3. He's an Asshole!

CAROLINE

"You're an asshole."

"Maybe. But I'm honest." Harry straightens and looks down at me. "You want to know the truth? He's never going to see you the way you want him to. You've been his best friend for too long. You're safe and comfortable. The girl he calls when he's sad but never the girl he wants."

Tears burn behind my eyes. "Why are you saying this?"

"Because someone needs to. And clearly no one else will."

I'm about to tell him to go to hell when someone calls my name.

Maverick.

He's pushing through the crowd toward us. Riley is right behind him.

"There you guys are," Maverick says. "We've been looking for you. Come dance with us."

"I don't really dance," I say.

"Come on, Caroline. Don't be boring." Riley grabs my hand. "It'll be fun."

I let her pull me toward the dance floor because I still don't know how to say no and Maverick follows. Harry stays against the wall, watching.

The music is loud and the room is hot. Too many bodies pressed together. Riley is dancing with Maverick right in front of me. They're all over each other again. His hands on her body. Her mouth near his ear.

I feel sick.

I'm about to make an excuse to leave when Harry appears beside me.

"Dance with me," he says.

"What?"

"You look like you're about to pass out. Dance with me so you have something to do besides stare at them."

He doesn't wait for an answer. His hands go to my waist and he pulls me closer. Not as close as Maverick and Riley, but close enough that we're actually dancing instead of just standing here.

"This is weird," I say.

"Would you rather keep watching them?"

I look over at Maverick. He's kissing Riley's neck.

"No," I admit.

"Then pretend you're having fun."

We dance for a few songs. Harry is surprisingly good at it. He moves with confidence, like everything else he does.

"Why are you suddenly being nice to me after acting like a prick?" I ask.

"Language Princess, and who says I'm being nice?"

"You're dancing with me so I don't look pathetic standing alone."

"Maybe I wanted to dance."

"You don't seem like the dancing type."

"I'm not." Harry looks down at me. "But I don't like watching people hurt themselves either."

"I'm not hurting myself."

"Yes, you are. You're in love with someone who doesn't love you back, and instead of walking away, you're torturing yourself by staying close. That's self-harm."

"It's called being a good friend."

"It's called being a doormat."

I try to pull away but his grip tightens.

"Let go of me," I say.

"In a minute."

"Harry—"

"Look at me, Caroline."

I do. His eyes are dark gray and intense. They see too much.

"You're in love with Maverick," he says quietly. " And he's never going to love you back the way you want him to."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do.”

"You don't know anything about our friendship."

"I don't ." Harry's jaw tightens. "But I know you deserve better than this. Better than him."

"Why do you care?"

The question seems to catch him off guard. For a second, something flickers across his face. Something I can't read.

"I don't," he says finally. "I just think it's a waste."

"What is?"

"You. Wasting time on someone who'll never see you."

The song ends. Harry releases me and steps back.

"I need some air," I say.

I push through the crowd toward the back door. My chest is tight. My eyes are burning. I need to get out of here before I start crying in front of everyone.

The backyard is quieter. There are some people out here smoking and talking, but it's not as packed as inside.

I lean against the side of the house and close my eyes.

This night was supposed to be different. I was supposed to confess my feelings and finally tell Maverick the truth. Instead, Riley showed up and ruined everything.

No. Riley didn't ruin anything. I did. By waiting and thinking patience was the same as courage. By believing someday Maverick would just wake up and realize I was perfect for him.

Harry was right. I'm pathetic.

"Hey there, Care Bear."

I open my eyes. Maverick is standing a few feet away.

"How long have you been there?" I ask.

"Just got here. Riley went to the bathroom." He walks closer. "Harry was dancing with you. That was weird."

"He was just being nice."

"Harry's never nice without a reason." Maverick leans against the wall next to me. "Are you okay? You seem off tonight."

"I'm fine."

"Caroline." He turns to face me. "Come on. It's me. You can tell me anything."

Can I? Can I tell him I've been in love with him for three years? That watching him with Riley is killing me? That I came to this party planning to confess and now I can't?

No. I can't tell him any of that.

Because Harry was right about one thing. Maverick sees me as his best friend. His safe place. The girl who's always there. Never the girl he wants.

"I'm just tired," I say. "It's been a long day."

Maverick studies my face. For a second, I think he sees through my lie. But then he smiles and pulls me into a hug.

"You're the best, you know that?" he says. "I'm so glad we're doing college together."

I hug him back and try not to cry.

Over Maverick's shoulder, I see Harry watching us from the doorway. His expression is dark and unreadable.

Our eyes meet and something passes between us.

Maverick pulls back. "Come on. Let's go find Riley and get another drink."

"Actually, I think I'm going to head back to my dorm," I say.

"Already? The party just started."

"I have an early thing tomorrow."

It's a lie. Classes don't start until Monday. But Maverick doesn't question it.

"Okay. Want me to walk you back?"

"No, I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Go have fun with Riley."

Maverick grins and heads back inside.

I stand there alone in the backyard, watching him go. Watching him choose her again.

Harry appears beside me.

"You need a ride?" he asks.

"I can walk."

Silence.

I don’t know if it was the atmosphere or the way Harry just kept looking at me quietly but then I blurted. "He'll never see me, will he?"

"No," Harry says quietly. "He won't."

The truth of it stung so bad. I'm crying before I can stop myself. I wanted to scream from the sheer frustration but I silently just let the tears run down my face.

Harry doesn't say anything. He just stands there while I fall apart. When I finally stop crying, he hands me his jacket.

"Come on," he says. "I'll take you home."

****

When we pull up in front of my building, I unbuckle my helmet and hand it over.

"Thank you," I say. "For the ride. And for..." I don't know how to finish that sentence.

"Don't thank me," Harry says. "I didn't do anything."

"You were honest at least. You’re an asshole but an honest one.”

"Sometimes the truth sucks."

"Yeah." I took off his jacket and placed it on the seat. "I should go."

"Caroline."

I turn back to look at him.

“Get some sleep, Princess. Tears would do you no good.”