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Ellie shook her head.

“I told them Trevor tried to kiss me.” Sadie rolled her eyes. “Like I’m some dumb teenager.”

“You’re not a dumb teenager.”

“Oh, I am. I’ve done nothing but dumb stuff the last few weeks. Sending inappropriate pictures, pretending to like a boy I don’t care anything about, lying to my mom.” Sadie sucked in a deep breath. “I just didn’t know how to tell my mom. I knew she’d lecture me and want to talk about it but I just can’t yet. Not with her. Not right now. It’s still all so fresh.”

“Yeah, no, I get it.”

“Do you think Mom and Charlie will be mad at me?”

“How could they?” Reaching out, Ellie tucked a strand of Sadie’s hair behind her ear. “Abigail sent that picture, not you.”

“But I took it. And I know better.”

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

“Not me,” Sadie sarcastically laughed. “I’m supposed to be the Golden Child—the one who gets good grades and excels at sports, the one who doesn’t date because she’s so focused on getting into a good college, the one who has absolutely no friends because no one likes them at her new school, although I haven’t beennewto the school in two years.”

Ellie let Sadie sit with her feelings for a moment. She knew counting each point wasn’t what Sadie needed. When she felt the time was right, she cleared her throat.

“You got something wrong.”

“What’s that?”

“You have a friend.” Ellie watched as Sadie’s eyes softened again. “Me.”

“Oh, Ellie. I didn’t mean you in that rant.”

“I know, but I also didn’t know if you knew I saw us as friends.”

Something flashed across Sadie’s face, almost so fast that Ellie missed it. But she was fairly certain what she just saw confirmed what Ellie had been feeling too. Because what she saw on Sadie’s face, even for an instant, appeared to be a disappointment.

Right when Ellie told her she saw them as friends.

God, me, and my choice of words. That’s not what I meant. I’ve probably friend-zoned myself forever now.

But Ellie didn’t have time to clarify.

Because Delaney poked her head out the window and called their names. Startled, they both turned toward the window. “What are you two doing out here?”

“Mom,” Sadie scrambled to her feet and into the window while Ellie remained frozen in place. “I’m so sorry. Ellie was just making sure I was okay.”

“I—I was.”

“Well, that’s good.” Delaney smiled softly at Ellie. “I’m glad she has friends like you, Ellie. That’s just what Sadie needs right now.” Delaney pulled Sadie in for a hug and kissed her cheek. “And Ellie, you do know we have a front door, right?”

Ellie nervously laughed. “I do, yeah.”

“Use it next time,” Delaney added with a wink before walking out of Sadie’s room, closing the door behind her. Sadie walked back over to the window, leaning out slightly. Ellie slowly—carefully—walked over to her, kneeling down outside the window.

“Thanks for coming over, Ellie.”

“Always.”

It was as if all the world around them stood still as their lips moved painfully slow toward each other. Ellie had never kissed anyone before. Not the way she wanted to kiss Sadie. Suddenly, her nerves got the best of her and she quickly stood.

“I should get home,” she stated, trying to seem casual. But she was far from casual. She wanted to say screw it and kiss Sadie. But not now. Not when she was so upset over what had just happened. Ellie didn’t want Sadie to ever think she only came over because she liked her and wanted to kiss her. She truly cared about Sadie, even if no kissing was involved.