The Nice Guy Next Door (When In Waverly 1)

We were both walking out to our cars to head to work, and Millie started walking over to me when she saw me. I hopped in my vehicle so fast and sped away before she could even get halfway across the yard. I regretted that decision almost immediately, but what was I supposed to do? Turn around and admit that I have no idea what came over me? No, better to pretend like that never happened at all.

But things cannot continue on like this. She’s my next-door neighbor. She’s the girl I’m crazy about. Things have to get back to normal, and I don’t know how to make that happen.

“Things are weird between me and Millie,” I admit to my friends.

“Haven’t things always been pretty weird between y’all?” Seth asks.

Colby elbows him in the side and says, “Dude, let him finish.”

I blab about everything she confessed to me after her surgery, and Seth laughs hysterically. Colby rolls his eyes and says, “Of course she loves you. All women love you.” I pop him in the thigh with my sweat rag.

“She doesn’t love me. She said ‘crush.’ But she didn’t mean to tell me that. What am I supposed to do?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“The way I see it, you have two options. One, confront her and force her to admit her feelings. Or two, pretend like it never happened and see if she ever tells you how she feels,” Seth says with a shrug of his shoulders.

Colby appears deep in thought while he scratches the back of his head. “You could always tell her how you feel, though,” he says. “You know she at least likes you a little bit. There’s little to no risk in it for you.”

Excuse me…there’s a ton of risk! She could completely shut me out of her life. What part of “completely against relationships” does this guy not understand? I’m crazy about this woman, and while she may have a schoolgirl crush on me, it’s not enough for her to risk her heart with me. I’m not going to sabotage things by putting all of my feelings out there for her to stomp on. Not yet, anyway.

“How am I supposed to just act like nothing happened?” I groan.

“Easy. She obviously doesn’t remember what she said, or she would be acting weird. If she doesn't remember, then it’s not like you have anything to try to hide,” Seth says nonchalantly.

“Just pretend like you don’t know,” Colby adds.

“But I do know…”