Page 40 (1/1)

"Well, that doesn’t sound so bad Did he kiss you while you were dancing? I’m sure if you explained this to Reed he’d see…" Becky started to suggest, but I cut her off

"No, no It wasn’t while ere dancing," I said, the tears threatening again I hung my head in shame and bit my lip a little "He followed me outside, and after a really intense stare-off, we kissed each other Becks, I didn’t stop hi time, at least"

Starbucks was only another block away We both hung on the phone in silence for a few seconds, and I was starting to worry that I’d lost Becky, too Then she finally spoke

"Nolan, it’s not as bad as it sounds I thinkit worse than it is You just need to explain it to hi you never plan on kissing hihed in return "No, I really don’t I don’t even like hi," I said, starting to feel a little opti up with Becky as I walked into Starbucks, where Sarah and Sienna aiting for ain with the evenclean with everything to Reed, even if it was on his voiceeach one was a call or text frootten off froo I was actually in a place where I was looking forward to --thinking my mind would actually let ainsthi here," I said, probably a little harsher than I needed to, but I didn’t want to send any nals

He looked up and moved over while I pulled outa little, "I’ at me a little

"I know, I’m sorry It’s just…I think we, you and I, probably need a little space I’ et it," he said, not o on any more than I had to "I just wanted to ize Do you have a few minutes? Just to talk," he raised his shoulders a bit when he spoke, trying to prove his innocent intentions

I just laid my forehead onout a deep sigh, I twistedme "Sure, but only for a few minutes I have a lot to do, and I haven’t really been able to focus lately," I admitted

Gavin followed me into my room and pushed the door closed behind hihis hands together in front of hi where he should sit He finally sat athis elbows on his knees I pulledoing to lie I like you I like you more than I should And I know it’s a problem, it creates problems…but I think there’s a part of you that likes s worse, mostly because I did like him…but not like he likedwe had, whatever it was, before I went and kissed him and made it all complicated But I also knew I didn’t want to lose Reed And that wastowels and T-shirts in my laundry bin and sat on my bed, across from him I blew the hairs out offor the right words to say There weren’t any, so I just started talking

"I do like you, Gavin…but…" I held up"I’m in love with Reed What I feel for you is a close friendship, and I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s all I have to give to you I never should have let it get as far as it did that night And I’ idea But I can’t be with you I can’t give up what I have, because ithow badly I hurt Reed"