“Think it through.Whoinvited Malik to join our team?” Cass exaggerated her movement with her hands as if hoping that might help Olivia catch on.
“Hugo?” Olivia replied timidly, not connecting the dots.
“Yep.” Cass snapped her finger and thumb together. “You’re getting warmer. You’re getting flaming hot.”
“Hugo is my Secret Santa?” Olivia wrinkled her nose. “But why would he invite Malik to join our team?”
“Mygawd, Liv. Because he knows you better than you know yourself. Malik is not your type, but you’ve been semi-obsessed with him for nearly three months. Hugo figured the best way to show you was to get Malik to spend time with you.”
“What?” Olivia nearly dumped her entire glass of punch on the floor.
“It worked, didn’t it?” Cass arched her brows in Malik’s direction. “Are you finally over Mr. Grinder?”
Olivia’s eyes drifted in that direction. If possible, Malik and the girl he was dancing with were plastered even tighter together. This wasn’t a rave. Mr. Graff and Mrs. Reynolds were at the dance. “Yeah, like one thousand percent yes.”
“Then maybe you should go say hi to S.S.” Cass nudged Olivia in the opposite direction.
Olivia clutched her glass as she caught Hugo’s eye. His usually boyish face suddenly seemed much more mature. Why hadn’t she noticed how chiseled his jawline and arms had become? He looked good in his well-fitting black suit and funky paper crown.
She took a step forward.
It’s Hugo?
The fancy chocolates. The bookmarks. Her favorite book.
Of course it’s him.
Hugo pulled a package that looked suspiciously like a book from behind his back. It was wrapped in brown butcher paper and tied with a red-and-green ribbon. He came closer and held it out for Olivia.
The inscription on the paper was hard to miss:
To Olivia, from S.S.
“It was you?” Olivia whispered.
Hugo nodded, a look of longing mixed with adoration flooding his eyes.
“But I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me how you felt?” And why was her heart pounding against her chest like she’d just had to run a timed mile in gym class?
“Open the book.” Hugo handed her the package.
Olivia gave him her punch to hold, carefully untied the ribbon, and peeled the tape from one edge.
“Just rip it,” Hugo said impatiently.
“Hold on.” She wrinkled her nose. “I like the experience of unwrapping. When have you ever known me to tear open a package?”
Hugo scowled.
Olivia lifted the tape from each corner and finally revealed a book she’d seen on display in the library. “The Friend Zone?” she asked out loud.
“It’s a metaphor for us. We’ve been in the friend zone too long.” His voice cracked slightly. “S.S., your Secret Santa, is hoping we can change that.”
“He is?” Olivia wondered if her voice sounded far away and dreamy to him, too.
Hugo.
Her best friend.
