Page 11 of Bad Crush
The oldest sister. The serious one of the three. A role I could perform without thinking.
“I really want a chance to prove I can do something different. This is the role I’m interested in.”
His brow furrows. “Okay.”
I back away, not sure if I helped or ruined my chances of being cast. “Thank you for your time.”
* * *
I meetDakota at the track after both of our classes are done for the day. She’s already running when I step through the gate. While I wait for her to come around, I stretch off to the side. She’s moving at a ridiculously fast clip for as many laps as she’s probably already done.
She was a runner. Is a runner, I guess, but she’s no longer on the track team. She quit after freshman year.
“Hi. How was the audition?” She stops and checks her watch. She times herself to make sure she hasn’t lost her edge. According to Dakota, just because she’s not competing doesn’t mean she shouldn’t be able to on a whim. She’s one of those people who could tell me she’s decided to try out for the Olympic team, and it wouldn’t seem all that crazy.
She lets me set the pace as I fall in beside her, a much slower jog than she’s capable of. I’m here solely because I know I need to do something to offset my other unhealthy habits. I dislike exercise only slightly less than giving up junk food.
“He didn’t write anything. I think I shocked him.”
“Shock can be good.” Her red ponytail sways with each bouncy step. Who has bounce in their step when jogging?
My feet shuffle along the ground. “I hope so.”
I push down that uneasy feeling reminding me that it’s entirely possible I’ll be working backstage on this one. “Why were you so late getting in last night?”
“You mean after you were outside getting cozy with Adam and then freaked out and ran home?”
“I already told you, we werepretending, and I was tired. Don’t turn this around on me.”
“Sadly, my whereabouts aren’t as exciting as you and Adam flirting. I went with Maverick and Jordan on a taco run that lasted forever. A lot of people want tacos at two in the morning. So… did you finally tell him?” Dakota asks with a smile that takes over her face. My friends are entirely too invested in my crush on Adam. For almost two years I was able to hide it from everyone, and those were much easier times when no one was dissecting every interaction I had with him.
“No, I was his fake date so the group of puck bunnies that came over with Jordan wouldn’t harass him.”
“O-kay,” she says the word slowly. “Since when does Adam shy away from female companionship?”
I feel myself getting defensive of him. “He wants to take some time between relationships before he jumps into something new.”
“How is fake dating you for a night different than letting some random girl hang on him?” She huffs a laugh. “Leave it to Adam to figure out a way to not date but still date. Was it awful fake dating a guy you have a massive crush on or amazing? I can’t decide if it’s tragic or exciting.”
“I went into the zone. I barely remember it.” Mostly accurate, but I’m never going to forget the feeling of being wrapped up in his strong arms. Tragic. Definitely tragic.
“I’d hoped you’d finally told him. Youhaveto tell him, Rea.”
“I will. I am. I’m just trying to figure out how.” I was so close to telling him last night, but I don’t want to ruin everything.
“Easy. Go over there tonight and tell him. Blame it on last night if you have to. We need you to tell him.”
“We?”
“Yes. Even Rhett is starting to pick up on it. Oblivious Rhett! Besides, the sooner you tell him, the sooner you’ll stop going out on dates with all of these losers.”
“They aren’t all bad. What about Hunter, the guy from my psychology class?”
“He brought you dandelions in a Dixie cup.”
“I thought that was sweet!”
“If you say so. I think subconsciously you’re saying yes to these guys you know you won’t like because you don’t want to like them. You only want Adam. You’re never going to move on until you tell him.”
