Page 17 of Okay, Cupid

But then my decision is made for me as Neve comes up behind me.

“Got your seat yet?” she asks.

“Not yet.”

“Good, you’re sitting with us.” She leads me toward the back of the classroom and Alice’s desk, which I sit behind.

“You survived English?” Neve asks me.

“Oh, well … you know, it was … English.”

“Mr. Benson’s pretty chill. By the way, the very rude young lady ignoring you is Alice.”

“Hey,” I say. I try to play it cool as a cucumber. But the fact that I even had that thought proves I’m not cool.

“Hmm.” She nods, her eyes never darting away from her phone.

“Forgive her,” Neve says. “She’s not used to being outside.”

I stare at Alice’s screen, and that’s when I spot the comic panels that she’s scrolling through.

“What are you reading?” I ask.

“Manga.” She doesn’t bother to look at me.

Well, I can see that. “What’s it called?”

“Summertime After You.” Again, her words come without even a glance in my direction. She’s a very pretty girl who accents her entire look with pink. Rose-colored phone case and backpack, a soft pink denim jacket over her outfit, pink peach earrings. Which is all hilarious considering how icy she’s being.

“Oh, nice … what’s it about?” Come on, give me anything to work with here. A conversation that lasts for more than five seconds.

“People.”

Right.

“When she’s like this, she barely hears a word you say. Look.” Neve nods in Alice’s direction. “Alice, they’re discontinuing the tropical Hi-Chews! Starbucks isn’t going to do the pink drink anymore! SZA said she’s done making music.”

Neve turns back to me when none of the threats get a reaction out of Alice.

“See, all of that should’ve devastated her. But she’ll have to talk to us sometime.”

“No, I won’t,” Alice remarks before she finally looks up at the both of us. “You fixed your eyeliner?”

“All Jude here.” Neve smiles. The two of them get lost in their own conversation about their weekend plans, which somehow ends with me being invited to go to the downtown Ulta with them.

“I don’t know, I—” I start to say before Neve stops me.

“Jude, please. I’m desperate, none of those people know my colors,” Neve pleads. “The last time someone did my makeup they told me I’m a winter.”

“Oof.” I don’t have to think at all to know that Neve is an autumn. Her skin tone lends itself so well to vibrant yellows and oranges.

“Good, and we can figure out Alice’s colors while we’re at it.”

“Don’t press your luck,” Alice says without looking up.

Mrs. Henry starts class, and Neve leans over and whispers, “I’ll message you. What’s your Insta?” Her phone is out, under her desk.

Oh boy. Here’s the true test. How will Neve react when she sees my private Instagram, with a single follower thanks to Cal? There used to be more. Leo and the other counselors from the camp, but Cupid magic is nothing if not thorough.