I Pursued Him for My Best Friend Chapter 02

I Pursued Him for My Best Friend Chapter 02

Tara Meeks came barrelling into the room like a tornado.

“Ladies! The meet’s about to start! Why are you still here?”

I blinked, dazed. Right. The swim finals. I’d almost forgotten.

Last night Tara and Jenna had talked me into confessing after the race. They’d even helped me practice my lines.

I glanced at Kendra, who was fully made up with lipstick and highlighter.

It made sense now why the girl who’d always been my biggest hype man had gone dead silent during the most heated part of the planning.

“I’m not going.”

“What? Why not?” Tara froze mid-rummage through her bag.

Kendra’s face flickered, then she grabbed my hand.

“Piper, please. I want to surprise him with my IRL reveal today, and I can’t do this without you.:

“You promised you’d come with me for the meet-up. I’ll be so nervous if you’re not beside me.”

I was about to pull away when Tara grabbed my other arm.

“Come on, let’s roll! Jenna’s been saving us seats since dawn. Landon will see you the second he gets out of the water. This is your moment!”

The words died on my tongue when I caught the smug glint in her eye.

Why should I be the one to hide? She was the one with something to hide, not me. If she wasn’t scared, I had no reason to be.

Tara was always impulsive. She dragged me out without waiting for Kendra in her heels. We reached Rayburn Pool way ahead of her.

Jenna waved us over to her prime seats, right at the edge of the pool deck. “Got the best view in the house. You’re welcome.”

I forced a smile. “Thanks.”

Tara snorted. “Don’t mention it. But hey, that law-school guy in Lane Eight is crazy popular. Landon might not even win. You still confess if he loses?”

I glanced at the bench. Landon was glued to his phone, distracted.

The seat Jenna had saved was so front-and-center that his teammate Derek spotted me instantly. He nudged Landon and pointed my way, muttering something I couldn’t hear.

I saw Landon’s brow furrow—that little crease he always got when he was annoyed.

A bitter laugh bubbled up in my chest.

He used to look at me like that all the time, like I was a nuisance. I just never wanted to see it.

Even hearing my name was enough to make him frown.

Before he could look up, I turned away.

“No.”

Tara nodded. “Fair. I’d hate for my crush to see me right after a loss too. We’ll wait for next time.”

I shook my head.

“Win or lose, I’m not confessing. Not anymore.”