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“You’re off duty, Cupid Lily,” I say. “There’s nothing to dissect because his words mean nothing.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Lily! All he cares about is making his ex jealous. He misses her and wants to get back together with her. After the coding competition, I’ll get what I want and he’ll get what he wants. Then we’ll all live happily ever after.”
“Yeah, he with a girlfriend and you without a boyfriend.”
I throw my hands up. “You know I don’t want a boyfriend in high school. It doesn’t make sense to fall for someone when we probably won’t stay together. Because high school romances usually don’t last.”
They all frown at me.
“Not counting you guys, duh,” I say. “Because you’ll stay together forever. But I’m not destined to meet my soulmate in high school.”
“How can you be so sure about that, though?” Ava asks. “I never thought I’d meet someone in high school, either. Then Aidan dropped into my life.”
“And I thought Liam and I would stay in the friend zone forever,” Chloe says.
I puff out my cheeks. “I just know, okay? Now can we please do something fun and not talk about boys?” I raise my brows at Lily.
She releases a defeated breath. “Fine.”
From the look in her eyes, I have a feeling she’s not through with me yet.
Chapter Twenty-One
Willow
There are no new downloads on Sunday morning. And some users have abandoned my app. Darn it.
My friends and I are sitting in Ava’s living room, continuing to read the pirate book. We hope to finish it today so we can discuss it at book club tomorrow.
But I can’t concentrate on it because my thoughts are on my app and the competition and…
A heavy sigh escapes my lips. My friends look up from their books.
“You okay, Willow?” Lily asks.
Shaking my head, I fall back on the sofa and tell them why I’m so bummed.
Chloe wraps her arm around me. “Maybe because it’s the weekend?”
I frown. “But the weekend should be the optimal time when they’re using the app the most. Hanging out, going on dates, having fun.” I sigh and shake my head again. “I mean, there are a lot of kids who are still using it, but I’m worried the number will go down and I won’t have anything to show the judges at the competition.”
Ava squeezes me close. “You know what you need? Pizza.” She grins.
I sigh for a third time. “I’m not sure pizza will help in this situation. But thanks for trying to make me feel better. Sorry for disturbing your reading.”
“Don’t apologize,” Lily tells me. “You know we love you and would do anything for you. I think you should try to be positive. Maybe the kids are still trying to figure out the app.”
I nod at her words, though I doubt that’s true. If they liked it, they’d be all over it.
We continue reading and the others are absorbed in the words. But I once again can’t concentrate. I know I shouldn’t because it’ll just make me feel worse, but I take a peek at my app. Thirty people are actively using it. Thirty out of hundreds. Yeah, it’s something, but if I want to wow the judges, I need more.
As I’m trying to focus on the book, my phone rings. It’s a video call from my “boyfriend.” My friends stop reading, their ears perked with interest.
“It’s Colt,” I say.
“Answer it!” Lily insists.
