I immediately glance at Paige, who blushes and looks away. Then I meet Ji’s eyes right before she winks at me with a knowing smirk on her face.
“Oh, my bad.” Ji continues. “That was my answer for number three. My answer for two is ‘lima beans.’”
I tug at the collar of my shirt. Suddenly, the living room feels stiflingly hot. I pop to my feet once we finish scoring our cards. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to go get some more food.”
In the kitchen, I load a plastic plate to the brim with finger food when I hear a crunch beneath my feet. I look down to find a rogue crushed lima bean. Suddenly, I can almost feel Paige’s lips close to mine. I don’t think I’ll ever look at a lima bean the same way again. I pull off my hat and run a hand through my hair before replacing it on my head. Then I pick up my plate and pivot toward the living room, but when I turn, Ji stands in front of me.
I flinch, nearly toppling my plate. “Ji, you scared me.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She looks zero-percent repentant.
I step right to go around her, but she steps too, blocking my path. I step to the left, this time faster, but she moves in front of me again, crossing her arms.
Ji points an accusatory finger at me. “You like her.”
“Who?” I ask.
She gives me a don’t-play-dumb-with-me look.
“Paige?” I pinch a piece of cheese off my plate and pop it in my mouth as casually as possible. “Of course I do. We’re best friends.”
Ji shakes her head in disbelief. “I suspected this, but then you rejected her so many times that I thought, okay, maybe he doesn’t have feelings for her.”
“Ji, Paige is with Ian.”
“Jordan.” She tilts her head. “Ian and Paige were in love… once. And what I saw then versus what I see now is not the same. In high school, they could barely sit in two separate seats, they were so into each other.”
“I didn’t need to know that.”
“But now, she’s uncomfortable with him.”
My back straightens. “What?”
Ji shakes her head. “He’s not mistreating her or anything like that. I can just tell it’s not insta-love like it was last time. They are different people now, and I think she sees it. AKA you still have a chance.”
My jaw clenches. “I’m not trying to have a chance, Ji.”
“What do you mean?” She points to the pantry. “You clearly have feelings for her. Wait.” She narrows her eyes at me. “This isn’t some male-ego dominance thing, right? You’re not suddenly interested in Paige because Ian is back and you want to get even with him?”
“What? No!” I draw back, repulsed by the idea.
Ji smiles. “So youdolike her.”
“Ah. Ji.” I try to sidestep her again, but she jumps in front of me once more. She’s like the pins on a pinball machine, blocking my every exit.
“You’ve got to tell her how you feel, Jordan.”
I set my plate on the counter. If Ji has her way, as she always does, I will be here until she decides this conversation is over. “I can’t tell her. Have you ever thought that maybe there’s a reason we’ve never been more? It doesn’t matter if I like her.”
I take a deep breath, a freeing feeling sweeping through me. I’ve never admitted my feelings for Paige to anyone. Not evenColton or Miles. But a lightness envelops me as I say it to Ji. I might not be telling her everything, but letting someone know a portion of what I feel is a relief, and suddenly, I want to say more. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
Ji bites her lip, and I can tell she’s refraining from telling me what she’s thinking. Then her face twists with curiosity. “How long have you liked her?”
I cross my arms, wondering how much to tell Ji. But what does it matter when she already knows how I feel? I clear my throat. “A while.”
“Oh, my gosh. You’ve liked her since junior year, haven’t you?” Ji asks. My expression must say it all because she doesn’t wait for a response. “But the night of graduation? She told you she loved you, and you didn’t say anything. Instead, you walked out of a closet with that girl.”
I try to remember the fragmented pieces of that night.I walked out of a closet with a girl? Oh…“April Barker?”
