Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Star rushed over to hug me first. “I want to learn to tap!”
I grinned. “I’ll teach you some this weekend.”
Mom was next, but I barely heard her congratulatory words as Henry stood behind her.
“You were amazing,” Henry said, stepping up and pushing the flowers toward me. “I… Your mom told me this is what people do after a recital, so here you go.”
After so many years, Mom and I had an agreement that we didn’t have to do any more flowers, not only because they were expensive, but I preferred she planted her garden instead, something she loved doing.
“Thank you.” I sniffed the roses and carnations out of habit, completely dazed that he was standing in front of me. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“Because it was a surprise, silly,” Mom said, pressing her shoulder to mine.
Students gawked as they passed by us, which felt all kinds of awkward.
I leaned forward. “You were brave to show up here. It’s really cool that you came.”
“That’s what friends do,” he said, and then we stared way too long at each other. Emil and Justin stepped up with their families to chat, both seeming confused about Henry’s presence.
Leah asked him what he thought of the show.
“It rocked,” he said, and she smiled.
As families began filing out, Henry said, “Well, I’m gonna take off.”
“Thank you again for coming,” I replied, holding his gaze.
When he turned and headed to the exit, I watched him go.
Mom threw her arm around me and squeezed.
“I can’t believe you knew about this,” I said.
“He showed up at the diner one night to ask me about tickets.”
My mouth dropped open. “He did?”
“Yep. Asked me to keep it quiet, and I agreed and told him to make sure to sit with us.”
“I…I’m still in shock, I guess.”
Mom chuckled. “Someone’s got a crush.”
“No, I…”
“I meant Henry,” she said with a wink, then reached for Star’s hand. “Let’s go home and celebrate with some cake.”
I followed them in a daze, glancing for the first time at the card that came with the flowers. My steps faltered when I opened the tiny envelope, pulled out the message, and read it.
You’re beautiful. And I wish somehow, some way, that you could be mine. XOXO
32
HENRY
I was feeling exposed in my morning classes the following day, and I didn’t think it was my imagination. I had put myself out there for Lark by going to his performance—which, by the way, had been incredible. And then bringing him flowers and writing a private note, much like he’d written me so many years ago.
When Spencer asked where I was headed last night, I was hesitant to tell him. He would likely put two and two together as soon as I mentioned Lark. For now, my admission during our previous conversation had been enough.
I still worried whether Spencer would keep my confidence if put on the spot or pushed past his limit. I hated feeling that way, but we hadn’t known each other that long.
As soon as I joined Lark in pre-calc, there was a low murmur in the room. Lark was aware of it as well because he texted me from across the table.
I feel like people have been staring at me all morning.
I kept my gaze trained on my phone as I stealthily typed: Me too.
Someone even asked me if we were friends.
I rolled my eyes. Rude.
Not sure the flowers helped, but I love them. Put them in a vase as soon as I got home.
A smile tugged at my lips. He didn’t mention the card, but that was okay.
I replied: I probably screwed myself, but…I don’t regret it.
Our eyes met briefly before we both looked away. Real smooth.
Maybe we just lie low for a bit? I typed reluctantly.
Yeah, I suppose. He added a frown emoji.
I don’t like it either.
At lunch, I got in the food line, though I wasn’t sure if I’d even be able to eat any of it. Lark was sitting at the dancers’ table clear across the room from my football buddies. I wished we could all sit together and hang, like we did at the carnival. But as expected, everyone tended to retreat to their friends’ groups. It reminded me of high school, so not much had changed. Bet it wasn’t this way at the larger universities, with so many thousands of students that you’d never keep track of their names, but what did I know? I had always been part of exclusive schools and clubs where status and social circles were important.
Maybe I was the one who’d been missing out.
When our gazes clashed, I couldn’t help grinning and Lark returned the gesture, though his smile seemed a bit sad. I squared my shoulders as I walked toward my teammates and sat down. I shoved food in my mouth so I didn’t have to make small talk, but the energy felt off. When the tension became overwhelming, I couldn’t take it anymore.