Page 40 of Becoming Cinderella

“I don’t know, maybe.” Except I’m enjoying our conversation, even if it’s more vulnerable than I’m used to.

“Do you think if Jared doesn’t ask you to the dance, you’ll ask him?” He ends up asking, changing the subject.

I don’t answer right away, trying to picture what I’ll do. Even though I want to go with Jared, I don’t think I’ll be able to ask him.

“What’s holding you back? Is it fear of rejection?”

I study the ends of my hair, pulling apart some split ends. “Isn’t that what keeps most people from sharing their thoughts and feelings?”

“Sounds like you’re setting yourself up for a life of regret.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Okay, Mr. Hollywood, you’re telling me you don’t have any regrets?”

“I’m not saying that at all. I’m just saying maybe he thinks you are the one who put him in the friend-zone so he moved on to your friend. Maybe it was you he liked and he thought it would never happen.”

I drop my head back to look up at the ceiling. “Yeah, right.”

He kicks my foot lightly so that I’ll look at him. “Stop selling yourself short. I’ve only known you for a short time and already know what leading lady material you are. Not that you need a man, but trust me, you’re going to make a lucky guy very happy someday.

“You’re right though. I don’t think I can handle the rejection. I know my worth isn’t tied to what this one guy thinks of me, but I still know it would have the power to destroy me. Besides, I’m worried it will ruin our friendship if he doesn’t feel the same way.”

"He's a prat." Liam mutters to himself.

"Huh? A Pratt? Is that some Hollywood thing? Like 'he's an Evan's' or 'oh, what a Pine.'"

Liam lets out a loud laugh. "No, not Pratt as in Chris, but prat as in, well, prat."

"Oh. Right. Sure. That makes perfect sense." I say sarcastically which makes Liam's smile grow.

"Don't be daft." I open my mouth to comment but he holds his finger up to stop me. "Alright, let's see. Prat means, like, idiot and daft means foolish."

"What a Hemsworth thing for you to say."

Liam shakes his head with a laugh. "That's not a thing." He watches me carefully for a moment, his gaze calculating. "Do you always make jokes to avoid getting vulnerable?"

"Hey, you're the one who brought Chris Pratt into this."

"You gotta break those walls down, Carter."

Is that what I’ve done? I never thought I had built walls around me, but I have. I’ve built them around me and I haven’t even realized it. I can’t believe he’s gotten me to share this much with him. And here I was thinking Liam was the only one with walls built high.

We hold each other’s stares and I’m positive the vulnerability I find in Liam’s blue eyes are mirrored in my own.

We don’t break eye contact and it suddenly seems harder to breathe.

In, out. In, out.

Am I breathing really loud? It seems really loud.

Awareness crackles between us. The hairs on my arm rise as Liam extends his hand towards my face and I find myself leaning towards his touch.

My phone on the other side of the door starts to ring, making me jump. Liam drops his hand, whatever moment we were about to share, forgotten.

I should be relieved that whatever was about to happen, didn’t. I don’t even know what was about to happen, but I’m disappointed it didn’t.

The phone continues to ring and with the moment already ruined I let out a groan, wishing I could answer the phone.

Then I get an idea.

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