Page 6 of False Promises

Moisture pooled in my eyes, and I fought the tear dam about to rupture, plastering the most neutral expression I could muster on my face.

Seconds later, Dahlia stood next to me and placed a hand on my forearm. As it always did, her touch soothed the earthquake growing inside me.

I breathed out whatever air was left in my lungs and squeezed her hand. Our eyes met, and hers shone with unshed tears. Probably mirroring mine.

In that instant, I could tell she was aware of my feelings for her and that hers weren’t reciprocated the way I wished they were.

We both acknowledged in the silent exchange that things would never be the same. Our relationship would change. It already had. It would never be just Carter and Dahlia against the world anymore. That part had dissipated right in front of my eyes in the last few minutes.

And the scars of my heart, the ones exposing the wounds of my heartbreak, would never fully heal. Even if I patched them up, there would always be a mark. For the rest of time.

If I thought I was infatuated with my best friend, I was wrong. I wasn’t infatuated. I was in love. Dahlia was my entire world. Always had been. The one person I would sacrifice everything for, even my most precious dreams.

Tears flowed down her cheeks. And for once, I had no idea how to fix her sadness. Because it wasn’t even close to the abyss I was feeling.

“Hey,” she murmured.

I nodded, unable to speak all the words I wished I could express.

With a deep intake of air, I faked another smile on my lips. A part of me—the one not about to break into sobs—was happy for her. “I’m glad for you two. I was the one who wanted Jeff to ask the girl he liked to prom. I just didn’t know it would be you.”

“I’m sorry, Cart. I shouldn’t have said yes so quickly. Jeff should’ve asked me in private, and we should’ve talked about this. The three of us. I don’t want things to be weird between us. You’ll always be my best friend. Forever. It changes nothing. It’s only prom, okay? We won’t make a big deal out of it. I promise.”

I avoided the piercing gaze I could feel aimed at me.

“We can talk after dinner.”

Gathering all the courage I had left, I said, “No. No need to hear all about that stupid glittery chiffon dress you’ll want to wear.” I made a gagging sound and winked to ease the tension between us.

She smiled. Maybe we could salvage our friendship.

“Thanks,” Dahlia said, pulling me into her arms. The one place I always felt safe and protected. My arms fastened around her. “And yes, I’ll even try on the ugliest dress we find at the store just for your sake. And I might even let you take a picture if you promise to not laugh when you see me in it.”

I shook my head and failed at reeling in the smile threatening to break free.

Dahlia fisted my shirt, pulled me in, and kissed my cheek. “You’re the best.” She lifted the pile of plates and silverware Mom had placed on the kitchen island and took it upon herself to set the table.

* * *

Spread on my back on my comforter, I threw a football to the ceiling, catching it before sending it back up. Jeff and Dahlia had left for prom about two hours ago. Since the night he asked her to be his date, I had tried to lock my emotions in, but every time my gaze landed on her, my heart twisted with pain.

We both agreed, no matter what, our friendship was our priority. I couldn’t imagine a life without Dahlia Ellis in it. And she said I would forever be her best friend. Guess it was better than nothing. In the end, I preferred to not date her than to lose her.

With my sleeve, I wiped my teary eyes. Earlier, I had walked her from her house to mine. She looked so beautiful in the steel-blue gown that made the color of her eyes pop. Dahlia could light up a room with her presence only, but tonight she glowed. It crushed my heart to see her all dressed up for another guy. I ended up smiling for pictures along with them. Something clicked when I watched them posing together, though. My brother was in love with the girl of my dreams. There was no hiding it. It was in the way he looked at her when she wasn’t aware.

And I realized something else. Jeff had looked at her like this in the past. Before he asked her to go to prom. My own feelings had blinded me; hence, I didn’t notice it sooner.

I tried to swallow, but it ended up in a choked sob when I moved to sit.

The worst thing of all was that my best friend was also in love with my brother. There was no denying it either anymore.

Mom made a big deal of their relationship tonight. She took at least a hundred pictures of them. Mrs. Ellis insisted on including me in her own photo shoot, stating those pictures of the three of us would become the memories we’d cherish later when we got older.

Tears clouded my vision now. No matter what I told myself, I couldn’t keep my sadness in. Heart-wrecked, I wondered if the pain would ever subside. Maybe one day.

When I confided in my friend Phoenix last week, he said I should get myself a girlfriend to forget about Dahlia. His reasoning made sense. What he ignored was that I didn’t want to hold another girl’s hand or kiss someone else.

With both hands, I cupped my heart, as if its pounding could drive it out of my chest, and bending forward, I cried until the lining of my throat felt raw and the back of my eyes burned.