Page 105 of My Merry Mistake
I shift my hand behind her neck as my gaze sweeps up from her mouth to her eyes, and I stare at her. Quiet as she searches my eyes. Does she feel this—whatever it is that’s happening?
Or am I stuck in a daydream?
I draw in a slow breath as she inches closer, our faces only a breath apart. My mind spins. I’m going to kiss Raya.
But then, almost like a flipped switch, she blinks and steps back, hands dropping to her sides. “Wait.”
I freeze, the air tight in my chest.
Crap.
Her breath hitches, and she avoids my eyes. “We should… I, um…I should go.” She brushes past me, moving toward the entryway.
You idiot! I mentally beat myself up.What was I thinking?
The goal was to become her friend.Her friend, you idiot!And the second I make an inch of progress, this is what I do? She’s seeing someone! Yes, it’s new, and no, they’re not exclusive, but still.
I sigh into my hand, then drag it through my hair, knowing I just screwed everything up.
I turn and find her standing near the door, looking lost. That freaked her out.Ifreaked her out.
“Raya, I?—”
“We should go,” she cuts in, tone nervous.
I scrub a hand down my face—I can’t believe what I’m about to say. “Maybe it’s better if I stay here. For now.”
Her face falters for a second, but then she nods. “Right. You should probably rest.”
“Yeah.” I point to my head. “Concussion.”
She nods. “No screens.”
I hold my hands up in front of me. “Promise. And hey, thanks for coming by.”
“Of course.” She nods and turns to leave. She opens the door, but before she walks out, she turns back and looks right into my eyes. “That’s what friends are for, right?”
Right. Friends.
Raya
I shut the door behind me, rush down the hall, and bang on the elevator button, like hitting it a hundred times will make it move faster. I’m holding my breath out of sheer panic.
What. Was. That?
Finn was going to kiss me—and in a horrifying twist I didnotsee coming—I wanted him to. This doesn’t make sense.
The elevator doors open, and I step inside, frantically pressing the button for the ground floor. Finally, the doors close, and I blow out a slow breath, grateful for the solitude. I lean against the wall and rub circles into my temples, mind spinning.
Okay. Let’s be logical. Finn is a good-looking guy, and he’s been nice to me. And I was worried about his injury. That’s all. There are no emotions here. Nofeelings.
A momentary lapse in judgment, sparked by the superficial attraction happening between us.
It means nothing.
“It means nothing.” But even as I speak the words aloud, another word creeps into the back of my mind.
Liar.
