The Crush List: a sweet romantic comedy (The Love List Series Book 3) by Ellie Hall

Author:Ellie Hall [Hall, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

20

PIPPA

My heart leaps in my chest, attempting to make a getaway, hollering, Take cover! Save yourself!

I gaze at my hands, looking for the prick of a thorn from an adversarial evil witch from a fairytale, but there isn’t one. I try to detect humor in Chase’s expression, but his eyes are bright, sincere, and as sparkly as ever.

“I’m sorry for what happened next. Or what you think happened,” he says, continuing his explanation of the sponge prank.

“What do you mean?” My voice is almost a whisper. My heart continues to knock against my ribs.

“You sat down with me,” Chase says.

I remember the jolt of shock at his request followed by the surge of hope. It was like everything I’d hoped for during all my senior year daydreams was coming true. The words I’d written in my diary make me cringe now. I was so immature. Sometimes I still am.

Chase Collins had finally noticed me. We’ll soon be walking to classes together, meeting up to study, falling in love...

A bee buzzes and then lands on the trellis post, reminding me that the sting came next. It’s just as real at this moment in the garden as the sun fades, as it had originally been in the cafeteria at Hinnifin Hall.

I can almost hear the laughter, see Marlow’s vicious smile from across the table, and feel the burn of humiliation that I was unable to shake for days, weeks, months—even years—afterward. A pair of tears form in my eyes. I try to blink them away.

Chase’s gaze doesn’t leave mine nor does it falter. “I’m sorry.”

The sky turns dusky and a gentle breeze blows, ruffling my hair. But for once, it isn’t him. Nor does he call me kiddo or Pippag Thomzeg.

He tucks a loose strand behind my ear and his rough hand brushes against my cheek in a pleasant way.

“I had a piece of cake,” he says, continuing the story like we have to see it through to the end if only to reconcile once and for all.

“Sponge cake,” I all but choke out.

“I offered you a bite.”

His hands drift to my upper arms, locking me in place because if he knows me at all, he’s aware I’m ready to bolt. It’s getting too intense. Risking removing one hand, he gently tilts my chin so I’m looking at him once more.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to say what I’d planned to. I’m sorry I didn’t rush after you. I’m sorry I didn’t think of a different way to ask you what I’d been desperate to say for months.”

I tip my head as thoughts race around and around in a loop. “What do you mean?”

Chase bites his lip. “After I gave you that stupid piece of fake cake, my line was supposed to be, ‘I was hoping it would be a piece of cake to ask you to prom.’”

My pulse takes off so fast, I’m practically spinning. Chase’s hands remain on my arms, holding me in place.

“This is no excuse, but where I originally went to high school, we had a thing called a ‘Promposal.

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