Chapter 3Wait, I'm My Crush's Crush?

Savannah lifted her head, her expression twisted with malice. "Juliette Gadberry likes you, too. So why are you still so close to her?"

Her voice shot up several octaves, making it sharp and shrill. The people in the stands around us all turned to stare, their eyes homing in on us like spotlights.

But Savannah didn't feel embarrassed in the slightest. She wanted everyone, especially Flynn, to know that the friend he trusted most had the same disgusting thoughts about him that every other woman had.

I didn't try to argue because everything she said was true. I lowered my head, too scared to look at Flynn. I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to handle it if I saw disgust on his face.

Flynn was taken aback for only a few seconds, but that silence felt excruciatingly long to me. I felt like a criminal quietly waiting for the final verdict.

"Well, it's not one-sided. I like her, too."

My eyes flew wide open. I jerked my head up and stared at Flynn in disbelief. The dark, stormy look on his face vanished in an instant, and his gaze was soft and tender as he met my eyes.

I wasn't the only one stunned. Even Savannah, who had been so aggressive just a moment ago, stood there frozen. Her face turned pale, then flushed. Her expression shifted wildly.

In the end, she managed to force out a few shaky words. "But you said…"

Flynn had heard accusations like this more times than he could count, and he didn't even bother explaining this time.

"Things between Juliette and me aren't what you people think. It's not just some shallow, physical thing. If there's nothing else, I need to get ready for the game."

With that, he walked away. After a few steps, he glanced back at me over his shoulder. He mouthed the words, "Wait for me."

Once Flynn disappeared into the crowd, Savannah collapsed into her seat like a punctured balloon. She'd always acted like she was so much better than everyone else, yet now she'd thrown away all her dignity for a man.

The game started, and the crowd's attention was quickly swallowed up by the action on the ice rink. Only Savannah stayed silent, not saying a word.

After a long time, she finally lowered her head and let out a bitter laugh. "Juliette, I almost feel sorry for you. I used to see you as my rival, you know. I'd ask myself why you got to be so close to Flynn, why you got all that special treatment no one else had, why you got to be his only one.

"But looking at you now, you're just as pitiful as I am. Flynn's feelings for you will always stop at friendship. They're never going to go any further than that. Sure, I got rejected, but I don't regret it. At least I tried and put myself out there. I'm not like you—a coward who will never take the first step."

With that, she grabbed her bag and strutted out of the stands in her sky-high stilettos without waiting for the game to end.

Flynn played his heart out in this game, giving it everything he had. The score gap just kept widening until the win was basically guaranteed. I was distracted the whole time, though.

If even Savannah could see through my feelings for Flynn, there was no way he himself would remain oblivious for long. He wasn't an idiot; he would figure it out one day.

Savannah wasn't wrong. I really had been enjoying the girlfriend treatment while hiding behind the safety of being "just friends". I knew I couldn't keep lying to myself like this. It was time to put an end to it.

Flynn didn't disappoint—he took the championship, just like everyone expected. On the way to the movie theater afterward, I walked beside him in silence, mulling things over.

After a long moment of thought, I finally asked tentatively, "When people question what we are to each other, why don't you ever clear it up?"

Flynn, who'd been chattering nonstop beside me about his favorite plays from the game, suddenly went quiet, like someone had hit pause. He turned and looked at me, puzzled.

To make sure he understood what I meant, I explained, "You said you don't want to date anyone to make those women give up and move on. So then why…"

I took a second to organize my words, then continued, "Don't you think we're a little too close? You even tell people we like each other. Of course, everyone's going to assume I'm your girlfriend.

"Then when they remember you said you didn't want to date, they'll just think you were lying. And you're a public figure. If the media misunderstand and spin this into some big scandal to stir up drama, what then?"

Flynn's gaze sharpened, growing firm and unwavering. "I don't care what they think, and you don't have to worry about the media, either. People like me because I earned it. If a few fake rumors are enough to make someone stop supporting me, then I don't need fans like that."

He paused. "Besides… if they already know you're my girlfriend and still think they've got a shot with me, then cutting ties with them is definitely the right choice."

The words "you're my girlfriend" made my heart skip a beat and then race ahead, faster than it should have. His tone was so serious and resolute that it felt like we'd actually made things official right then and there.

I forced myself to quell those thoughts because I definitely wasn't supposed to be having them. I didn't dare meet Flynn's eyes as I said, "It makes sense when you put it that way. But still… if you keep this up, how am I ever supposed to get a boyfriend?"

He'd been walking in step with me, but he suddenly faltered. "What? You want to get a boyfriend?"