I look down at my dress. It’s a chestnut color with little blue and white flowers, buttons going down the front, and cinched at the waist. It’s a fairly simple dress, but I appreciate the compliment nonetheless.
“Thanks.” I smile at him, startling when he closes the short distance between us. He gently places one hand on my hip, his eyes hesitant.
My heartbeat skyrockets.
His lips thin. “Dani?”
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
All I can hear is my heartbeat in my ears.
“W-What?”
His eyes flick to my mouth.
“I really want to kiss you,” he whispers, his eyes deepening in color. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, the tips of his fingers tangle in my hair.
“Ansel…” I lower my head, shaking it. My hand presses against his stomach, pushing him lightly away.
He exhales a sigh and his hand falls from my face as he steps back. His eyes are sad, but he forces a smile. “It’s okay, Meadows.”
I bite my lip, fighting tears. I like Ansel, as my friend, but I don’t see him in a romantic way. Not when … not when my thoughts are consumed with someone else.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m a big boy, Meadows. Yeah, I like you. Really like you. But,” he shrugs, toeing the floor with the tip of his dress shoe, “you don’t see me that way. It’s okay, but I had to try.”
We stare at each other and I can’t think of anything else to say. I don’t understand why I feel like crying, it’s not like he rejected me, but I think there’s a part of me that wishes I did like him back. It’d make things so much easier.
“Dandelion Meadows! Where are you?”
I exhale the breath I was holding. “We better get downstairs.”
“Yeah,” Ansel agrees, his eyes sad.
It kills me hurting his feelings, but I won’t lead him on.
He takes me down a back staircase so we’re able to
appear as if we’ve been downstairs the whole time.
Sage’s eyes narrow when he spots us.
“Where have you been?”
“Getting the tour, remember?” I try to keep the sarcastic bite from my words but I’m not entirely certain I succeed.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” he replies, looking between Ansel and me.
Finally, he shakes his head and turns, walking away.
Ansel and I pause in the hallway. I feel like something needs to be said, but I don’t know what. I’m at a loss for words.
“Ansel…”
“Don’t, Meadows. It’s okay.”
His mouth is saying one thing, but his eyes are saying another.