She Thought Her Childhood Best Friend Had Chosen Another Girl — So She Walked Away Before He Could Tell Her the Truth
Chapter 9
Back at university, everyone noticed.
Their friends were shocked.
“You two are actually dating?”
Claire laughed.
“Apparently.”
Ryan stood behind her.
“Apparently?”
She turned.
“I like keeping you uncertain.”
He smiled.
Their relationship quickly became the thing their friends teased them about most.
But there was something beautiful about it.
They never needed to learn how to be comfortable around each other.
They had spent two decades doing that already.
The difference was in the small things.
Ryan held her hand under the table.
Claire kissed his cheek before class.
They waited for each other after lectures.
They still argued about where to eat.
They still competed over grades.
They were still themselves.
Just more honest.
One afternoon, Natalie approached Claire.
“I wanted to apologize.”
Claire smiled.
“You don’t have to.”
“I thought he might say yes.”
“He didn’t.”
Natalie laughed.
“Good.”
She looked toward Ryan.
“He looks at you like you’re the only person in the room.”
Claire turned.
Ryan was already watching her.
She smiled.
For years, Claire had feared that admitting her feelings would destroy what she and Ryan already had.
Instead, it gave their friendship a new name.
