Page 113 of Okay, Cupid

“I’m not coming back. To Hearst,” I clarify. “So I don’t need these.”

“Wait, Jude … what are you talking about?” Neve asks.

Then Alice drops, “Is this because of Huy? Because that’s super dramatic.”

At least Alice is being honest with me. Not that I’d expect any other kind of reaction.

“Alice!” Neve cuts into her with her elbow.

“He told you?” I ask.

“Yeahhhhhhhhh.” Neve drags it out. “Sorry.”

“We didn’t ask or anything,” Alice adds. “We just wondered where he went at hội chợ, and we called, and he was on the beach, and … welp. You can probably figure out the rest.”

“How is he?”

“Do you want me to lie?” Alice offers.

“Please?”

“He’s doing great, perfectly fine, actually.”

“Alice,” Neve almost hisses.

“What! I’m doing what Jude told me to. I can’t be blamed for that.”

“It’s called tact!” Neve argues. “Try and have some!”

“They asked, I answered. It’s as simple as that.”

“But you didn’t have to be so sanctimonious about it!”

“Do you even know what that means?”

Suddenly, it feels like I’m third-wheeling this conversation.

“Wait.” Neve holds her hands out, taking a deep breath. “We’re missing the important part here. Jude, you’re not coming back to school?”

“No, and it’s not because of Huy.” I don’t know if I can handle both of them thinking I’m that pathetic. “We do this every so often. My sister’s job takes her all over.”

“But you said you’d lived in the Bay your whole life.”

Crap. “Yeah, I mean … when she told them she was raising me … they, uh … she asked for a more permanent spot, but they need her … elsewhere.”

“Where are you going? Is it nearby?”

“I don’t know yet,” I say. “We’re just packing our things now.”

“Well …” Neve’s voice turns melancholic. “Do you want help packing?”

The last thing I should do is let these two into the apartment. Leah could be back at any moment, and the second she figures out that I haven’t erased anyone’s memories of me, she’ll take matters into her own hands. I know I should’ve done it last night at the very latest. But I just couldn’t. Not yet.

I’m not ready for a world where neither of these two girls in front of me know who I am, for a world where Huy doesn’t know why he’d ever make a mixtape for someone named Jude.

Today might be my last day with them. And I want to let myself enjoy it, despite the guilt.

“Yeah, actually … that’d be nice.”