Page 35 of Never and Always
“No, I’m definitely not saying that. That sounds ridiculous.” Mia held her gaze for a few seconds. “Claire, I think I’ve reached the point where I shouldstop.”
Maybe that was theanswer.
Claire lowered her brows and pressed her lips together. “Stop?”
“We’ve been talking about Nick since I was six, maybe before that. But since I can’t remember I’m going with six. I’m thirty years old. Don’t you think if he was that interested he would have shown italready.”
“He does,though?”
Mia inclined her head to the side and gave her a questioning look. “Claire, we both know if you were me, you would have moved on longago.”
“We’re not talking about me, miss lady, and to be honest if this was me I would have made some kind of move already.Long, longago.”
“You want me to make a move on my brother’s bestfriend?”
“Why do you make it sound so weird? Okay, let’s do this. Mia, do you like theguy?”
Oh God. What kind of question was that? It was clear that she always had and neverstopped.
“Claire, unfortunately, if I didn’t, we wouldn’t be having the conversation.” Miashrugged.
“It’s a valid question, Mia. Since you’ve been home we just slipped back into our silly girly habits and that was one of them. Our routine is this: eat tons of chocolate, talk about hair and makeup, what’s on sale at Nordstrom, and then we talk about Nick. Even when you didn’t see him for years he still got a mention. So I’m not asking you if you like him in that casual way you’re used to. I’m asking you to search your feelings and decide if you like him enough to do something aboutit.”
Oh.
Mia completely understood, and the way Claire explained it was almost a little scary. There was a difference, and that made her search her feelings,indeed.
“Yes.” She said it effortlessly as she gazed ahead to the row of pewter-colored candle sticks by her window. “I do, but it’s weird between us. It’s weird because I feel like there’s that line I shouldn’t cross. Or sometimes the line feels like a wall. I thought we made a connection weeks ago, but then the wall cameup.”
Claire offered a sympathetic look. “Aww sweetie. How about you just talk to him. Ask if he wants to hang out. You guys do that so it wouldn’t be weird. Whatever you do, try to find some way of talking to him. I agree that this has been going on forever. What I won’t agree with is worrying and wondering. There’s no point tothat.”
Mia had to agree. “Okay, I guess I can dothat.”
“I think you need to. Because, my dear friend, it sounds like you’re feeling a tad more than attraction for our gorgeousNick.”
Mia tried to laugh that off and make it sound like what Claire was saying was absurd, but then she realized she was the one that was being absurd by attempting to deny it or make it seemridiculous.
Claire saw the realization in her and laughed at her. “It’s cool, Mia, remember this is me.” Claire pointed to herself and smiled brightly. “I’ve known you forever and you’ve never talked about anyone the way you have with Nick. But hey, how about you take small steps and we can cross bridges anothertime.”
“I like that idea.” Mia nodded getting off thebed.
They walked down the stairs. As soon as they got to the bottom she saw Nick in the corridor near the kitchen. He had on his white biker jacket so she couldn’t tell if he was coming in or going out. He didn’t see them as he was looking at something on hisphone.
“Now’s your chance,” Claire whispered. “And he looks really good in thatjacket.”
He did look good. And Mia liked the way his dark jeans displayed the strength and definition in his longlegs.
“Bye,” Claire whispered, giving Mia’s shoulders an encouragingsqueeze.
She left, going through the door as quietly as shecould.
Mia turned to watch her go, and when she looked back to Nick she saw that he was already looking ather.
“Hi.” She smiled at him, feeling knots form in herstomach.
“Hi, babe,” hereplied.
She moved closer to him, feeling the anticipation build within her. “I was beginning to think you were this mythical creature I wouldn’t see again.” She smiled, going for light-heartedconversation.
