She Thought Her Childhood Best Friend Had Chosen Another Girl — So She Walked Away Before He Could Tell Her the Truth
Chapter 5
The next morning, the families planned a hiking trip.
Claire volunteered to stay behind.
Ryan stayed too.
Their parents exchanged knowing looks but said nothing.
For the first time in days, the two were alone.
Ryan found Claire sitting on the porch.
“Can we talk?”
She didn’t answer.
He sat beside her.
“Natalie asked me out.”
“I know.”
“I said no.”
“I heard you.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
Claire looked at him.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it.”
She took a breath.
“I saw you with her.”
“And?”
“You looked…”
She stopped.
“Happy.”
Ryan frowned.
“Happy?”
“Maybe not happy.”
She looked down.
“But comfortable.”
He shook his head.
“Claire, I was trying to figure out how to reject her without embarrassing her.”
She looked up.
“You could have walked away.”
“I did.”
She frowned.
“After you left.”
Ryan stared at her.
“You didn’t hear any of that?”
“No.”
Silence.
Then realization hit both of them.
Claire covered her face.
“Oh my God.”
Ryan laughed softly.
“I spent three days thinking you were angry because you thought I chose someone else.”
“I thought you did.”
He looked at her.
“Why would you care?”
She couldn’t answer.
He waited.
“Claire?”
She stood.
“I don’t know.”
Ryan stood too.
“You do.”
She turned away.
He gently caught her wrist.
“Look at me.”
She did.
Ryan’s expression had changed.
Something deeper was there now.
Something neither of them could pretend not to see.
But before he could say it, their parents called them for lunch.
The moment disappeared.
But the questions remained.
