“I am,” I say. “I’m just… It’s still so new. He’s so different from the guys I usually date.”
“Yeah, he’s not a cocky shithead.”
“Oh, he’s cocky in his own way, trust me.”
“What, you think he’s not good enough for you just because he’s not an artist? Give me a break. It’s not like you’re the first beauty to date a nerd, you know,” she says.
“Not counting John Hughes movies?”
“Hello—Miranda Kerr married that guy who cofounded Snapchat.”
“Who’s Miranda Kerr?” I ask.
“The Victoria’s Secret model. She has a line of organic beauty products? She’s one of the richest supermodels in the world. She was married to Orlando Bloom?”
“Who?”
“Oh my God. Who’s the nerd?”
“I’m not a nerd,” I say. “I’m just too busy to read about celebrity gossip.”
“I don’t read celebrity gossip either—this is stuff that people know just from being alive and having an internet connection.” She types something on her laptop and stares at the screen. “Uhhhh…”
“What?”
“Your new boyfriendhasdated a supermodel. Did you not know this?”
Oh, hell no.“First of all, I wouldn’t call him my boyfriend yet, and secondly, I don’t need to know about his past relationships.”
“Probably better if you don’t,” she says.
“Why? Who is she? Let me see.”
Callie turns the laptop so I can’t see it. “I don’t think you want to. It looks like they dated for a few months a year ago…”
Must have been another fake relationship.
“I don’t care—just let me see!”
I go over to where she’s sitting on the couch, pull the laptop away from her, and experience all kinds of unexpected feelings as I stare, gaping at dozens of photos of Johnny with a supernaturally stunning woman. In every picture, she’s looking at him like she’s in awe of him—and not likeI can’t believe you just said thatkind of awe, but likeWow, you are so amazing. “Montana Reed? What kind of bullshit name is that?”
“The kind that gets listed onMaxim’s Hot 100.”
“I don’t know what that means, but it sounds sexist.”
“It is, and you need to face facts: You’re the nerd in this Beauty and the Nerd relationship. Because that man is freaking beautiful.”
“Yes, he’s very photogenic.”
“Hold up! He did a TED Talk!”
“About what? How to have piercing blue eyes and drive your best friend’s little sister insane?”
She smiles. “Let’s watch and find out!”
“Oh, no. I don’t want to watch it,” I say, waving my hand dismissively. “That would be weird.”
“Suit yourself.”
