Steal my Heart

It all started with a rumour-the kind that everyone insists is true.

Andrea Quinn, a nineteen-year-old college student, has always been surrounded by one rumour everywhere she goes. When she hears whispers that her male friend has feelings for her. It's nothing new to her, but she denies it and convinces herself it's nothing.

But what happens when the rumours surrounding them soon start to prove true?

They both feel it. They both want it, but neither is willing to risk 15 years of friendship for something unstable. Andrea struggles with her own feelings as she navigates mixed signals and fears losing what she already has.

~~~~~

By the time I slid into the passenger seat of his car, I was buzzing with excitement like a kid who'd just been told they were going to Disneyland. The window was down, the sun was spilling gold onto the dashboard, and Xander looked unfairly good in the driver's seat. The moment he started the engine, I grabbed his hand and plopped it on my lap.

He blinked at me. "What are you doing?"

"Keeping your hand safe," I said simply, tracing circles on his palm with the tip of my finger.

"From what exactly?"

"Loneliness."

He stiffened but didn't pull away. If anything, his thumb twitched a little, like he wanted to hold back but couldn't. I grinned to myself and started drawing random shapes on his skin: hearts, stars, a very questionable flower.

He didn't pull away. In fact, after a few seconds, his thumb brushed against my knuckles. Just barely. But it was enough to make my chest do this stupid warm things that I was going to blame on the sun.

Then, without really thinking about it, I laced our fingers together.

He cleared his throat. "...Andrea."

"Yes?"

"You're... dangerous."

I grinned wider. "I've been told."

I turned to look at him. He was staring ahead, but his jaw was a little tight and his ears had gone pink. Cute.

So, so cute.