Becca

Of all the days to be off work, why did it have to be this one? With a sigh, I toss the knife into the sink, frustrated at myself for mutilating the garlic, like it’s somehow responsible for all my problems.

What the hell is wrong with me?

It’s only been four days since our first kiss, and I can’t stop thinking about him. The obnoxious man who, just a week ago, annoyed me to no end now feels as essential to my life as Joss and Felicia. Except it’s different with Shane. With him, I don’t just want to be friends. I want more. So much more that it scares me.

What “more” means exactly is yet to be determined, but what I do know is that the thought of him being with Amanda tonight stirs something primal in me. A fierce urge to track them down to make it clear to my secret half-sister that she has zero claim on Shane.

Because he’s mine!

Wait. No.

I shake my head, trying to quiet the annoying voice inside my head. While there’s a definite attraction—an undeniable chemistry—I’m not quite ready to go there just yet. I’ve got more important things to worry about: school, college, work, bills, and, of course, keeping a roof over my head.

“What’s up with you?” Felicia interrupts, swiping yet another slice of my homemade ciabatta bread.

“Will you stop?” I try to smack her hand away, but I’m too late. With a mischievous grin, she takes a bite of the bread.

Exasperated, I ask, “Do you want garlic bread or not? Because if you don’t, make my life easier and just let me know.”

“Of course, we want garlic bread,” Joss replies from her spot on the other side of the kitchen island. “It’s just that your ciabatta is so darn delicious. I have no idea how you find the time to cook everything from scratch.”

Felicia hands half of the slice she just stole to Joss, who takes a bite and closes her eyes with a moan of approval. The sound warms my insides. Cooking for the people I love has always been my love language. Sadly, something I don’t get to do much anymore, now that I live alone. It’s one of the main reasons I invite my friends over for dinner whenever I have a night off.

“So,” Joss leans in, “are you going to tell us what’s wrong, or should we start guessing?”

“Ooooh, yes! Let’s guess!” Felicia chimes in, eyes gleaming. “I’m betting it has something to do with the wealthy brunette Adonis and that delectably plump lower lip she can’t get enough of.” She squeals in delight, and I have to fight the urge to groan.

Why does she always have to be so obnoxiously loud, especially when it comes to topics that require a certain level of subtlety?

Refusing to take the bait, I focus on slathering the garlic butter mixture over the bread.

“Oh yeah, I think you’re right, Licia. I mean, just look at the color of her cheeks,” Joss teases, chuckling as she takes another bite of bread.

Feeling the heat creeping up my skin, I turn my back to them with the baking tray in hand. At the oven, I slide the bread under the broiler and set the timer.

“Dinner will be ready in five minutes. Since it sounds like the two of you need something to do, Joss, you get the drinks. Felicia, you set the table. I’m going to the bathroom.” My voice comes out sharper than I intend, and as I close myself into the tiny bathroom, I curse the lack of privacy that comes with living in a one-room apartment. The next place I move to, I’m making sure the bathroom isn’t the only room with a door.

Even from behind the door, I can still hear their muffled laughter.

Why am I being like this? They’re my best friends. Why does it matter that I might like Shane? And why in the world am I making things more difficult on myself by trying to hide my feelings from them?

Oh yeah, that’s right! Because you’ve been adamantly denying what apparently they both knew was true. That there’s something definitely brewing between me and Shane.

“You’re being ridiculous,” I mutter to my reflection. “Just go out there and tell them the truth. If anyone can talk you through this, it’s them.” Though I say it with conviction, the girl staring back at me looks more uncertain than ever. But who can blame her? This wasn’t a part of our plan. If someone had told me a week ago I’d be in this situation, I would have laughed and looked at them like they were insane.

With a sigh, I pull out my hair tie and comb through the flyaway strands that came loose while I was cooking, and then I tie my hair back up into a neater ponytail. As I glance at my reflection one last time, my eyes are drawn to my lips. They’re still tingling from our last kiss goodbye this morning. How is it possible that hours later, I can still feel the warmth of his lips on mine? It defies all reason, yet here I am. My fingers brush against my lips, savoring the feel, but my stomach turns as the image of him kissing Amanda with the same tender passion he does me flashes in my mind.

I hate that she’s with him right now, even though I already know what he’s going to tell her. As much as I want to deny it, I can’t stand the thought of her being in his orbit—taking the place where I should be.

Ugh… what the hell is wrong with me?

I shake the thoughts away, annoyed at myself for feeling jealous. She may not know we’re related, but I do. And given what I know about the conversation Shane plans to have with her tonight, shouldn’t I feel bad for her?

Geez, Becca. Get it together.

I step out of the bathroom just as the oven timer dings. Thankfully, Felicia and Joss have moved on from making fun of me to gossiping about the latest drama at Ruby Creek High. As their conversation hums in the background, I pull the baked ziti and garlic bread from the oven, the savory aroma filling the room. After setting them down, I head to the fridge for the salad and dressing.

“Joss, can you take the ziti to the table? Licia, can you get the bread onto the serving dish for me? I’ll be right there—just need to toss in the dressing.”

The girls do as I ask while I mix the dressing into the salad. In reality, I’m just stalling. I know I need to talk to someone about my situation, but knowing it doesn’t make it any easier. What’s happening between Shane and me is so far outside my usual behavior that I don’t know… maybe I’m scared they’ll judge me. That they’ll tell me I’m crazy for even considering a relationship with someone like him. But deep down, I know I’m being ridiculous. If anything, Joss and Felicia will probably be relieved, given how worried they’ve been since my breakup with Lucas and the horrible confrontation that severed the ties I had with my family.

“Uh… I think that’s done, Becks,” Joss teases from where she sits at the table, and I swear I can hear a knowing smirk in her voice. “Get over here and get whatever it is off your chest. Promise you’ll feel better.”

With a sigh of resignation, I accept that there’s no avoiding this. Taking my seat, I don’t wait, figuring this will go better if I just come right out with it. As the girls start serving themselves, I blurt, “Shane and I are dating.”

The silence that follows my confession is thick and unnerving, only broken by the loud clatter of the serving spoon Jocelyn drops amid her shock.

“You… you’re dating?” Felicia squeals, her voice reaching that familiar high pitch reserved for moments of pure excitement. She’s practically bouncing in her seat, eyes wide with anticipation.

Staring down at my plate, I just nod. With the amount of heat radiating through my body, including my cheeks, I can only imagine how flustered I must look.

“Oh, my god!” Joss chimes in, a teasing grin tugging at her lips. “You like him. Like really, really like him.”

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Author’s Note:

In the previous chapters, Becca asked Shane to keep their relationship a secret. Are you surprised she's now decided to tell her friends? 

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