lied. “Besides, it would be totally wrong, considering your history with him.”
She rolled her eyes, digging her hands into her warm coat. “Please, don’t use me as an excuse to get out of this. You know as well as I do that whatever delusion I was under at the beginning of the school year was a one-time thing. Believe me, it will never happen again.”
I suspiciously eyed her. “How do you know?” I asked.
“Because it shouldn’t have happened in the first place. I mistook Sam’s affection for me as something more. But it is what it always has been — brotherly. When I actually thought about it? Like kissing him? Gross.” She shook her head, her face scrunching up. “But you though?” she said, giving me a quirky grin. “I bet you don’t feel that way at all, do you?”
“About what?” I asked.
“Kissing Sam,” she clarified.
My eyes ventured toward the bookstore before turning my attention toward her again. “I’ve honestly never thought about it.”
She gave me a hard stare.
“Okay, maybe once or twice. But look at me, Allison,” I said, holding up my stupid gloves, the ones that still had little chunks of hot glue I couldn’t get off the fingertips.
“Do you think Sam cares about that kind of stuff?” she asked.
“He probably would if he tried to kiss me, and I ran away — or worse… my glove got stuck in his hair,” I said.
She took a step forward, mindful of the distance between us. “Just allow yourself the opportunity, Willow,” she said. “Maybe it will be nothing more than a crush or a world-class friendship. But maybe… just maybe, it will become one of those epic adventures you read about when no one else is looking.”
I bit my lip, embarrassed to find she knew me better than I’d realized.
“You’ll never know unless you try.”
I looked toward the door one more time.
“I’ll come visit Sam another day,” she said. “You should go to work alone today.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, finding her gaze once more.
She nodded, smiling. “Yep, I think I’ve got some homework to catch up on. Besides, you’re going to be late, and I don’t want to see my good friend Sam turn into a beast,” she joked.
“Noted.”
“Good luck, and remember… try!”
“Do you always meddle this much in your friendships?” I asked as I walked away.
“Only the ones that are this much work!” She laughed.
She couldn’t see, but I was smiling in return.
And glad she never stopped making the effort.
“YOU’RE LATE, MITTENS.”
