Falling in love with your best friend? 1/10. Do not recommend.

Too bad my heart didn’t get the memo.

Every date I’ve been on this year has felt like a job interview I didn’t prepare for. Cold, boring, and the cause of devastatingly low self-esteem.

Korie—my gender-fluid best friend—knows more about me than anyone. When my sister jokingly says they should date me to give me pointers, we both laugh. It’s too ridiculous to even consider. Except, that’s exactly what happens.

We think it’ll be funny. Something we can laugh about later. But somewhere between holding their hand and sharing food across a dinner table, I realize something terrifying: they’re my ideal partner.

How have I never seen it before?

Caring for them has never been hard. Pretending it doesn’t wreck me when we kiss goodnight is another story. I’m suddenly aching for them in ways I never have before, and worse? Korie doesn’t date. Ever.

The whole point of this was to keep it fake. To practice being real without changing our friendship. So how do I convince my heart to play along—when admitting the truth could cost me my best friend?

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