Page 154 of Sparks Fly

I stared at her. “What?”

She reached across the table and grabbed both of my hands. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I haven’t told many people really.” I let out a shaky breath.

“Wait.” A huge smile spread across her face. “You’ve been carrying this around by yourself?”

I blinked.

“Addison.” She squeezed my hands. “This is amazing.”

She shook her head quickly. “Not that you felt like you had to hide this part of yourself. I mean that you’re happy. I’m so happy that you’re happy.”

My eyes stung so quickly it made my head spin. “You are?”

“Yes!”

“But you’re not…” My voice trembled. “You don’t care?”

Lilly looked genuinely confused. “Why would I care if you’re dating a man or a woman?”

The question was so simple that it cracked something open inside me. A small laugh escaped me, sharp and breathless. Before I could stop it, the laugh turned into a sob. “Oh my God,” I whispered as tears spilled down my face.

Lilly didn’t flinch. She tightened her hold on my hands. “Addison,” she said gently. “Hey.”

“I don’t know why I thought…” I wiped beneath my eyes, smearing what was left of my concealer. “I don’t know why I thought you would judge me. Or think I didn’t fit anymore.”

Her face softened. “Fit?” she repeated quietly. “Addie, what are you talking about?”

I shook my head. “It sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud.”

“Try.”

I took a shaky breath. “We grew up doing all these things. Events. Traditions. Expectations. Like our lives were staged.” I gestured vaguely around the restaurant. “And you’re marrying Brad, and everything is exactly how we always pictured it.” I swallowed. “Sawyer isn’t part of that world. She rides a motorcycle. She works with her hands. She doesn’t care about any of this stuff. I was scared you would look at her and think she didn’t belong. Or look at me and think I didn’t belong anymore.”

Lilly’s eyes glistened. “Oh, Addie.”

The waiter chose that exact moment to return with Lilly’s drink and my water. She accepted the glass without breaking eye contact with me and said very politely, “We will need just a few minutes before we order.”

He nodded and walked away.

“I’m marrying Brad because I love Brad,” she said gently but firmly. “That has absolutely nothing to do with who you love.”

I sniffed. “When you say it like that, it sounds obvious.”

“It is obvious.” A small smirk tugged at her mouth. “And I’m offended that you think I’m shallow enough to care what your girlfriend does for a living.”

“I’m sorry.” I shrugged. “I don’t think you’re shallow. I just got so worked up in my own head, and then I… I don’t know.”

She squeezed my hands, “I am sorry you didn’t feel like you could talk to me about this.” She paused, “I did kind of figure something was going on the other night.”

My stomach dropped. “You did?”

She nodded. “She reached for your hand, then you pulled yours away so fast it was like touching her burned you. You got weird and fidgety.”

Heat rushed up my neck. “Lilly…”

“I didn’t push,” she continued gently. “I figured you would tell me when you were ready. I just didn’t realize you thought I was someone you couldn’t tell.”