Something white-hot crackled in my core.
I think you like me.
I think you trust me.
“Stop smirking at me!” I snapped as someone called out, “Hey!”
Marco and I turned to see Connor and Lauren heading toward us, both with lacrosse sticks in hand. As captains of our school boys’ and girls’ teams, they never went anywhere without them—or, for the last few weeks, each other. “Hey!” I called back, grateful to Marco for hiding my computer under a couch cushion. The last thing I needed was Connor or Lauren seeing the scandalous Google Doc.
“What’s up?” Connor asked once he’d unlatched the gate and gestured for Lauren to pass through first. Connor was a gentleman, but I resisted the urge to roll my eyes when Lauren settled on his lap instead of sitting in her own chair. She used to mostly annoy me, but now I just didn’t like her; she was clingy and manipulative. Whenever Connor had plans with me or his other friends, she laid a major guilt trip on him. I’d gotten used to third-wheeling them so he could avoid her wrath.
“Not much,” Marco answered. “Mads got home from camp yesterday, so we’re just hanging.”
“I know,” Connor said as his girlfriend wrapped his arms around her waist. “She, Lauren, and I grabbed pizza and water ice last night.” He caught my eye. “It looks like you’re doingmorethan just hanging…”
My heart jolted. Did Connor think Marco and I were—
“Something serious wasdefinitelybeing discussed,” Lauren emphasized, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.
Okay, no, they just think we’re keeping something hush-hush, I thought, relieved, but still inwardly groaning. Connor was joking, but Lauren was nosy.
“Well, yes,” I caved. “We were talking about a seriously serious subject.” I paused for dramatic effect. “Katie’s bachelorette weekend.”
Lauren squealed. “Everything’s finalized?!”
“You bet,” Marco said. “Date, time, location—”
I elbowed him before he could addactivities.
“Mads, I’m so jealous,” Lauren said. “You must be psyched.”
I made a noncommittalmm-hmmnoise.
“You are lying through your teeth.” Connor smiled. “You aren’t excited, are you?”
“I guess.” I shrugged. “I probably sound like a spoiled brat, but this isn’treallya vacation. It’s Katie’s vacation; for me, it’s a business trip.”
“You don’t sound like a brat,” Connor said. “You sound likeyourself.” He chuckled. “I’ve known you forever, Mads, and knowing you forever means I know that you love going on vacation.” He turned to Lauren. “She always has a hundred tabs open on her computer, and at least half of them are travel blogs. She has an impressive bucket list.”
“And I suspect Stone Harbor isn’t at the top,” Marco said, knocking his knuckles against my knee. “But what do you think about it?”
I looked at him blankly. I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Oh, you invited her to the house?” Connor asked Marco.
And one, two, three: itclicked. The Álvarezes owned a house on the Jersey Shore. According to Dad, they usually rented it out for most of the summer, but…
“Yeah,” Marco said. “My parents have been down there for the last couple weeks, and I’m driving down on Friday. I was hoping Mads would come.” He paused. “You too, McCallister.”
“That’s awesome!” Lauren replied, unaware that the invitation had not been extended to her. “I love Stone Harbor. There’s this one ice cream place—”
“Don’t you have club practice?” Connor asked me.
“Yes…” I said slowly. “I do.” I felt my lips twist in a smile. Marco was a genius, helping me spend time with Connor sans Lauren. “But if you want to go, Con, I’ll skip it.”
Fifteen
Marco had offered Connor and me a ride to Stone Harbor, but Connor had an afternoon allergist appointment he couldn’t reschedule, so I volunteered to stay behind and leave a few hours later with him. As an extrovert, Connor didn’t love long solo drives, and being alone with him today wasthrilling. Finally, no Lauren.
