I Never Thought

Chapter 13

Sierra sat across from me on the furry pink carpet that covered her floor. We were sharing a bowl of grapes that sat between us.

"So, this is what I want to get." She showed me a picture of black nails with dark green sequins. We were talking about what we were going to do in preparation for prom, which was less than a week away.

"I love that one," I took the phone from her hand so that I could look at it more closely.

I felt her eyes on me. "You know, we could all just go as a small group." Her voice sounded small and sad.

"That would be great." I placed my hand over hers. I knew how much it bothered her that she didn't have a date. "But I have to ask, why don't you go with one of the five guys who've asked you?"

"Because none of them are Liam." She told me and buried her face into her hands. "Well he did ask me but how dumb would I be if I said yes to him?"

My eyes widened. "He asked you?"

"Of course he did. But he knew I wouldn't say yes. He can't think I would be that stupid." She sighed into her palm.

"You did the right thing."

"Thanks."

"There's something I need to tell you." I groaned and she looked up at me with her eyebrows risen.

"Christian is plotting to ask you to prom." I had to tell her. I knew how shocking it would be if my brother just randomly asked her to go out with him. He never even voluntarily spoke to her before that day in the pool.

"Christian? As in your brother?"

"Yeah."

"Eww." She flung her head back in laughter.

"I know!"

"What if I go with him?" She asked me which wiped the smile off my face immediately.

"What?"

"If that's okay with you, I mean."

"Wait, I thought you were grossed out by him."

"I'm not." She laughed again. "I am grossed out by the things you say about him. But he's cute."

I straightened my back and tilted my head. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm sorry, but you know your brother is attractive. You're both such beautiful people. Your parents had the cutest mixed babies."

"Shut up." I shoved her knee playfully.

"Also, I've been meaning to mention this to you. I saw Chase staring at me when we were all swimming that day."

Usually, I'd be happy to hear that Chase had noticed her. But that time, I felt just the slightest pinch to my heart when she told me.

"What?"

"Yeah. I wasn't sure if anyone else noticed. But I am pretty sure he was staring at my ass."

The pinch grew and radiated down to my stomach. What the heck?

"Oh, no. I didn't notice." I looked away from her face but I tried to smile so that she wouldn't notice the discomfort I was feeling.

"That gives me so much hope! You have no idea how much I like this dude. It's to a point where my heart skips a beat every time I see him."

"Really?"

"Yes! I wish he was single. If he and that girl end up breaking up, I am shooting my shot."

It was that very moment that I realized that I wasn't going to be able to tell her what had happened between me and Chase. For the first time since we'd been friends, I was keeping something as big as that from her. I felt disappointed that I couldn't share that information, but I figured that it would be the best thing to keep it from her for the time being.