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he was going with it. For a while, I’d been a wreck. An embarrassingly emotional, broken-hearted, depressed wreck. I didn’t like to think about it. I really didn’t want to have it pointed out to me, either.
    I let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t want to want him. That has to count for something. Right?”
    I was pretty sure I’d been in love with Corey. And I thought he’d been in love with me, too. I was sure of it, actually. But someone should’ve reminded me that high-school romances expire sooner rather than later. Looking back, it should’ve been obvious to me. But I’d naively thought things were going well. I had been wrong. Definitely not the first time and surely not the last, either.
    We were standing on the porch now, right in front of my door. A few more minutes out here and my teeth were going to start to chatter.
    This time the smile he gave me, though small, was genuine. “Sure,” he said. “It counts for something.”
    “I mean, it completely sucks when you want someone and they clearly don’t want you the same way,” I said as I bounced in place just a bit, trying to fight off the cold.
    “Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “I know. I better let you get inside. It’s freezing out here.”
    “Okay, well thanks. For walking me home,” I told him.
    “Not a problem,” he said as he turned and made his way down the steps. “See you later, Britta,” he called over his shoulder.
    I wasn’t sure why. But I just stood there watching him as he began to blend into the darkness. For just a second, I’d thought he was going to ask me to the dance. My initial reaction was a small spark of panic—wondering how I would politely get out of it. Because Jamie surely would not approve. If I’d ever had any doubt—and I really hadn’t because honestly, the thought had never really crossed my mind—now I knew she was completely opposed. But when it turned out to not be an actual request, I was disappointed. Whether I wanted to admit it or not. And had he really asked me? I think I just might have said yes.
    So, really, I told myself, it was probably a good thing he hadn’t asked. And honestly, I wasn’t even sure if his offer to be a back-up still stood. Seemed to me, he’d withdrawn it. Not that I wanted him to be my back-up.
    That was just silly.
    Tristan was a complete sweetheart and too good to be anyone’s back-up plan.
    When he reached the end of my driveway, he turned around. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I was just standing there, in a contemplative daze. He raised his hand and I quickly returned his wave. Then I hurriedly let myself into the house, attempting to banish all thoughts of my best friend’s brother as I went.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    3
    I was on the way up to my room when Mom’s voice called me back downstairs. She met me at the bottom of the steps. She had the kitchen phone in her hand and an unhappy look on her face.
    “I just had an interesting phone call with your father,” she told me.
    My stomach dropped and I cringed. As soon as her words were out I felt bad that she had to deal with him. No wonder she looked so unhappy. She should be able to be done with him completely. But, because of me, she’d always be linked to the jerk.
    “Apparently he’s been unable to get a hold of you on your cell phone.” She paused to look at me with raised eyebrows.
    I shrugged. “I wasn’t in the mood to talk to him.”
    “Ever?” she asked.
    I had no idea why she sounded so surprised.
    “ Ever ,” I agreed.
    She blew out a sigh. “Oh, Britta,” she said as she shook her head. “You need to talk to him. He said he tried to reach you over the holidays. He sounded really hurt. Did you block his number from your phone?”
    “Yes. I don’t want to talk to him.” I couldn’t