He gave me a weak smile. “You’re my best friend. I’d do anything for you.”
I managed a smile of my own. “Same for you, Cars.”
With a soft “Come here,” he set Franklin on the floor and embraced me. He held me close before pulling back and saying, “Let’s do this thing.”
I checked my makeup in the mirror while he grabbed the plate, and together with Franklin, we began walking down the stairs. Even though my heart was racing, I knew I needed to do this. To get over Carson once and for all and find my own happily ever after.
I could hear his footsteps fall behind me, and it felt like each step he took matched the pounding of my heart. What would my parents say about Carson and me being in a relationship?
What would Nick think?
When we reached the bottom of the stairs, we looked around and saw no one was in the kitchen or living room, so we continued to the basement to find everyone sitting on the sectional, watching one of my mom’s favorite British baking shows.
“This guy's totally going to win,” Nick said, pointing at the middle-aged man on the screen.
“No way,” Joe argued, “not with that sloppy form right there.”
My mom chuckled, and Dad held her hand. It was sweet. Would the moment still be sweet after we told them?
Nick looked up at us first, his dark eyes taking me in. I felt completely bare under his gaze. What did he see? Did he like how I looked? Or would he have to overcome his distaste for my looks based on my personality if we were to have any chance at all?
My mom followed his gaze and smiled at Carson and me. “Want to watch the Great British Baking Show with us?”
“Sure,” I said. Franklin wiggled in my arms, and I set him down so he could run to his favorite throw pillow.
“Actually,” Carson said, taking my hand, “can you guys pause it? We have something to tell you.”
Twenty-Four
CARSON
I had to squeeze Callie’s hand to keep mine from shaking. Everyone in the living room—Callie’s parents, Joe, and the guy she loved—looked back at me expectantly. It felt like all the blood was draining from my face as I prepared to tell them the truth: that I was in love with Callie.
Callie’s dad lifted the remote and paused the show. It was frozen on an old lady with her lips bunched up, clearly tasting something. I would much rather be in her position right now, because my stomach was becoming more and more knotted by the second.
“What's up?” Robert asked. “Everything okay?”
I looked to Callie. Everything was always okay with her at my side. For a moment, I stared into her deep blue eyes and found the courage I needed to tell them. “Callie and I are in a relationship.”
Callie’s eyes slid over to her family, and I followed her gaze to them, holding my breath.
A look of realization crossed Joe’s face, and he immediately burst out laughing. Like loud, obnoxious laughter. He pointed between Callie and me. “Carson has been so deep in the friend zone, he might as well be wearing a dress. And he made it out?”
I squeezed Callie’s hand tighter, if only to keep me upright. This was everything I’d dreamed of—getting out of the friend zone and becoming more. But this alternate reality was what I signed up for instead, and I needed to remember why. Callie deserved better than me for her future. She deserved more.
Callie’s eyebrows came together in that adorable way they did when she was angry. “Why would you say that about Carson?”
Joe’s smile faltered. “It’s not that; it's just... I've seen you put makeup on him.”
I shuddered. Why did he have to bring up that snow day gone wrong? “Come on, man, that was one time in fifth grade.”
“And remember last year when you guys dressed up as Charlie's Angels for Halloween and Callie’s foster dog had to be the third angel?” Joe said. “Carson held her in your purse the entire night!”
“Joe, honey,” Anne warned him.
I gave Callie a look. “I told you that was a bad idea.”
Callie shook her head, then turned back to Joe, speaking forcefully. “Carson is the best friend a girl could ask for, and I'm lucky that he would even consider dating me.”
Her words sent my heart twisting in all sorts of uncomfortable ways, like maybe she should just rip it out of my chest already, but I just held