“All along, it was Cooper,” I confirmed.
“But isn’t that a good thing?” Ashley asked. “You guys are fantastic together.”
“Yes,” I said. “Except.”
“Except what?”
“Except when he told me, I didn’t believe him.”
“You didn’t believe him?”
“I guess I just couldn’t shift my thinking that fast.”
“Did you fight?”
I nodded. “We fought. And then he kissed me to prove it. And then he stormed off the boat.”
“Hold on. Back up. Hekissedyou?”
I nodded.
“How was it?”
I tried to answer, but the words were half tears. “It was so good, I might never actually recover.”
“Ohhh, JoJo,” Ashley cooed like I was adorable as she pulled me against her shoulder and hugged me.
And then it all came tumbling out—everything I’d been wanting to tell her all along. Harmony’s lei, moving in with Cooper, sharing a bed, the hickey, the sunburn, the slow-dance contest—all of it.
“But this is awesome!” Ashley said. “You’re perfect together. Everybody agrees. The whole ship has been shipping you this entire time.”
“The whole ship has been shipping us?”
Ashley nodded—but then amended, “Except for Finn. And Mia Macall, of course.”
I frowned. “Who is Mia Macall?”
Ashley frowned back, with a slight air ofWhat’s wrong with you?“My bridesmaid. The one I’ve been trying to matchmake with Cooper.”
Bridesmaid Two had a real name? “Huh,” I said.
“What?”
“I never knew her name.”
“The point is,” Ashley went on, “everybodyelseagrees. I was only Team Finn when I thought he was the first kiss. If Cooper is the first kiss, then I’m Team Cooper.”
I thought about it. “But guess who doesn’t agree?”
Ashley waited.
“Cooper.”
“He’ll get over it,” Ashley said. “He always does.”
But I shook my head. “I don’t think so. Not this time. I think he really hates me this time.”
“He doesn’t hate you. He couldn’t hate you.”
