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Maya bristled. “It’s a Halloween decoration.”

“It looks real.”

“You’re being unreal.”

Rebecca held her hands up between the two, giving me a forceful smile. “Hi, Cole. It’s Cole, right? That’s what Cass said to call you.”

“Yes. I prefer Cole.”

“What?” My boss gasped from behind me. “I’ve been calling you Coco this whole time.”

Ethan tugged at his shirt collar. “Uh. I’m going to… Yeah.” He pointed to a different corner of the store. “Go there. Me. Rebecca, I’ll be over there if you need anything.” He moved around the girls, pretending to dust the Halloween decorations.

Rebecca flashed me a quick smile. “Claudia mentioned you worked here and that she was going to come and check it out. A few of us thought to tag along.” She glanced around the place. “I like it. It’s a cool store. My little sister’s a big reader. My mom bought her a blanket that reads ‘Stop. I’m reading. Go away. Seriously.’”

“For real?” Maya asked.

Rebecca nodded, her grin turning more genuine. “She’d love some of these books. I should bring her in tomorrow. Are you working tomorrow, Cole?” She made sure to position herself between Claudia and me. Maya lined up next to her. A few of their other friends went to the counter with a few items. Since I was now the closest employee, I began to ring them up.

Claudia was forced to the outskirts and after a little while, she let out a loud huff, going to wait by the door.

When I finished up with the last order, I commented under my breath, “I thought she was ‘dead’ to you all.”

Rebecca and Maya waited until their friend took her bag. Claudia and the others had lingered by the door, but now they stepped outside. When the door closed, Maya rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, “She is getting worse. She’s so full of herself.” She locked a hard look at Rebecca. “I can’t. I just can’t anymore. Everyone’s at Lee’s house. Can we ditch her, please?”

She went to the door to wait.

Rebecca’s mouth curved up, saying to me, “She’s on the outs with us, but not with all the girls. We came in to have Cassian and Lee’s backs because we know both boys like you.”

Heat flooded me. “I don’t… I mean…” I was floundering. I didn’t know what to say.

“It’s okay.” She tapped the counter, beginning to head for the door too. “They’ve shared before. I mean, that was for a hookup, but it’s not like a stretch of the imagination that they might like hooking up a few times with the same girl. If, you know, that were the case or something like that. Just saying. It’s cool with me. Kinda jealous, to be honest, but as long as those two have your back, then I will too.” She waved, beaming. “Toodles. Probably see you at Lee’s house later tonight.”

Maya snorted, a cool grin tugging at her lips.

I didn’t know what to think when they left.

Ethan had moved closer to me. “Is that true? You’re with both guys?”

I groaned. “Yeah.”

“Have you lost your mind?” he hissed.

“What?”

“You’re going to be labeled a slut at school. Rebecca’s never going to want to date me now. I work with you.”

“Right,” I clipped out. My heart was pounding so fast. “Next time when I get a boyfriend, I’ll make sure to think how this might affect my coworker.”

“Wait. They’re your boyfriends?”

I was so confused. “Yes. We’ve already used that word.”

He pushed up next to me at the counter. “I said boyfriend. I meant Ripp before, but Rebecca thinks you’re just hooking up with them. Like they’re using you.”

“No,” I said weakly. “We’re dating. We’re together. Me and them.”

“Are they together?”