Change of Heart Read Online Free

into her. She smiles and runs her hand, the one holding my shirt, down my cheek. I cringe and take a step back, but not before I hear a gasp to my left.
    I close my eyes tightly, then open them and look over.
    Shit .
    “Casey,” I say, turning towards her.
    She shakes her head and pushes passed me, heading for the front door.
    “Casey, wait!” I yank my shirt out of Carrie’s grip and take off after Casey, ignoring the looks and whispers around me. They can say or think what they want, but I’m not about to let my best friend take off pissed at me. I follow her out the front door and down the steps. “Casey, stop!”
    She finally pauses, startled by my tone, but she doesn’t turn around.
    I walk around to face her. “That wasn’t what you thought it was.”
    “What did I think it was?” she asks flatly, crossing her arms over her chest and cocking her hip in a defensive stance.
    “Don’t play games, Casey. I wasn’t doing anything with her. She spilled shit on my shirt and was supposedly taking me to the laundry room. Once she got to the stairs, I knew she was up to something and stopped.”
    Casey rolls her eyes. “Whatever, Decker. It’s not like it even matters. I’m going home.”
    “It does matter,” I insist.
    “Why?”
    “Because you’re upset. It matters to me when you’re upset.”
    “Why, all of a sudden, do my feelings matter, Decker?”
    “What are you talking about? You’re my best friend, your feelings have always mattered to me.”
    She visibly deflates, as if my answer has disappointed her. It shouldn’t. She is my best friend. Has been since we were six years old.
    “Listen, friend , if you’re going to stay and drink, then I’ll just take your truck home. You can call me when you need a ride instead of your parents.”
    “Casey, what’s going on?”
    “Nothing, Decker,” she says with a sigh, relaxing her posture. “It’s been a long day and I’m tired. And you know how I feel about parties.”
    I nod, not entirely buying it. But I’ll let it go for tonight. “You sure you’re okay?”
    She nods and gives me a poor attempt at a reassuring smile.
    I pull her in for a hug and kiss the top of her head. “I’ll call you later.”
    “Okay,” she says quietly. I hand her my keys, she snatches them quickly and walks away. Without a goodbye. Casey never leaves without saying goodbye. I consider going after her, but stop myself. Something is definitely up with her and it’s obvious she needs space to work it out. Casey isn’t the type to hide. If she has a problem, she’ll face it head on. So I know she needs time.
    And I’ll give her time. But not too much.

Chapter Four
     
    Casey
     
     
     
     
     
     
    End of Summer
     
    I lie in my bed, staring at the text on my phone.
    Deck:   Still up?
    I look over at the alarm clock on my nightstand. It’s after midnight, and I have a long drive ahead of me tomorrow. At this hour, Decker only ever wants one thing. I know what I should do, but what am I going to do?
    What’s one more night, right? Does that make me a bad person?
    Things with Decker have been strained, to say the least, since Cade’s graduation party. It’s like he knows something is wrong but is too afraid to stir things up by asking me about it. I usually don’t hide things from him. I’ve always been an open book.
    But this…this I can’t be an open book about.
    Me:   Yes.
    Deck:   Is it open?
    He’s referring to my bedroom window. His point of entry.
    Me:   Yes.
    Deck:   I’ll be right there.
    I roll to my back and stare up at the ceiling, the glow-in-the-dark stars shine back at me. Decker and I placed them there when we were twelve. It was only six years ago, but it seems like a lifetime ago. Things are so different now.
    I hadn’t been sleeping with him back then.
    And I hadn’t been in love with him, either.
    Yep, that’s right. I’m in love with my best friend. At Cade’s graduation party, when I saw him with Carrie, it’s like my