I bite my lip and don’t bother telling him that pink is clearly his color, for more than one reason. Instead, I wrap his jacket even more securely around myself and take my time appreciating the art in front of me.
Jay lasts only a few more seconds in silence before saying, “Hey, so, for the panty thing, right . . . what happens if you buy a new outfit and don’t have panties to match? Do you wear a different pair? A color that’s similar but slightly different? Do you go out and buy more panties? I have so many questions.”
I shove him with my shoulder but can’t hide my laugh. His smile matches mine, and we move on to view the rest of the art.
It’s only after Jay drops me off at home and I’m wiping my makeup off that I realize he never told me how he feels about me now, and I really,reallywant to know.
Fourteen
I didn’t tell Kalani or Emi how the date went when I got home, so it’s no surprise when I wake up to a bunch of texts from them in the morning. There’s just so much to tell, from Chad the sunglasses-wearing, drug-dealing bill skipper to the surprisingly really good time with Jay, so I invite them over to hang out and talk about it. It’s been so long since just the three of us were together, and I’m hopeful the story of my crazy night will entice them to come over.
Kalani’s text comes in first.
Can’t. Mediator is coming today and there’s going to be a lot of fighting, so Emmett and I are taking Maleah to the beach after her soccer practice.
Oh, damn. Things must be really bad if Kalani is willingly going to the beach.
Everything all right?
Same old. Ailani’s living her life in California and forgot she has two sisters here, and my parents are too busy fighting over who gets what vacation house to remember their daughters at home. It’s all good, though, Emmett promised Maleah he’d swim with her so I can tan. I’ve gotta get ready, I’ll call you later.
That’s her way of saying she doesn’t want to talk about it, so I don’t push.
I’m grabbing my dad’s newest baked creation, a plum and peach personal pie that he decided wasn’t perfected enough to introduce to the bakery, when I get a text from Emi.
Sorry, fell back asleep and just woke up. I’m meeting Daphne at the library now to study for exams. Apparently, she and my parents think I’m not taking math seriously enough. But exams aren’t for two weeks! Anyway, you should come too. Just because we’re in different classes doesn’t mean we’ll have different content. Plus, I want to hear all about Chad—and if he lived up to his name or not.
Stuck in a library third wheeling my best friend and her girlfriend is not how I imagined spending my Saturday, but Idoneed to study, and it would be nice to do it with friends.
I text back.
He definitely lived up to his name. Meet you there in thirty.
When I pull up to the large library across the street from school, I don’t see Emi’s Corvette anywhere. Right as I pull out my phone, I get a text from her.
Leaving Daph’s now, going to Tim’s. Want anything?
Frozen lemonade, please and thanks!
She sends me a thumbs-up emoji, and I shut off my car to gather my stuff. The drive-through line at Tim Hortons is probably going to take forever, so I might as well get us a good table on the top floor.
The library is already busy with families perusing the books on the first floor. The second and third are the same. The top floor is a designated study area, with tables and chairs across the whole floor. On one side of the floor is the quiet study area, and the other is where you’re allowed to talk normally and not whisper. I push through the door into the talking study area and see tons of tables already in use. The floor-to-ceiling windows make it seem less bleak, less like we’re suffocating and stressed and cramming for the final exams of our high school career and more like we’re getting together with friends in a quiet, brightly lit place. The desks are all a light shade of oak with electrical outlets in the middle for laptop chargers, and there are green plants near the windows. It’s a comfy place, and I wave at people from school as I stroll through the aisle to find an empty table.
I spot a table where a boy is packing up his stuff, meaning he’s leaving and I can take over his table for myself. It’s perfect too: right beside the window, so we get all the natural light. He swings his backpack over his shoulder and turns right as I reach him, and I freeze.
“Carina?” he asks.
I suck in a breath. “Hi, Arthur.”
He crosses his arms, looking me up and down with disdain. This is definitely a different welcome compared to the first time. I guess he didn’t take the news Kalani broke to him about us not working out well.
“Are the rumors true?” he asks. “Are you going on other dates? I thought we were dating, but you’re seeing other people.”
What? What is he talking about? He thought we were dating? My mouth opens and closes uselessly as I try to figure out what to say. I wasn’t supposed to have this confrontation! Kalani was supposed to let him down easily!
“Um . . . didn’t . . .” I clear my throat so my voice comes out stronger. “Didn’t Kalani talk to you?”
“Yes. She talked to me,” he huffs and looks out the window. “And I did everything I was supposed to for it to work out.”