I Heard His Thoughts While Chasing Him For A Year Chapter 07

I Heard His Thoughts While Chasing Him For A Year Chapter 07

The café was new, yet Everett knew which dishes were excellent and which were average.

Before I said much, he ordered all my favorites.

He chose the mild broth, the chicken dumplings, and the side I always ordered when we ate with friends. I wondered how someone supposedly focused on Zoe had memorized my tastes so carefully.

I knew he liked Zoe, but the care still moved me.

If he would not admit his feelings, I could help him.

“I know who you like.”

The dumpling on Everett’s spoon fell back into the bowl. His ears turned red.

“You know?”

“You’re painfully obvious.”

Remembering the kiss filled me with shame.

“I’m sorry about what happened before.”

Everett coughed.

“So what do you think?”

[She knows. She actually knows.]

[My heart is beating too fast. I can barely breathe.]

—

I stirred my soup.

“I think it’s good.”

“Really?”

“You have excellent taste.”

[I’m dying. What does that mean?]

[Does she mean she approves of me liking her? Stay calm.

Do not grin.]

I sighed.

“I mean, if you like her, pursue her. Stop hiding everything.”

[Boom. Boom.

Boom.]

His heartbeat felt loud enough to shake my eardrums.

Everett sat unnaturally straight, trying to preserve the same reserved face that had fooled me for a year. The red at his ears betrayed him again.

Eventually, he managed, “I’ll try.”

The emptiness returned. My eyes stung, but I refused to cry in front of him.

I held it until my voice turned nasal.

Encouraging the boy I loved to pursue my best friend was the most

—

generous thing I had ever done, and I hated every second of it.

Everett handed me a napkin.

“Use less hot sauce next time. It’s spicy.”

I took it and blew my nose without dignity.

From the corner of my eye, I saw his mouth twitch.

[Ha ha ha.]

[Heh heh heh.]

[This is so cute.]

I threw the tissue at him.

“Can you be honest about anything?”

Everett dropped it into the trash without changing his cool expression.

He looked cold and composed, but an immature little boy lived inside his head.

The contrast would have been funny if my heart had not hurt. I could hear every laugh he refused to show and every emotion he kept beneath that controlled face.

I wished him luck confessing.

I also wished Zoe would reject him immediately.