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Savannah looked pained. “She kissed me. On the cheek, but still,” she added, when Avery snorted.

“She kissed you, and you think she meant she just wanted to be running buddies?”

“Shut up,” Savannah said, bursting into giggles. “Now what do I do? Do I ask her out again?”

“She’s basically already your girlfriend, dumbass,” Avery said, laughing along with her. “I think you can ask her to dinner without risking too much pride.”

“If you tell anyone I will kill you,” Savannah threatened, although the tears of laughter in her eyes undercut the threat somewhat.

“I’ll only tell it at your wedding, I swear,” Avery promised, and it was at that moment that she realized for the first time in longer than she could remember, she’d made a real new friend.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Avery

Thirteen Months Ago

Avery checked the clock above the remaining block of lockers, most of them having been torn out a few years ago on account of disuse. She had ten minutes until first period started, so she shoved her jacket into the locker she’d claimed earlier in the year and slung her backpack over her shoulder. She could probably find Tommy down near the choir room, if she hurried.

“Hey, Avy,” Cameron said from behind her.

She hadn’t spoken to him since she told him Theo was taking her to homecoming two days ago, and she wasn’t really looking forward to the conversation now. She knew, thanks to the school rumor mill and several vague Pops he’d posted on PopTalk, that he wasn’t exactly thrilled about how things turned out. But whether he felt bad for bringing up his doubts about their relationship and asking for a break at the worst possible time, or was pissed because she ditched him for homecoming, was honestly unclear.

“Hey,” she sighed. First period for her was just down the hall, so it wasn’t like she had far to go. But she also didn’t have a lot of time to waste either. She turned and found him standing in front of her, looking sad.

“I’m really sorry,” Cameron said, sounding genuine. “Really, Avy, I am. I get why you were pissed. But I—I just thought we owed it to each other to be honest.”

“I’m glad you did, because it would have sucked to go to a dance with someone who didn’t want to be there with me.”

Something like jealousy flashed across his face. “Theo wanted to be there with you, huh?” Cameron snapped. They had been together for all of six months, and every single one of their fights—literally every single one—ended up in some way being about Theo. It was exhausting and stupid. She wasn’t with Theo, was she? She was with Cameron. Or had been anyway. The moment with Theo at the dance aside, there wasn’t anything there. That moment had been a fluke, caused by a romantic setting or whatever.

“Did you really stop me to pick a fight about Theo?”

“No,” Cameron said, and hung his head. “I just came to tell you I’m sorry. I take accountability for my actions, and I know there’s nothing I can do to fix it, but if I can repair it, I will.” His blond hair looked soft in the fluorescent lights, and her heart twinged uncomfortably.

For all his faults, Cameron could be very, very good at apologies. His mom had been a therapist before she quit working to raise Cameron and his brothers, and she suspected it came from her. “What specifically—”

“I shouldn’t have said we should take a break. I only said that because I was scared,” Cameron said, almost reading her mind.

“Scared? Of what?”

“You, honestly,” he said with a wry grin, looking, okay, adorable. “You’re really smart and cool and know what you want, and I just got freaked out. And at the worst possible time, I know.”

“It really was a bad time,” Avery said with her arms crossed, but she was already softening, and she suspected Cameron knew it. She also suspected he’d worn the dark blue hoodie that she loved on purpose, because it was the exact right shade to bring out the blue of his eyes. Those blue eyes were boring into her right now, and she licked her lips. Cameron did the same, and Avery knew, right then, that while she might still be mad at him—what he did to her sucked—she would, inevitably, forgive him. He was irresistible sometimes.

Cameron swallowed hard. “I was hurt that Theo took you instead, but I also know why you turned to him.”

“He is my best friend,” Avery reminded him. “Just like Tommy.”

To her surprise, Cameron looked at her sardonically. “I think we both know it’s not just like Tommy with him,” he said, and before she could protest he had shrugged and moved on. “But like I said, I get it. And I would take it all back, if I could. It was a moment of weakness, and I shouldn’t have said any of it.”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” Avery said, but once again her eyes dropped to his lips. They had only a few minutes before first period started, and she cracked. “Okay, fine, I forgive you,” she said, and grabbed the strings of his hoodie to tug him closer. Kissing Cameron was the best part of dating him and in the end, he was also easy. Uncomplicated. Simple. He said stupid things sometimes, sure, and he got drunk and annoying on occasion, but he always apologized, and then they could get back to the fun parts.

Besides, Cameron didn’t make her feel unsettled the way she had felt while dancing with Theo. That was too much—and thinking about it was like touching a hot stove.

So she kissed Cam and told herself this was for the best.

Chapter Thirty-Eight