“I’m sorry,” she says.
“You don’t need to apologize to me. Honestly, you’re being brutally honest, and I can handle that.” No, I can’t but I can pretend, right?
“You’re a really bad liar. I mean the worst. Skylar’s just trying to get by, you know. She’s trying to live her life while you guys are trying to keep her close.”
I sigh. That seems to be the deal with me just recently. I’m constantly sighing, and it pisses me off. I’ve become the kind of pussy that is now moaning about all that kind of shit. “You must think I’m lame.”
“Not at all. I know how awesome Skylar is, and you’ve known her forever. It’s natural to be protective. Just don’t smother.” Claire pats my shoulder.
As we walk, the silence that surrounds us is comfortable. I like being in her company. She’s got a great personality and makes me feel at ease. After a while I notice we’re only a few feet away from her dorm. This twinge of disappointment that our walk is over fills me. When have I started to enjoy her company so much?
“It’s going to be okay,” she says, as if thinking maybe I was brooding on Skylar again. I’m not. I am thinking about Claire.
I glance down at her to see her smile.
“You’ll meet a girl, and even if it’s not Skylar, I predict that she is going to be the most amazing girl in your life.”
“I don’t think I need that complication in my life.” I chuckle. “And I think it would be a complication. I’d be possessive and territorial. I’d drive her crazy.”
A moment of silence passes before she speaks again. “Some girls like that.”
The air changes, the heat seeming to rise around me. I scrub a hand over my face again and breathe out. I need to go and sleep this funk off, because right now I am thinking about Claire in more than just a friendly way.