Fill in the blanks,he says but doesn’t.Catch my drift. Get there.
I shake my head in denial, and curly, wet locks of hair fall into my eyes. I push away my bad attempt at bangs while my eyesight blurs out, while my heart skitters.
The thing is, I’mprettysure he’s flirting with me. But this would be a first (since nobody from my hometown ever tried it), and I don’t want to embarrass myself if I’ve got it wrong.
“You’re going to have to spell it out for me,” I admit. “I don’t… I’m not…”
“I’ve noticed you before.”
I shake my head again. “That’s not possible. I’ve only been in town two days.”
“Yeah, it was two days ago,” Liam elaborates. “At the welcome cookout.”
Oh, right. I’d gone to that with Maisy. It was on a sprawling lawn in the heart of campus surrounded by academic buildings. All the students were invited, and everyone had paper plates piled high with chips, store-bought burger patties grilled up on stale buns. Maisy’s roommates hadn’t moved in yet, so she’d asked me to go with her and keep her company. But soon, she got to chatting with some girls from her floor, and about ten minutes later they were talking rush strategies. I’d bailed without her noticing.
It took me a while to fess up to Maisy that I was moving toKnoxville the same week she was. I was worried she’d think I was following her around, and it turned out I was right. It was like I could actuallyseethe bitter thought flash across Maisy’s mind the moment I told her the truth about getting an apartment with Zara.
Maisy never outright said she wished I’d decided to do something different, but I’ve known her my entire life. For most of July, it was patently obvious she was frustrated with me. But I’d already signed the lease, and I promised myself I wouldn’t burden her. If Maisy didn’t want to hang out anymore, I would respect that.
I’d even understand.
But then, toward the end of summer, her attitude completely changed. Where before she’d avoided talking to me about her future outside of Bristol, it becameallshe wanted to discuss. Restaurants, bars, lake trails, football games. All the things she and I could do together, in our new city, two hours from home.
“You were with this red-haired girl,” Liam says, and everything clicks into place.
He wantsher. Maisy Morgan.
This is a familiar refrain. How many times in high school did boys approach me as a means of getting to Maisy? Daren, my next-door neighbor, who asked me to put in a good word. Max, one of my sister’s friends. Meyer, who I sat beside in study hall. That kid at Dollywood when we were fifteen, who kept me company while Maisy rode a too-scary roller coaster.
And I always did put in a good word for them, of course. Because Maisy is my best friend and why wouldn’t I?
“Oh, right,” I say, trying to disguise the way I deflate. “That was Maisy.”
“Sure,” Liam says. “Maisy.”
This is the first time it’s felt like this.
Like jealousy, and disappointment. I don’t want to resent my best friend, and I really hope it never feels this way again.
I wonder if this is how Maisy felt when I told her I was moving here. If it was something she had to stomach.
Fishing a loose piece of paper and a felt-tip pen out of my bag, I scribble down her phone number. I’ve had it memorized since we were old enough to get our first cellphones. When I hand the note to him, surprise lights Liam’s expression.
“Oh.” His voice is rough with pleasure. “I was prepared to work so much harder for this.”
I shrug. “You seem nice, so.” I stand, snapping my book closed. “I should probably head out. Unpacking and whatnot to do.”
“Can I give you a ride back to campus?” Liam stands too, andyep, he’s tall. “My car is—”
“No need,” I say. “I drove.”
Another lie. It’s terrifying and thrilling, realizing that in this new place, I can get away with them.
His gaze shifts, evaluating me more guardedly now. “Paige, did I overstep?”
“Not at all.” I paste on a smile. “It’s just that I really do need to get going. But it was great meeting you. Best of luck.”
His head tilts. It looks like another question is poised on the tip of his tongue, but I turn and flee before he can speak it into existence.
