“You’re thinking it really loudly,” I huff.
“That’s not my fault.Youjust did the most out-of-character thing I’ve ever witnessed, and I once saw you voluntarily order a decaf.”
I shoot her a glare, but my fingers are gripping my jeans, twisting the fabric between them.She notices.Of courseshe does.
Her smirk softens.“You okay?”
I shake my head.I don’t know what I am.
Nuts, probably,
Lily puts the car in drive.“Then let’s just go.No expectations.No pressure.”
I let out a slow breath, nodding.
Sure, no pressure.Okay, Lily.Joke’s on you.
I should turn back.Should stay in my apartment where it’s safe.
But safe hasn’t gotten me anywhere.
In fact, it’s just led me right back here.
She glances at me.“So just to clarify, you don’t want me to point out that you are, in fact, voluntarily going to a club to see Joel.Right?”
“Correct,” I say, refusing to look at her while my knees continue to bounce.
“And you also don’t want me to bring up the fact that you have not stopped fidgeting since you got in the car?”
“Also correct.”
Lily hums, way too pleased with herself.“Cool, cool.No comments.No analyzing.No judgment.”
She taps her car’s dash radio, and a second later, the speakers fill with slow, familiar chords.
His chords—then, his voice.
I whip around.“Lily.”
She feigns innocence.“Oh, weird.I guess my Spotify shuffle justknowsthings.”
“Turn it off,” I spit out.
“Wow.You’re reacting really strongly to atotally randomsong choice.”
I reach for the volume knob.She smacks my hand away and does it herself.
“Admit it,” she grins.“You have a massive, ridiculous,all-consumingthing for him.”
I grit my teeth.“Lily.”
She cackles.
I drag my hands down my face.“I should have texted Ethan instead.He would have hated it, but he would have sat in the driver’s seat and fumed—silently.”
She gasps, clutching her chest.“How dare you, Chang.”
“I mean it,” I say, smirking at her.