Read Promposal for Free Online Page A

brought a surge of guilt-mingled pain to my heart. Ethan didn’t know I loved him, despite my internal agony. How could he know? All these years, I’d never let anything on, had been so careful to keep my romantic feelings from him so as not to pressure him. All this waiting-for-the-right-time crap had now bitten me in the ass. It wasn’t his fault I’d built up some stupid expectation, some delirious hope that one day we might end up together.
    I knew my friend needed me, and I also knew I couldn’t let him down.
    But I couldn’t deny the nut-kicking realization that a relationship really wasn’t going to happen with him, ever. We’d settled too deeply into the friend zone for me to dig my way out. Reality was hitting me hard upside the head right now.
    Yeah, I got it, universe. Loud and clear.
    I released his hand and rubbed my nose, which was beginning to freeze. Tried to avoid the pleading look in his eyes. “Okay, sure. I’ll help.” What else could I say? No, because I was hoping you and I would go instead?
    â€œYou. Are. A. God,” he said, relief clear on his face. “I know you’ll help me make this the most amazing event ever.” Ethan dropped his sled and wrapped me in his arms, and it was almost impossible for me not to breathe his shampoo, the warmth of his skin, deeply in. “Thank you. Thank you . ”
    I let my sled go too and gave him an awkward pat on the back, then moved away. “What are friends for?”

    An hour later, I was sitting on my couch, a blanket tucked around me, watching some weird, random black-and-white murder mystery on TV. My phone was on the coffee table; I saw it buzz and light up, but I didn’t move for it.
    Right now, I just needed to nurse my wounds. Figure out how to piece my pathetic broken heart back together. All I had to do was get over Ethan by Monday, then help him win the guy of his dreams so they could enjoy their romantic prom together.
    Piece of cake. I snorted.
    Speaking of dessert . . . I hopped up and headed to the fridge. Surprisingly, Dad had gone to the grocery store while I was out, and he’d gotten us some ice cream. Yeah, it was cold, but come on. Rocky road ice cream. Like I was going to pass that up.
    I made a huge, heaping bowl and settled back into my seat. Checked my phone.
    I hope your day is going better than mine. :-P Whatcha doin? How was your eve w/ Ethan?
    I typed Camilla a response. Eating ice cream and watching a shitty movie. She was smart enough to read between the lines.
    Her reply dinged a minute later. Nuff said. On my way. Will bring chips and Legolas.
    She totally got me. That made me grin. I couldn’t count how many marathons of The Lord of the Rings trilogy she and I had done over the last few years, if only because we loved to watch Orlando Bloom run around and look hot.
    Perfect, I texted back. Rocky road awaits you.

CHAPTER FIVE
Camilla
    O w!” I cried out after an elbow clipped my side.
    â€œOh. Sorry,” some huge guy said as he kept barreling down the crowded hallway.
    I grumbled under my breath as I rubbed my sore rib cage. Yeah, it was shaping up to be a real Monday, all right. I’d left my packed lunch on the kitchen counter this morning and didn’t have any cash on me, so my stomach was grumbling like crazy with hunger. I’d bombed my French test. People all day had asked me what it felt like to be a celebrity on the news. Zach had already sent me half a dozen texts asking me how I was and if I wanted to hang out one day after school this week.
    And now my rib was throbbing like mad.
    A light touch on my elbow snapped my attention up.
    â€œYou okay? I saw what that meathead did. That had to hurt.” Noah McIntyre gave me a warm smile of concern.
    I frowned, torn between appreciation for his concern and solidarity for Joshua’s personal agony over the drama Noah was unknowingly causing. “Oh. Um, yeah. Thanks for