I've had a crush on my best friend, Alex Mendoza, for years, and I was finally going to tell him how I felt. But instead, I got cold feet.

And now he thinks I'm interested in his teammate-my ex. Of course, being the good friend he is, Alex has offered to make my ex jealous.

What's wrong with a little play flirting?Well, for starters, I'm not playing. Alex's mom and mine are best friends, soul sisters forged together by growing up in the same small town.

They say they didn't plan it, but the fact that Alex and I were born two weeks apart has always felt very much part of their plan. Our birthday parties were always together.

First days of school were the same. And when Alex got his own car, the passenger seat was literally labeled with my name-Nikki Thomas.

Convenient since we were inseparable. For most of my life, Alex has been like the big brother I never had.

He's always been my protector. And he's always made me feel safe.

But somewhere along the way, he started to make me feel other things too. Now it's his senior baseball season, and he has the talent to go pro.

His dreams are all coming together. My life, on the other hand, is falling apart.

I know Alex would support me if I told him my secrets. After all, that's what best friends do.

But maybe it's my turn to be the protector. And if that means all I can have are a few pretend kisses, then perhaps that will have to be enough.

Unless it turns out Alex has been keeping secrets of his own. .