Page 73 of The Beta Test

He bites a lip like he’s trying to hold back the tears, but they pour down his cheeks anyway. The sleeves of his cotton hoodie serve as a tissue while he tries to wipe them away. I grab my purse to get him a tissue. While rustling around in the bag, I notice new texts on my phone. After passing the tissue pack to Braden, I swipe the texts open—checking my texts will give Braden a moment to blow his nose and pull himself together so we can finish this conversation. Old, in-love-with-Braden Avery never could have resisted comforting him, but here we are.

Unknown number: Did you get lost? Also, Jenna has nearly passed out from lack of cookies over here…

Me: Jake, hold on to your horses. I’ll be there soon.

I really need to add him to my contacts. My finger hovers over the option to do that when Braden distracts me.

“Wow, so that’s happening,” Braden says with a scoff while shoving his used tissue in his hoodie pocket and pulling out another one. “I bet he barely waited a week after I left to start moving in on you.”

My mouth drops open in disbelief as I lower my phone, which I now realize I’d angled too much in Braden’s direction. “What in the world does that mean?”

“Oh come on, Avery. You know he’s always had a crush on you.”

“That’s not true!”

“Now who’s lying? He’s followed you around like a puppy since we were kids.” He sniffles for a moment then continues. “Though he did try dating that hot cheerleader last year, so props to him for trying to move past you. That failed, apparently.”

Hot cheerleader?! First of all, my (now ex?) boyfriend shouldn’t have been thinking of anyone as hot. Secondly, I don’t want to even think of Jake dating a ‘hot cheerleader.’ I’d rather not read into the implications of why it makes me uncomfortable at this moment; it just does. And thirdly, why does everyone keep insisting Jake always had a crush on me? I feel a flush creeping up my neck.

“Look, I don’t get why you and everyone else keep insinuating Jake has always liked me⁠—”

“Because it’s obvious.”

“—but, there’s nothing going on between me and Jake. We’re friends. Like we’ve always been.”

“So you’ve always texted? I can’t help but notice you haven’t saved him in your phone. I’m not the only one good at denial here.”

“Well, no, but we had to start texting because we’ve been doing calculus homework together and⁠—”

“Wow, smooth move there, Jake. Of course that worked,” he laughs bitterly.

“Ugh! It’s nothing, ok?”

Braden nods slowly, like he’s measuring his words. “Alright.” A brief pause. “You going to a party tonight?”

I briefly consider not telling him but decide that’s childish. Plus, I’m a free agent now. Officially. I can do what I want. “Yeah. At Jenna’s.”

“And Jake will be there?”

I shrug. “He does live there.”

“I’ll make a bet with you.”

“Braden, no⁠—”

“Hear me out. I bet he’ll not only come bounding over as soon as you walk in the door. AND⁠—”

“This is ridiculous.”

“And,” he repeats emphatically and points a finger at the plate of cookies on the dash, “he’ll save you at least one of those cookies. You always bring them places but get so distracted you tend to miss out on eating any of them. It drives you crazy and you complain about it every time, but then you do it again. He’ll notice. And he’ll save you one. Tonight.”

I open my mouth to deny it, but… memories flash through my mind of Jake doing exactly that. He always saves something for me.

But still—I’m not indulging in this with Braden. It doesn’t seem appropriate.

“That may or may not happen, but I won’t bet on it. I really need to go. To be crystal clear: we are not together anymore. I hope one day we can be friends again, but I need time and space from you for now.”

Braden’s expression wilts, but he seems to accept my words. “Can I have one of those cookies?”