What do you think?
Rate this book
375 pages, ebook
First published September 16, 2014
"She continues to confuse me with every conversation we have. But this girl makes me happy. Frustrated too. But mostly happy. And so I'm going to take advantage of every second I have with her."
"Hey." I roll to my side an redirect her attention with a finger under her chin, so she's looking at me. "You can always show me exactly who you are. No matter what."
The four of us grew up together in the same small-town California neighborhood. Rae lives next door, although she's pretty much an extension to my family at this point. Nicole and Richelle were neighbors a few houses down the street. When we were kids, we were inseperable. But things change when we got older.
Richelle moved away. We stayed in touch for a while. And then we didn't. Nicole chose popularity over our friendship soon after. Rae never gotten over Nicole's betrayal. And I never gotten over Nicole.
Then i just stand there and stare at her. She doesn't notice me, and that's probably a good thing because I look like a creep hovering above her. I have no idea what to say because I am standing in front of Nicole Bentley. But this girl looks... different.
“Are you sure you didn’t do anything to her?”
“I swear,” I answer, then add after a moment of thought, “I guess I wasn’t who she wanted me to be.”
“Are we ever?”
‘“Okay,” Nyelle says, scrunching her face in thought. “What if I had been a better liar?”
I laugh. Isn’t that what she’s doing right now? “You regret not being able to lie?”
“What can I say?” Nyelle smiles. “I can keep a promise for an eternity, but don’t ask me to lie. I will avoid having to lie to a person like you avoid your exes.”
Wow, I mouth. “I promise to never ask you to lie for me.” I just wish she’d stop lying to me.’
‘A light streaks across the sky.
“Make a wish,” I lean over and whisper. Nyelle closes her eyes, a slow smile emerging. I’m about to ask what she wants to do over again when her hand slips into mine and she threads our fingers together. Warmth rushes up my arm. I squeeze her hand lightly and take in the starlight reflecting in her eyes as she says quietly, “I wished for a butterfly.”’
“Cal?”
“Yeah,” I respond, unable to see her beside me.
“Have you ever been in love?”
There’s a silence for a moment. I’m not exactly prepared for the question.
“No. Have you?”
“No. I wonder what it’s like.” Her voice sounds like an echo in the stillness. “I think it will be like falling backward in the dark. Terrifying. Exhilarating. Having to trust that there’ll be someone there to catch you.”
“You’re beautiful,” slips out instead.
Her body tenses.
“Don’t hurt me,” I plead, suddenly afraid of being maimed. “But I think you deserve to know, and I want to be the one to tell you. And it’s not just your insanely blue eyes, or unbelievably soft mouth, or painfully perfect body.” Her mouth pops open, stunned. Maybe that wasn’t the best way to say it. “You’re beautiful because you don’t care if you are. I think I understand why you get so angry when you’re judged for how you look. Hell, it’s not your fault you’re gorgeous. Blame genetics.”
Nyelle continues to stare at me, speechless.
“But what is your fault is who you are underneath all that. You can hide under clothes that are too big, or not put any effort into your appearance, but you’re beautiful regardless. And I’m glad I get to see who you really are. Not just the naked version of you, which…has changed me…forever – ” Nyelle’s eyes narrow. I laugh, quickly continuing before I lose momentum – or a body part. “But the caring, thoughtful, selfless, and spontaneous side of you. To watch you live is breathtaking. You live a life filled with possibilities. A life most people miss out on. So yes, Nyelle, even if I couldn’t see you, I’d still be attracted to you.”