Vivian crosses her arms.“Do you?”
“Yes!”
She tilts her head, unconvinced.“Then why were you smiling?”
I scowl.“I wasn’t.”
“Oh, babe,” Vivian says, her smirk growing wicked.“Yousowere.”
“Iwasn’t,” I repeat, doubling down because if I give even an inch, they will never let this go.
Carlie hums, studying me like I’m a live specimen under a microscope.“Let’s just unpack this for a second.”
“No, let’snot?—”
She leans forward, resting her chin on her palm.“Joel sent you a text that made you smile.Andyou’re spiraling.So the real question here is…” Her lips quirk knowingly.“Why?What’s changed?If I were writing this out, you’d be falling, enemies to lovers style.”
I hate that my face burns hotter.I’m not the one who gets all weird about a boy.I’m not the one whofucking spirals.And I’mdefinitelynot falling enemies to lovers style.
“I’m not spiraling,” I insist, refusing to acknowledge the last part.
Vivian waves a hand.“Okay, fine.Then tell us why you’re acting like you’ve had a full-blownexistential crisissince you sat down.”
“Ihaven’t?—”
Lily cuts in, her voice all faux-casual.“Is it the book?”
I go rigid.
Shit.
Quinn gasps dramatically.“Oh my god.Isit the book?”
“No—” I say too quickly, gripping my glass again like it’s the only thing keeping me tethered to reality.“Why would it be the book?”
Vivian’s eyes narrow, sharp as hell.How is it she can spot drama, but can’t tell when it’s okay to pass on a highway?
“Because, Anna, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you look personally victimized by this week’s pick,” she taunts, a little too knowingly for my liking.
Why am I getting the impression I’m not going to win this?
Carlie tilts her head.“Which is weird, becauseyouwere the one who suggested it.”
Vivian gasps, pretending to clutch at pearls around her neck.“Youdid.”
Quinn lifts a brow.“Wait.Wait, wait, wait.That’sright.”He eyes me, then the book, then me again.“Oh-ho, this just got way moreinteresting.”
“No, it didn’t,” I snap, but my voice is too defensive.
Quinn ignores me entirely, turning to Vivian.“What was that thing she said last week?About how this book wassuper well-written?Which, I must vouch for, by the way.”He fans himself and sighs dramatically.
Vivian snaps her fingers.“Right!She was all,‘The tension is practically dripping off the page’—”
“Ohmy god.” I cover my face with my hands.I did.Ididsay that.
Quinn grins triumphantly.“And now she can’t evenlookat it.That’ssofascinating.”
I groan, dragging my hands down my face.“Fine.You really want to know what’s wrong with me?”