I was halfway across the parking lot when I heard someone call my name. Looking over my shoulder, I saw Brody jogging after me. I turned and kept walking. “Brody, you’re gonna start something with Jaden if he sees you out here. Go back inside.”

“I’m not afraid of him.”

I sighed. “I didn’t say you were. I just don’t want another scene.”

“If he wants to start something, let him. I’m willing to take the risk,” Brody said, reaching out to touch my arm.

“Don’t you get it? I don’t want to see it! I don’t want to take the risk, okay? Look, you might think you’re hot snot on a golden platter, but you’re really just a cold booger on a paper plate. Go back inside.”

He laughed loud and free. “I don’t know what to say to that except, go out with me,” he asked when his laughter faded.

I took a step back “Wh-What?”

“Go out with me.”

“I’m not interested in a booty call, Brody. I’m not the type of girl you’re looking to hook-up with.”

“You don’t know what type of girl I’m looking for. Go out to dinner with me or a movie. Even the mall if you want. You can drag me through all the stores looking at every piece of clothing, or we can play board games with your parents on family game night. I don’t care what—just spend time with me. I think about you all the time, Willow. When we’re apart, I count the minutes until I can see you again.”

“I’m with—”

“I know you’re with Jaden, damn it! I don’t know why. You aren’t happy, and it kills me to see you with him. You’re hiding something. I can see it in your eyes, but I’ll respect that you have your reasons for staying with him, and I’ll keep everything just friends. That’s all. But I want to spend time with you. I need to spend time with you.” He paused, looked at the sky, and took a deep breath like he was deciding what to say next. When he looked at me, his face was open, vulnerable. “You’re special, Willow. We belong in each other’s lives.”

I looked down at the ground, making circles on the pavement with the tip of my tennis shoe. There was so much I wanted to say to him—that I felt the same way. That I thought of him all the time too. That I thought we could make a great couple. He got me, understood me, more than anyone else. And I wanted to say yes. I wanted desperately to tell him I’d go out with him. It was all I could do to keep the word from popping out of my mouth. Things were fluttering in my chest, and my hands were shaking. My brain was screaming at me to take a chance… to give him a chance.

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I’m dating someone else.”

“As a friend. No expectations. Not a date. Just friends hanging out, spending time together. We can invite Jenna and Tim if it makes you feel more comfortable. I just want to spend time with you.”

Jaden burst out of the door with a couple of his football buddies. They were laughing and talking, not paying attention to Brody or me. I looked at them over my shoulder and then back at Brody standing in front of me. “Text me,” I said just as I felt Jaden’s arm fall over my shoulders.

“I thought you were leaving?” Jaden asked.

“I am.” I smiled up at him.

“You want to go for a ride?” He grabbed my chin with his hand and held it while he kissed me. I didn’t close my eyes. Instead, I looked for Brody. He was in his Jeep, looking at me. Our eyes met for a brief second before he drove away.

“I can’t,” I said when Jaden broke the kiss. “I have too much homework.” Standing on my tiptoes, I kissed him gently.

“Okay. Another time.” He smiled and patted my rear like I was one of his teammates. I hated that.

I didn’t know who else to text. Jenna wasn’t answering me, neither was Tim. I didn’t trust anyone else. I wasn’t even sure why I trusted Brody, but I did. So I texted him and hoped he’d answer me.

Me: Can I ask you something?

He texted me back almost immediately.

Brody: Yes.

Me: If I needed a favor, would you do something for me without asking a lot of questions?

Brody: ?

Me: I’d ask someone else but Jenna and Tim aren’t answering. I don’t know who else to ask. Please. I just need someone who’ll do this and not ask questions.

Brody: Ok. What?

Me: I need a ride home.

Brody: Where are you?

Me: St. Mary’s ER.

Brody: On my way.

I was sitting on a bench outside the emergency room when I saw Brody jog across the parking lot. Standing, I walked toward him.

Please don’t let me start crying. I can’t cry.

“Wait. I’ll drive around and pick you up,” he called.

I shook my head. “I’m fine.” I cursed the slight tremor in my voice.

He reached me, and we stood staring at each other in the dark parking lot. An awkward silence hovered between us. “Um, so you said not to push you, but does that mean I can’t ask if you’re okay?” Brody finally asked.

I smiled. “No, you can ask that.”

“Are you? Okay, I mean?”

I bit my lower lip when it started to tremble and nodded. My eyes started to fill with tears. I tried to blink them away.

“Do I get to know why you’re here?” he asked, studying my face.

I moved the hospital paperwork I’d been holding in front of my hand. I heard him suck in a breath. “It’s not as bad as it looks. The fingers are just jammed, not broken. The doctor just wrapped them to keep them immobilized for a couple of days, so they’ll heal faster. But, hey, bonus, it’s the hand I write with, so I’ll get a free pass on some of my assignments unless someone writes them out for me or I peck them out on the computer.” I turned my hand over and looked at the fingers that were immobilized and wrapped with medical tape. “You want to sign it like people do casts?” I joked.

Brody reached out, but let his hand drop before he touched me. “What the hell happened?”

“You promised.”

He ran his hand through his hair, giving it that perfect bedhead look. “Yeah, okay. You’re right. Where do you want me to take you?”

“Home.”

“Where are your parents?” Brody asked, his voice hard.

“They were out when I called. My mom’s cell went straight to voice mail. She probably forgot it. She never remembers to take it with her.”

Brody held his Jeep’s door open and helped me get in. Truthfully, I didn’t need any help getting in, but I figured since my hand hurt like hell, I was going to let him touch me and not feel guilty about it.

Brody slipped in the driver’s side and started the Jeep. He turned toward my subdivision. We drove in silence for a few miles when I finally spoke. “Do you have a curfew?”

He glanced at me. “No. Why?”

“I don’t want to go home yet. Do you think we can go somewhere?”

“Sure. Are you hungry?”

“Starving and I could drink one of the Great Lakes I’m so thirsty.”

“Um, Willow, why didn’t you call Jaden tonight?”

“You promised,” I whispered.

Brody nodded. “Okay. That’s what I thought. Ah, I’m not sure where we should go that we wouldn’t run into—”

“Just a minute.”

Me: Hey handsome!

Jaden: Hey.

Me: What are you doing?

Jaden: Watching a movie.

Me: Oh. At a friend’s?

Jaden: Nope. See ya tomorrow.

Me: Bye.

“He’s home,” I said, looking out the side window.

Brody grabbed my cell phone out of my hand. “Nice. He’s not much of a conversationalist, is he?”

“I don’t think he could spell conversationalist.” When I realized what I’d said, I clamped my good hand over my mouth.

Brody burst out laughing. “Ah, so you aren’t convinced it’s a match made in heaven either. Hmm, interesting.”