Fandango's Story Starter: February 17th #FSS #prompt

​This week’s Story Starter teaser is:
She wanted to tell him how much she loved him, but….
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She wanted to tell him how much she loved him, but as she stared in his hopeful eyes while he waited her response, she knew she couldn't hurt him that way. She did love him, very much so, but not in the way he wanted. Not in the romantic kind of way he desired. Yet, here he stood before her, hopeful, full of courage in his expression of his pure love for her that she was afraid to say anything but yes, she loved him the same way, too. The "Let's get married and have babies," kind of way. But she couldn't say it. She would not do that to him - her best friend of several years. 

Her mind whirled and sped through all of their time together, wondering had she unintentionally flirted, made him believe there could be something more? Had she led him on? Weren't they buddies? Pickleball pals? Hiking and camping compadres? He was like a brother to her, someone to joke with, and just be herself around. 

​Okay, maybe not her "full" self, because she'd only been exploring her true self just recently. She hadn't said anything to him, but she had honestly thought he just knew. That she didn't have to say anything because it was...well, obvious. A few acquaintances of hers, people she hardly knew, had pegged it from the beginning.

But not him. 

Now, they stood in front of one another. Awkward and silent.

Him, baring his soul and his heart.

​Her, gathering the courage to tell him she was gay.