Under The Mistletoe

21| Complicated

Chapter 21: Complicated (Hope's POV)

We were all just standing in the living area, Blake and I beside each other and Jonah in front of us. "What's going on?" he asked in confusion. 

"We... kind of need to talk to you," I cleared my throat. 

"We? Like both of you?" I nodded silently. "What's up?" he questioned. 

"We kind of uh, lied to you," Blake said. 

"Lied to me?" He raised his eyebrows questioningly. 

"Yeah, we um... we do know each other. Like really well. From two years ago when she was still here," Blake said. 

"Oh," he laughed, "That's fine, why not just tell me though?" he asked. 

He thinks that's it. 

"Because-" 

Blake cut me off, "Because I liked her. Like... really liked her." 

"Oh," Jonah said, nodding slowly. "Wh- what happened?" 

"I left to New York. Actually, uh... my mom passed away two years ago." He nodded understandingly. "And I couldn't really take it. So I left. Without telling anyone." 

"And we were really close," Blake added. 

"Like... best friends or... more?" he questioned. 

"At the time, just best friends. But we liked each other. We just never told the other person," I mumbled. 

"After she left, we never spoke to each other. Until she came back and then you introduced her to me as your girlfriend," Blake said. 

"Oh. So, the first time you saw her since then was when I brought her here?" 

"Kind of, yeah," Blake nodded. 

"Sorry, man. I wouldn't have if I knew." 

"No, it's okay, it's perfectly okay," Blake shrugged. "That wasn't a problem." 

"But there's a problem now," I cleared my throat. 

"Okay?" he asked slowly in confusion. 

"I kind of um, still..." Blake stuttered. "I kind of still like her." Jonah didn't react, just looked between Blake and me. 

"And I kind of like him too," I mumbled. 

"So, you don't like me?" he asked. 

"No, I do," I said quickly, "I just... Not in that way," I sighed. 

"In what way, exactly?" He lifted a brow at me sharply. 

"In that 'you give me butterflies' way," I groaned. "How do I explain it?" 

"That explained it pretty well," he scoffed. "You don't feel the chemistry. Does that sound right?" 

I nodded regretfully, "Yeah." 

"And you feel it with him?" 

"Yes." 

"Okay," he nodded, taking a slow breath. "Have you two done anything?" 

"No," we said in sync. 

"Have you two... kissed?" 

"We-" 

"I kissed her," Blake said quickly. I stared at him, surprised that he admitted it so openly. 

"When?" 

"Yesterday." 

"Yesterday?" Jonah asked in shock. 

"Here."