Page 96 of That Friendzone Feeling

“It’strue.”Shechuckles. “Haveyou not noticed women looking at him when we’re out somewhere?Thegeeky glasses are a real thing.”

“Goodto know.Anyway, thanks for sorting out things withChase.Wecan relax now.Also,Ismell coffee.”Plus,Ineed something to do with these clammy hands that isn’t instantly grabbingEmilyand explaining to her in great detail why we’re soulmates.

Iwalk past her toward the kitchen.

“Freshpot.”Shefollows me. “Andyeah.Hecouldn’t have been happier with everything.”

Withmy back to her,Itake a mug from the shelf and fill it, my pulse rising.

Lyingin bed last night,IrealizedIcan’t be likeElliotand spend years gazing at the womanIwant and being too scared to take a leap of faith to get her.

IloveEmily.Sheloves me.We’rethe best things that have ever happened to each other.We’rethe best things thatcouldever happen to each other.Andto walk away from it would be madness.

ButbeforeImake one last attempt to get her to see thelight,Ineed to know whether anything happened between her andChase.

“Didyou have a good time?”Iask, my back still to her. “Withthe whole red carpet thing and everything?Itlooked like you had fun.”

Thestool makes a noise as she retakes her seat.

“Youwatched it?”Shesounds surprised.

“Yeah, there’s a website dedicated to live red carpet coverage.Whoknew?”

“Oh, right.”Shepauses. “Well, it was okay.We’vegot him on board, and that’s all that matters.Andwe mentionedToastedTomatoand the resort to all the interviewers.”Herupbeat voice takes a downturn. “ButIdefinitely didn’t enjoy all the cameras and questions.”

That’sa good sign.Shecan’t be interested in someone whose lifestyle involves all that media attention.Right?

Itake a breath and turn to face her.WhateverIdo here,Ican’t sound likeI’mjealous ofChase.MainlybecauseI’mnot.Well, not the life-in-the-spotlight part of it anyway.

Itake a firmer grip on the mug to stop my hands from shaking.Christ, this isEmily.Ishouldn’t be nervous about telling her something.Butthen,IguessI’venever put every part of my life on the line like this before.

“Ithought a lot whileIwas up atBlythewell.”

Shedraws her lips into a thin line and runs a finger along the edge of her laptop. “Yeah,” she says. “Ihad time to think whileIwas away too.”

Wow, has she finally come to her senses?Didbeing away make her realize she missed me andI’mthe only person she wants to be with?Shedid send that text saying she was worried about me.Andmentioned it again just now.Theclenching in my stomach eases slightly.

“Really?”Itake a sip of coffee. “Yougo first then.”It’sdefinitely her turn to be the one who puts herself out there.

Hereyes stay fixed on her computer. “Chasetook me to dinner after the premiere thing.”

Oh.Mystomach re-clenches.Perhapsthis isn’t going the wayIhoped.

Shecontinues to run her finger back and forth along the edge of the laptop. “Hewas very lovely.Andreally nice to me.”

Shepauses, then finally looks up and meets my eyes. “Notpretend, showbiz nice.Actuallynice.”

Thelast thingIwant to hear right now is more about how greatChasefuckingCooperis. “Right.”

“He’scoming toNewYorknext week for a meeting about setting up a charitable foundation.”

He’sstarting a charity too?Atthis rate he’ll be fucking canonized.Andhe’s not even dead yet.

“And…”Emilytouches her lips, putting her fingers over her mouth, like she’s trying to hold the words in. “Heasked me on a date.”

Ofcourse he did.

Andif she’d laughed in his face, told him to get lost, or explained that theirs is just a business relationship, that she’s head over heels in love with her best friend and can’t imagine being with anyone else for the rest of her life, she likely wouldn’t look as flushed and awkward as she does right now.