The Crush by Ward Penelope (best book recommendations txt) 📕

Halfway into the race, I looked out the window and saw a car pull into the driveway. “You expecting someone?”

“No,” he said before leaning his head out to see better. “Shit.”

“What?”

“It’s Farrah and her dumbass boyfriend.”

My pulse sped up as my fight-or-flight mode kicked in. “I thought you said she wasn’t coming home.”

“She told me she wasn’t.”

Damn it.

I’d never in my entire life wished for the power to magically disappear until now. I would’ve left if I’d known this might happen. Standing up from the couch, I braced myself. My heart felt ready to jump out of my chest as the door opened.

Farrah was the first to step inside. When she spotted me, she froze in her tracks.

She glared at Nathan as she spoke to me. “What are you doing here?”

“Nathan needed help fixing his car. I didn’t think you’d be home.”

“Why aren’t you in class?” Nathan asked.

“My professor was sick. They canceled it. Niles met me at school and took me out to lunch.”

When her boyfriend walked in, all of our heads turned toward him in unison. No one said anything. He was tall, with brown hair and a Roman nose—average-looking, at best. No one would ever be good enough for her in my mind, but after what Nathan had said about him, I disliked him before he’d even opened his mouth.

“What’s going on?” he said. Before anyone could answer, he bent to take the last slice of pizza from the box.

What a dick.

Farrah broke the ice. “Niles, this is my brother’s friend, Jace.”

“Hey,” he said with his mouth full. “That your truck parked outside?”

“Yeah.”

“You must love your fuel economy in that thing.” He snorted.

This dude can’t be serious.

I squinted at him, not even dignifying his rude comment with a response. I could immediately see why Nathan hated this guy. Even if he wasn’t condescending, I’d probably hate him no matter what. But now, I really hated him.

Farrah disappeared into the kitchen, but Niles—what a pompous name—decided to stay in the living room.

“So, Nate, have you given any thought to my job offer?”

Nathan and I gave each other the eye. He hated being called Nate. Something told me he’d corrected this douche plenty of times in the past.

“I already told you why I wouldn’t be taking that job.”

“Because you’d rather mooch off the government?”

Whoa. My fists tightened. If I didn’t think it would piss off Farrah, I might’ve actually punched him.

“You know I don’t drink alcohol. Why the fuck would I work in a liquor store?”

“Because you should put aside your weaknesses for a good opportunity. I told you, I could get you a managerial job.”

“And I told you I don’t want one. Why do you keep asking me?”

Farrah returned, looking annoyed. “Stop bugging my brother.”

He spoke with his mouth full again. “I’m only trying to help him.”

Farrah’s eyes locked with mine. The urge to get her alone, to talk to her, to make sure she was okay—especially given this asshole—overwhelmed me. All the things I’d needed to say to her the other day felt like they were choking me.

So, I did something I hoped she would understand, mouthing a message she had once given me. Please.

Farrah blinked. I was crazy for hoping she would entertain it. Several moments of silence passed.

But then…

She turned to her boyfriend. “Niles, I think I’m gonna take a nap before work. I’m not feeling that great.”

“You want me to lie down with you?”

The pizza turned in my stomach.

“No,” she said. “You should go help your grandmother with that thing she called you about anyway.”

Yeah. Go on and help your grandmother, dickhead.

“Okay.” He stood up, dumping his pizza crust in the box. “Have a good night at work, babe.”

When he walked over to give her a kiss, I had to turn away.

Relief washed over me the second the door closed behind him.

Chapter 20

Farrah

“Jace and I are going to talk.”

Nathan looked between Jace and me like he’d missed something. He had, of course. Because there’d been no conversation, just a secret message he had no clue about.

My brother stood. “Want me to leave? Give you some privacy?”

“No,” I said. “We’ll take a walk.” I looked up at Jace. “Come on.”

He followed me out the door. A gentle breeze blew my hair around as I took a deep breath in, feeling so gosh darn nervous and unprepared to be alone with him.

“Where do you wanna go?” he asked.

Moving some of my hair behind my ear, I said, “Around the block is good.”

We set off down the street.

Jace slipped his hands into his pockets. “Thank you for figuring out what I was asking.”

“Well, you stole my line.” I forced a smile.

“I did.” He grinned, seeming relieved.

As much as I tried to fight my feelings, the physical reaction I had to being next to him was no different than it used to be. Which was exactly why I needed to nip this in the bud.

“Nathan’s not crazy about your boyfriend,” he said. “And now I can see why.”

“Nathan’s not crazy about anyone who takes my attention away from him.”

“I think it’s more than that in this case. But as long as you’re happy.” He searched my eyes. “You are happy, right?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer that. I wasn’t unhappy, but true happiness wasn’t something I’d felt for a very long time. Neither was it something I strived for or expected anymore.

“I’m at peace. Peace is more important to me than happiness. I made a vow to myself after you left that I wouldn’t allow my happiness to depend on other people. It has to come from within. I’m still working on it. But I don’t expect anyone else to make me happy—least of all a man.”

“So, you’re saying that guy doesn’t make you happy, then…”

I sighed. “Niles is not perfect. But he’s what I need right now. It’s easy with him. I don’t want to be with someone who’ll leave me devastated and take my heart and soul when he