Page 42 of The Breakup Artists

“Can’t,” Ella replies.

“Can’t?” he repeats. There’s a slight edge in his voice, like this isn’t the first time they’ve had this conversation.

“I have to finish my blog in the morning,” she says, and he groans in response.

“Yeah, but you’re here with me now. Don’t worry about your blog.” He offers her the flask again, not even subtle about pitting himself against yet another thing Ella values.

“Justin, I won’t be able to write if I—”

He wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her in. “Just one easy shot. No big deal. For me.”

Just like Kyle.My hand clenches and unclenches involuntarily.

Ella sighs her agreement. “One shot. That’s it.”

He grins at her and hands her the flask, releasing her waist. Ella takes a sip and passes the flask to Leah.

“Time for me to crush you all at basketball,” Justin bellows.

Amber turns her attention to me, touching my arm. “I was wondering who was going to win me that giant stuffed bear.” She points to the basketball booth prizes and gives me a sultry look. “And now I know.”

I give her an apologetic smile. “I think you’d have better luck with Mia. She’s way better at these games than I am.”

Tiny/Mia grins. She loves a compliment, even when it’s over something as trivial as carnival games. “Truth. He sucks.”

“Why don’t we pop over to the Ferris wheel,” Ella suggests to Justin.

Justin hesitates.

Before Justin can answer, Tiny says, “Who’s in for a friendly bet on winner of basketball toss? Five bucks maybe?”

“You’re so on,” Justin replies, squashing Ella’s Ferris wheel offer.

“I’m in,” Leah says.

Ella looks momentarily disappointed. That’s two times in three minutes he’s chosen himself over her. Selfish prick.

Justin picks up Ella and makes a show of twirling her in the air. “I’m winning you that bear, babe.”

“Awww,” Amber says.

Everyone makes their way to the basketball booth, and Justin and Tiny pull out their betting money.

“How’s the blog coming?” I ask Ella, who’s lingering behind.

“Better once someone wasn’t talking my ear off.” She smiles in a teasing way. “But I still have a full day of work tomorrow.”

“Well, if you need any help, I’m offering,” I say.

Now she laughs. “You think you can write my blog? Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Not even remotely. But as it so happens, I’m excellent at hashing out ideas, and I’m not bad in the coffee-buying department, either.”

She looks at me sideways. “And why would you give up your day to hash out blog ideas with me?”

“Because you’re interesting and what you’ve created is interesting,” I say matter-of-factly, and while I have no love for astrology specifically, I mean what I say. She’s a lot like Tiny and me, the way she’s driven, and her commitment is admirable.

My words must ring true for her because even though she’s not obvious about it, her eyes brighten at the compliment.