Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)

“Seriously?” I laughed, thinking of how obvious the feeling those two had were. “You just flew how many god-awful hours to come here? Besides, I knew you were in love with him from the moment I saw you two making flirty eyes over sandwiches. It wasn't exactly hard to figure out how you feel about him.”

Ava giggled and blushed slightly. “Fair enough.”

“He's going to be so happy to see you,” I told her. I loved the way my brother had lit up while she was here. He was a different person- a happier person. He smiled more and the lines around his eyes disappeared when Ava was near. I could only imagine how happy the two of them would be together, if they would just give one another the chance.

Her smile faded with nerves. “Okay, no more talking about Bastian and how much of an idiot I am for not realizing I love him four days ago.” She strengthened her smile. “New, but slightly related topic: Leo.”

I froze, thinking of his hand on my shoulder this morning. Of his promised dance to me this evening. And how it was all a moot point. He'd never choose me.

“There's nothing on that front,” I said with a sigh.

“Oh, come on- you two were alone all last week.” Ava turned to look at me. Her skirt made a pleasant swishing sound with the movement. “Something must have happened?”

“First of all, we weren't alone. Gabe, the other owner of the company, was there. Second, we've been alone plenty of times and nothing's ever happened.” I sighed. “And nothing ever will. He sees me as Bastian's little sister and nothing else. Nothing's going to change that. Believe me. I've tried.”

Ava put her hands on her hips. The dress gave her an amazing hourglass shape. “What have you tried?”

“More of what haven't I tried?” I moved behind her and unhooked the the top of the zipper and began pulling it down. This fitting was just to make sure the dress fit and if we needed an emergency seamstress. She needed to be out of the dress for the hair and makeup ladies to work their magic. “I've tried being coy, setting up a romantic dinner, snuggling up to him, hell, I've even tried flat out asking him to kiss me, and nothing.”

“You asked him to kiss you? And he said no?” Ava stepped out of the dress and put on a button-up shirt and shorts as I put the golden dress back on the hanger.

“Charlotte, you're drunk and don't know what you're saying,” I said in a deep voice, trying to sound like Leo. “I don't want to do anythin

g that could jeopardize my friendship with Bastian or you.”

“Ouch.” Ava winced.

“I've know him since I was thirteen. I've done my best to make it obvious how I feel about him, but he's not interested. He has made that super clear. For whatever reason, he doesn't want me and I don't see that changing any time soon.” I shrugged. The ache in my heart was all too familiar. “I should be glad that he is my friend. I really need to learn how to be content with that.”

“I'm sorry, Charlotte. When I saw the two of you together at that restaurant...” Ava shrugged and took the dress from me. “You two just seemed so perfect together.”

“Thanks. I need to move on, I just...” I sighed, my heart aching. “I just can't.”

Ava wrapped her arms around me, squishing me with the dress in the process. “At least we can be idiots about men together.”

“I never said I was an idiot,” I teased, hugging her back. “But you're right.”

She grinned at me as a knock came on the door followed by the words, “Makeup lady.”

“Go get pretty, Princess Ava,” I said, releasing my friend from my hug. “I'll get my hair done and then we'll switch. It's a good thing I overbooked.”

Ava went to the door and paused before opening it, turning to look back at me. “Charlotte?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.” Ava's gratitude and friendship flowed through her gaze and made me feel warm and loved.

“You're welcome.” And I truly meant it.

As she walked away, I couldn't help but think about what I had just said. “I never said I was an idiot.” But I knew that I was. I had been from the day that he walked into my life... completely naked.

Chapter Three

10 Years Earlier...

I sat carefully on the old wooden chair in Bastian's dorm room, looking around the room in awe.

So, this is what college looks like, I thought to myself. I had imagined it to look a little less like a boy's gym bag and more like an academic library, but I wasn't going to complain.