13. EMMA
Back at the clinic, we put our notes on the businesses who agreed to contribute into a spreadsheet. We”ve already been promised quite a few high-ticket items. I let out a sigh of relief. The generosity is overwhelming. Sterling and I exchange proud glances.
It’s amazing how much of an impact we”ve made in just one day.
”Look at this,” Sterling says, picking up the printout. ”People really believe in what we”re doing.”
I smile, the weight of the day lifting off my shoulders. ”Yeah, we are. It”s incredible. I knew this town had heart. Today just proved it.”
As we make some plans to pick up the promised donations later, I can”t help but notice how Sterling looks at me. I didn’t really notice until so many people teased him today, but now I can see it.
He has a way of capturing my attention too, and right now, his gaze is so intense that it”s almost hard for me to breathe.
But that’s nothing compared to how he looked at me right before my brother called and interrupted what should”ve been the most romantic moment of my life. One I’ve been hoping for as far back as I can remember.
For a minute, the whole world stopped, and I swear, it was just the two of us.
But all too soon, reality came crashing back. My brother”s voice broke the spell, and all because he wanted to know the secret ingredient in mom’s famous lasagna.
It was an innocent enough question, but the timing was awful. The magic was gone.
Maybe Peter has some superpower sense that alerts him any time his sister gets too close to his best friend. Honestly, it wouldn”t shock me at this point.
”Great work today,” Sterling says, says, bringing me back to the present. His voice sounds filled with genuine admiration.
”You too, Dr. Grumpy,” I tease, and he rolls his eyes playfully.
With the work done, Sterling suggests we celebrate our success with some takeout and a movie. We head to the small breakroom, and he pulls out his laptop to browse through the options. The atmosphere is light and relaxed, a stark contrast to the intensity of the day.
As we scroll through the movie choices, Sterling”s eyes light up when he comes across one. ”Hey, check this out,” he says, pointing to the screen. ”This one reminds me of you.”
I glance at the title and see a romantic comedy. ”Really? How so?”
He grins, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ”Well, the main character is smart, creative, and has this amazing ability to charm everyone around her. Sound familiar?”
My heart skips a beat at his words, and I”m momentarily speechless. My brain short-circuits, and all I manage out is, ”I-I mean, it”s not completely accurate.”
Sterling lets out a laugh, shaking his head. ”Yeah, it is. The protagonist is pretty much your clone. Plus, she”s adorable.”
”Adorable, huh? Well, she”s in high school, so that makes her pretty much a kid,” I joke.
”Okay, so it”s a younger version of you. But you were just like this girl in high school. That”s why I had such a crush on you.”
The minute the words leave his mouth, he slaps a hand over his face, and a rosy blush spreads across his cheeks.
”What do you mean?” I ask, not sure what to make of his comment.
I could just let him off the hook, but he”s got a fat chance of that happening.
”If you had a crush on me, why didn”t you say anything?”
”Well... Peter, I guess. He made it pretty clear you were off-limits.”
The revelation hangs in the air, and I”m left flabbergasted. It”s the first I”ve heard of this. I mean, I practically drooled over Sterling from the moment I hit puberty, but I always thought he saw me as just a little sister, until recently.
”Oh, wow,” I say, unable to conjure a more articulate response.
He laughs, breaking the tension. ”Yeah, I guess that”s a lot to drop out of nowhere. Anyway, you pick a different movie. I”ll make some popcorn and order us some Chinese. Beef and broccoli still, right?”
Out of sheer cowardice, I just nod and quickly change the subject, suggesting an action flick to shift the focus. But, we settle on a different cheesy romance movie, and soon enough, we”re devouring our food and getting lost in the absurdly predictable plot. Eventually, we start on the popcorn.
We joke about the movie”s over-the-top romantic gestures and how clueless the characters are. When the guy on screen walks the girl to her door and she jiggles her keys at him, Sterling yells at the television, ”That”s where you”re supposed to kiss her, my guy!”
I burst out laughing, and he smiles at me. His grin is infectious, and soon enough, I”m giggling uncontrollably. Sterling”s eyes crinkle with humor, and the whole situation is so ridiculous that I can”t help but laugh.
As the movie progresses, Sterling starts throwing pieces of popcorn into the air, attempting to catch them in his mouth. I join in, and soon we”re engaged in a popcorn-throwing contest, cheering when we get one. He makes a dramatic display, falling back against the couch as the popcorn pours down his shirt.
”I”m hit,” he announces, clutching his chest.
”You sure are,” I say with a smirk, trying to bite back a laugh as I poke at his ribcage, right where I know he”s most ticklish. ”Poor guy.”
”Hey, have some mercy. You can”t attack a wounded soldier,” he says, and he lunges at me.
I squeal and dart away, grabbing my bowl of popcorn. I make a run for it, but he chases after me, cornering me at the table.
”Get back here, you vile beast,” he growls playfully, and I burst out laughing.
He tackles me to the ground, and we both roll around, throwing popcorn at each other. Somehow, we end up tangled up in a mess of limbs, and his face is inches from mine. I”m still laughing, and he”s grinning at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
”Gotcha,” he says, and the laughter subsides just as the credits roll. Sterling falls onto his back and stretches, letting out a satisfied sigh. ”Well, that was certainly something. I haven”t laughed that hard in a long time.
I nod in agreement. ”Definitely one for the books. Thanks for this, Sterling. It”s been a great day.”
Buddy whines in the next room, and we both glance toward the source of the noise. ”Sounds like he needs to go out,” Sterling says.
I sit up and brush the popcorn crumbs off my shirt. ”I should probably head out anyway. It”s getting late.”
He nods. ”Yes, it is. It”s been an exhausting few days. I could use a good night sleep.”
”Okay, well I”ll help clean this up and then we can be on our way.”
He moves to help me, and we gather the trash and load it into a bag. The silence between us is comfortable, a stark contrast to just a while ago when the air was so electric. Thinking about his admission, I press my lips together to keep from smiling.
Sterling Cole had a crush on me. A real, honest-to-goodness crush. The guy I”ve been drooling over for years. And I never knew. What a weird feeling. It”s a lot to process.
I”ve known Sterling all my life, and we”ve always been friends. He”s one of the few people in my life I can talk to about anything. There”s an ease to our relationship that can”t be replicated with anyone else, and there”s never been any pressure to impress him. We”re simply two people who care about the same things. He”s always been my first choice.
I let out a small sigh, my heart swelling with warmth. The whole time we were hanging out together, my mind kept going back to the way he looked at me when my brother called. It was like he was trying to say so much without saying a word.
The look was intimate and sensual, and it made my whole body feel tingly.
I smile again, truly unable to help it now. The realization that Sterling has feelings for me makes me happy. I know he”s a good guy, and he”s the best friend anyone could ever have. He”s a total catch.
He was honest with me, so it’s time for me to do the same. But whenever I think of telling him that I liked him back then too, I”m speechless.
Me, who is known around this town for being to talk to anybody, any day, anywhere at the drop of a hat. Me, who makes conversation with every person I meet...
For once, I can’t think of a word to say.