Sam Harper is my best friend and has been since we were kids. Unfortunately, he sees himself as my unofficial big brother. Which is to say that the guy is a major cock block. I swear he has a sixth sense when it comes to me getting laid. It's frustrating how I can be on the verge of sealing the deal when Sam will appear out of nowhere, and suddenly my night is going up in a big ball of sexually frustrated flames. I think the guy enjoys messing with me. Why else would he do it?Lately, I'm starting to notice things about Sam that I shouldn’t be noticing. Like those piercing blue eyes that pin me in place. Or his short blond hair that I want to drag my fingers through. Not to mention those killer abs that I sometimes catch a fleeting glimpse of. The strange feelings that have sprung up in me are definitely starting to freak me out. We’ve always been just friends. And I don’t want that to change.Friend Zoned is created by Jennifer Sucevic, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
View MoreSeven months later...Roan-Mr. Hotshot Rookie of the Year-helps me carry the heavy couch up two flights of stairs. As we crest the landing, Violet scrambles to open the door. She slides out of our way before pointing at the far wall under the window of the tiny apartment we're now renting. "Put it down over there." As we lower the monstrous thing to the ground, she directs, "A little more to the left, please."Roan shoots me a look as we shuffle to the left."Nope, too far. Go back just a smidge."We sidle to the right before hesitating. When she smiles, we set it down on the carpeted floor."Perfect!"As I stretch my back and shoulders, my gaze strays to Violet as she fusses around the couch, adding cushions and pillows. The way she looks in those tight cutoff jean shorts-especially when she bends over to grab something off the floor-has me wishing that Roan would disappear. It also has me thinking about all the ways I plan to christen our brand-new apartment in the nea
All I want is to grab hold of Violet and yank her into my arms. Need pounds through my body like a steady drumbeat. It's all I can think about. Dancing with her, holding her in my arms again-I couldn't do it any longer, knowing that she wasn't mine.That I had lost her.That she wants to be friends and nothing more.Here's what I know-I can't go back to the way it was when Violet was oblivious to my feelings. Oblivious to the need spiking through my veins.The distance between us is palpable. It's like a chasm. One that feels insurmountable. And that sucks. It's never been like this between us, and it scares the shit out of me. All I want is for our relationship to go back to the way it was before that fucking photograph was splashed all over social media.I never wanted our relationship to backpedal or stall. I was thrown off by the situation. And then it spiraled out of control.But I've had time to wade through this mess, and deal with everything hurtling at me in h
Thirty minutes slide by and the bar is packed to the gills. Several other football players have joined our group. They've pulled up chairs or stand around the table laughing and talking, swigging beer from their bottles.Where the college athletes go, the inevitable groupies who are looking for a little hookup action at the end of the night follow. They've found laps to hang out on in tiny skirts that barely cover their asses.Thankfully, none of them have planted themselves on Sam.I don't think I could bear that. The facade I've donned for the evening is fragile. To sit next to him and pretend that everything is normal is more difficult than I imagined. Even though I'm having a good time, I'm unbearably aware of Sam's presence beside me. The way his knee settles against mine. The subtle touches here and there. I'm wound up so tight that it feels like I could explode from the pressure building inside me.It's only when his fingers slip gently over mine and he drags me out
Mia polishes off her first bottle of beer before starting in on the second. Her alcohol consumption is turning out to be more of a sprint rather than a marathon. "You're just going to sit back and do absolutely nothing about this?"I give her a blank look because yeah-that's exactly what the plan is. For the time being, I'm going to lay low and ride this one out. What else does she expect me to do? Haven't I singlehandedly caused enough damage to my friendship with Sam?She scowls, looking frustrated by my lack of response before doling out more unsolicited advice. Alcohol, unfortunately, brings out the armchair therapist in Mia."For starters, you could pull on your big girl panties, and tell him how you really feel." When I remain stubbornly silent, her expression softens. "I can see how much the situation is tearing you apart. I get that you made a mistake. But it's not the end of the world, Violet. If you want Sam, then you need to be honest with him about your feelin
"Violet! Wait up!"I swing around and spot Allie trucking toward me from out of nowhere. When she's close enough, one hand snakes out and fastens around my upper arm. The way her fingers bite into my flesh has me wondering if everything is all right.She looks a little crazy.All right, maybe more than a little.A frenzied light fills her deep brown eyes.I'm tempted to retreat, but her grip is solid. For the time being, I'm stuck."Oh my God, have you seen the picture yet?" Not only are her eyes bulging from their sockets, but she's vibrating with pent-up excitement. I've never seen her like this before.Not that I know Allie all that well, but this isn't her normal demeanor. She's usually more chill. Clearly something big is going on.My belly nosedives ten stories as I notice the way she's clutching her phone. Dread rushes through my body as I wait for her to drop whatever bomb is about to roll off her tongue. Even though I know it's impossible for there to be anot
"You've been awfully quiet lately," Gran comments. "Everything okay at school?"I throw a fleeting smile over my shoulder as I finish washing up the dishes in the sink. "Yup, everything's fine."Even though I've turned back toward the soapy water, I feel my grandmother's warm hazel gaze on me as if assessing my words for the truth. Last week, I casually broke the news that Sam and I had decided to part ways. She had looked surprised before asking a few questions about the demise of our relationship. Instead of being forthright, I'd shut down the conversation before it could spiral out of control. I realize that she's trying to help, but there is nothing that dulls the pain of this breakup. It's like a throbbing wound that refuses to heal. I expected after a solid week of moping, the ache would have subsided by now.It hasn't.It still feels raw and surprisingly tender, which is ridiculous. It's not like we were together for that long. Losing Sam shouldn't feel like such a
Mia pokes her head around the corner of the door and glances in my room. "Hey, how is your grandfather doing? It's been a few days since I've seen you.""He's better! It's a lot of resting right now, which is driving him crazy. I guess there's only so much CNN a person can watch." I open a drawer from my dresser to grab a few shirts to take with me. "There's no reason he shouldn't make a full recovery.""That's great." She moves further into the room and plops herself down on my bed. "Any plans to move back to the dorms?" There's a beat of silence. "I've missed having you around, Vi. It's way too quiet without you."My lips lift. "I'll be back in a few days. I want to make sure Gramps is doing all right."She nods. Mia understands how important my grandparents are to me. She's been invited over for a ton of dinners and has visited during summer breaks. "You can take my car back and forth if you want. It's not like I need it during the week."It probably would be e
"Are you sure there's nothing else I can get for you before I take off?" I flutter around my grandfather like a high-strung butterfly, smoothing down blankets as I go. Even though he finds the attention unnecessary and most likely annoying, I'm powerless to standstill. I'm so relieved that he's back home again.He rolls his eyes and repeats his now standard refrain, "I'm fine, Violet. Stop fussing over me like I'm a child. It was just a little heart attack."I have to choke back a biting response.Just a little heart attack.Ha!The man needs to realize that he shaved a decade off my life with his little heart attack. Thank God, he's okay. For the most part. What happened could have been a lot worse. So yeah, I'm going to fuss around him a whole hell of a lot. Guess he'll have to suck it up because I won't be backing off anytime soon."And you don't need to stay at the house either. Your grandmother and I are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves. We've been d
Unsure where to go, I stop at the front desk and explain why I'm there. I'm given directions to a waiting room. There are a few twists and turns down a sterile looking hallway before I spot my grandmother sitting in a chair, nursing a small cup of coffee.My heart spasms as I hurry toward her. "Gran? Have there been any updates?"Her gaze swings to mine before she shakes her head. She sets her coffee aside and rises to her feet before engulfing me in an embrace. Even though fear continues to pump through me, her thin arms have a way of offering comfort, just like they did when I was a child. After a few silent moments, we break apart. Our hands remain clasped as we sit down. Now that I'm here, I release a pent-up breath. "What happened?"Gran shakes her head as if she can't believe that we're sitting in the hospital waiting room, having this conversation. That a few hours ago they were at the breakfast table, starting their day just like they've done thousands of times
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