“Sadly, my whereabouts aren’t as exciting as you and Adam flirting. I went with Maverick and Jordan on a taco run that lasted forever. A lot of people want tacos at two in the morning. So… did you finally tell him?” Dakota asks with a smile that takes over her face. My friends are entirely too invested in my crush on Adam. For almost two years I was able to hide it from everyone, and those were much easier times when no one was dissecting every interaction I had with him.

“No, I was his fake date so the group of puck bunnies that came over with Jordan wouldn’t harass him.”

“O-kay,” she says the word slowly. “Since when does Adam shy away from female companionship?”

I feel myself getting defensive of him. “He wants to take some time between relationships before he jumps into something new.”

“How is fake dating you for a night different than letting some random girl hang on him?” She huffs a laugh. “Leave it to Adam to figure out a way to not date but still date. Was it awful fake dating a guy you have a massive crush on or amazing? I can’t decide if it’s tragic or exciting.”

“I went into the zone. I barely remember it.” Mostly accurate, but I’m never going to forget the feeling of being wrapped up in his strong arms. Tragic. Definitely tragic.

“I’d hoped you’d finally told him. You have to tell him, Rea.”

“I will. I am. I’m just trying to figure out how.” I was so close to telling him last night, but I don’t want to ruin everything.

“Easy. Go over there tonight and tell him. Blame it on last night if you have to. We need you to tell him.”

“We?”

“Yes. Even Rhett is starting to pick up on it. Oblivious Rhett! Besides, the sooner you tell him, the sooner you’ll stop going out on dates with all of these losers.”

“They aren’t all bad. What about Hunter, the guy from my psychology class?”

“He brought you dandelions in a Dixie cup.”

“I thought that was sweet!”

“If you say so. I think subconsciously you’re saying yes to these guys you know you won’t like because you don’t want to like them. You only want Adam. You’re never going to move on until you tell him.”

Move on. The way she says it as if the idea of us together is unlikely makes my chest ache. Like I should tell him, let him laugh in my face, and then get over it. Okay, even Dakota isn’t that cruel, but is that what she’s expecting?

“I will tell him,” I reassure her. I just have to find the right time.

When we’re done at the track, Dakota heads to work at the Hall of Fame, and I go back to our place.