only for the summer by Sharon O'Connor

Chapter 2 Sienna

"Kennedy's smile falters as she tells me that she and Haley broke up, but I'll be the first to say that woman didn't deserve her. Well, maybe I'm biased. It's hard to think anyone deserves your best friend's attention when you're harboring secret feelings for them.
      It's not like I want to be in love with her and trust me, I've tried to push the feelings away. But each time I do, they come back tenfold. Which is why the next words come out of my mouth."

"What if I went, but you introduced me as your girlfriend?"
      "Why would we do that?" Her thick brows scrunch together.
      "You just said it's a lot of stress for a weekend. So, I can pretend to be your girlfriend and ease some of it." I smile.
      "You'd pretend to be Haley?" she asks, not knowing how I feel about her."

"Well, I can be myself, right? Does your family know any details about her?" I ask with only a hint of jealousy. They'd only been dating for a few months after all.
      "That's true. They've never met either of you. Only Danny has, but I'm sure he'd understand." Kennedy pauses to think about it."

"It's just for a few days. It's not like it would take much from us." I shrug, trying to act like this isn't exciting as hell. I've read too many rom coms to not hope this will turn out for the best.
      "I'd really owe you for this." She smiles.
      "Is that a yes?" I can feel the anticipation rising in my stomach.
      "Yeah, what the hell? I could use my best friend to get me through the family drama." Kennedy relaxes into her couch.
      I don't say anything else, too nervous that the happiness I'm feeling will make my feelings obvious. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? I know I'm getting my hopes up, but maybe a few days of pretending is what Kennedy needs to see that I can be hers for real
__________________________________________________________

"I decide not to stay the night at Kennedy's, despite it being late. I need to get home and pack. We both have found a cheap and early flight that leaves tomorrow morning. Which is in six hours, definitely not enough time to get a good night's sleep first. It's also unlikely I'll be able to sleep, ever since I've become Kennedy's [fake] girlfriend. It's like I've been shot with a dose of adrenaline.
      Kennedy and I met by accident, another example of how real rom coms can be. I needed a haircut when Kennedy was fresh out of beauty school. She ended up making a fool of herself on her first day, but I ended up making a best friend. For months after, I only made appointments with her, because of my stupid crush. She's so incredibly beautiful; it's hard not to fall."

"Her tan, tattooed-covered skin complements her light-blond hair and blue eyes. She somehow looks like the girl next door if she spent too much time at the local tattoo parlor. My complete opposite of only having one small tattoo on my thigh. Of course, that's more because tattooed teachers aren't usually hired for kindergarten classes. It's a bias I hate but proven true time and time again. There's a stigma and as much as I'd like to say fuck it, I need my job.
      I share my apartment with two other roommates, who are still in college. We're all the quiet type, mainly keeping to ourselves, but I like it that way. There's less drama and conflict which I appreciate. So, it doesn't surprise me to find the apartment dark and quiet when I walk in."

"Sneaking to my room down the hall, I grab a small bag and fill it with clothes. Kennedy has said to pack for the beach, so I opt for my sexier bathing suit. If I'm going to show Kennedy I can be more than her friend, I need all the tools to help. I want her to see me as more than just her best friend, so maybe once and for all, I'll know if she could ever feel the same.
      Sighing, I put the bathing suit down and sit on the edge of my bed. Am I being crazy? We've been friends for years, and she's never made a move, but then again, neither have I for fear of ruining our friendship. The last thing I want to do is make things weird or lose her, but I can't keep going on without knowing."

"Ultimately, I throw it in, with some lingerie too. I figure it can't hurt and at least I'll be prepared for anything. I finish packing just as Kennedy texts, asking to ride to the airport together.
      She's outside my apartment an hour later, and we ride quietly in the cab together. I can sense her anxiety with her restless leg and playing with her ring. Without thinking, I grab her hand and slide my fingers into hers. Kennedy looks up at me surprised but then smiles and relaxes. I want to ask what she's thinking, but I'm sure she's too worried about going home to think about what holding my hand means. So, I breathe and try to relax, wondering if I'm only getting my hopes up."