Unchosen (Chosen #2) by Alisa Mullen

feel the anticipation I get when a new movie is about to come out and you want to know every little detail before you actually see it.
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. He doesn’t introduce me to them. It is always about what you are doing. He asks me questions about us growing up and shit. Then, he tells me how you are doing. I feel like I know more about what is going on in your life through him than through you. That is totally shitty creeps, Lizzie.”
    I gave him a “bull shit” look and turned away. “Oh, come on,” I said sarcastically.
    How very interesting. Was this true? Nick talks about me to my brother? Why didn’t he ever tell me he went to Conner’s concerts? I pondered that for a moment and then shook it off. None of my business. Nick could do whatever he wanted on his dates. I wasn’t one of them but him not telling me made me a little irritated.
    I crossed the room and grabbed my guitar off the stand. Conner grabbed his and we instantly fell into a beautiful duet he and I had been working on. “Time for a Change” was the title and I loved it. He planned on playing it soon and had asked me if I would accompany him on stage. Would Nick show up to that show with a date?
    “You know, you are improving on that slide,” Conner said. “I am proud of you, sis.”
    “Thanks,” I murmured, still thinking of Nick. Would Nick like this song, too? Was he attracted to me when I was hanging out in yoga pants; belly flopped over my waistband with drool on my shoulder? Did he think about me at night when he was falling asleep? Did he want to see me perform on stage? I let out a heavy sigh and looked up at Conner, who was just staring at me.
    “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” He grinned.
    “What? No,” I said angrily.
    “I put the seed in your head, Liz,” he said, pointing his finger at his own head.
    I threw my guitar down and went to the bathroom to seethe. Just as I was about to reach the door, there was a quick double knock at my kitchen door. I reversed back down the hall and opened the door to find Nick. My whole body tingled and I stood frozen in place. I think my mouth dropped open but I couldn’t be sure. Yes, I had feelings for this man, said my heart. No, no I didn’t, said my brain.
    “Hey, you okay?” he asked, looking at me with apprehension. His brown leather jacket covered a black ribbed turtleneck. Turtlenecks could only look good on Nick Sawyer.
    I gained composure and nodded. I opened the door wider to let him in. “Yeah, sorry. I just wasn’t expecting you,” I said, quickly looking down at my less than attractive attire. He smiled at me personally perusing myself. He followed my line of vision and I saw his cheeks heat up. He licked his lips and I inwardly moaned.  He was checking me out. Holy shit. 
    “I tried calling but it went straight to voicemail. I wanted to be sure you were okay after last night,” he said, coming up close as if he was going to give me a hug.
    I pulled back quickly and fumbled with a kitchen chair. I wouldn’t hug Nick. That would throw more fuel on the fire with Conner. I would never live it down. “Sure, yes. Conner is here. We are practicing a song we have been working on,” I said quickly, pointing to the living room.
    He nodded and waited for me to say more. I hesitated a moment and then let my guard down. Nick was just a friend, Conner be damned. “Come on in. What happened to your date with Anna? ” I asked.
    “We are going out later tonight,” he quipped, looking down at his tennis shoes. Why did he have to look so bloody gorgeous in tennis shoes?
    I smiled as I walked ahead of him into the living room where Conner was engrossed in a fight between the right chords for our next riff.
    “Hey man!” Conner exclaimed when he looked up and then quickly gave me a look I wouldn’t have even noticed if I hadn’t been looking for it. His facial expression was “See?”
    “Hey, good to see you again,” Nick said, putting out