Old friend

“It’s been a long time,” Shawn’s lips pulled into a warm smile before his brows knitted in confusion, “Are you okay? I saw the woman they wheeled to the ambulance. She seemed dazed, but fine.”

Shawn was my brother’s best friend and the man I swore I was going to marry up until I met James. He’s been a part of my life since we were both in the first grade. My childhood crush turned into a full-on obsession when we were teenagers. He was the center of every dream I had ever created.

But no matter how much I planned for him to be a part of my future, to him, I was simply his best friend's little sister.

My lips quivered as the last few hours replayed in my mind.

“Rosie,” Shawn placed his hands against the bare skin on my upper arms, “What’s going on?”

I haven’t seen Shawn in years, but somehow, he still knows me. The way my nickname rolls off his lips takes me back to a time when things were so much simpler.

Shaking my head, I forced a smile, “It’s just been a rough day,”