Jake looks at me, his eyes softening. “No. I’m not even mad at you. I just… wish I’d known I didn’t stand a chance.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“Are we still friends?” I ask. “Or should I be keeping mydistance until I go back home? Because I really don’t want to do that, but I will if it’s what you want.”
Jake hangs his head, and every second he doesn’t answer feels like a new shard of glass is wedging its way into my heart. Ihatethis.
Finally, he sighs. “It’s going to suck seeing you and Cooper together, but no, don’t keep your distance. I’m not going to throw away a friendship because you don’t like me.” He gives me a slight smile. “Even though it makes no sense because I’m a catch.”
I grin, a little weight lifting from my shoulders. “You know, you really are. If Cooper weren’t in the picture—”
“Oh? ’Cause he’s one of my best friends, but I’ll murder him right now.”
I laugh, and Jake smiles at me. “Please don’t.” After a beat of silence, I bump his shoulder with mine. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Yeah,” he says. Because what else is there to say?
“Are you going to talk to him?” I ask.
“Cooper? He’s only called and texted about six hundred times today. I guess I could hit him up.”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
He chews the inside of his cheek and looks out across the lawn.
I nudge him with my elbow. “Have I mentioned I’m sorry?”
“Yes, now please don’t mention it again.”
“Okay.”
We part ways, and as Jake heads toward the Caffeinated Cat,I walk home to wait to hear from Cooper for the first time since last night.
And I cross my fingers that when he calls, it won’t be to say we made another mistake.
Chapter Thirty
I’m eating dinner with Sloane, Mom, and Aunt Naomi when Cooper texts.
Summer Cooper:Can you come over?
Me:now?
Summer Cooper:Or whenever.
Me:Depends. Are you going to sit me down to give me bad news?
Summer Cooper: Just come over, Mitchell.
I sigh, and all three women look at me.
“It’s the moment of truth,” I announce, setting my phone on the table. I told them everything on our way home from the corn maze. I hadn’t been planning on it, but I was freaking out. So we stopped by the root beer stand, cranked the heat in the car, and drank floats while I rehashed the last two months. Afterward, Mom and Aunt Naomi brought every blanket they could find down to the living room and the four of us had an old-fashionedslumber party, rewatchingPractical Magicwhile we waited for Cooper’s text that never came.
Mom takes a deep breath. “Okay, go. Be back by ten. Text if you need me to come get you.”
“Good luck, honey,” Aunt Naomi says.
