Page 34 of Okay, Cupid

Jeez, can’t I get away from school talk for a single day? “It’s fine. That algebra quiz was brutal.”

“You’re telling me; I was cramming all night Thursday. Thankfully, the shop was dead.” Huy rubs the back of his neck. “Might be worth it to get a tutor.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Are you offering?”

“You seriously don’t want me tutoring you. But, you know, Alice is good at math, and you two seem to be getting along. Which is no small achievement, since she’s so … Alice-y.” He lets out a tired sound, halfway between a sigh and a laugh. “That’s the only word I could ever think to describe her with.”

“She’s certainly unique,” I tell him. “She actually brought you up the other day.”

A total lie. But it hasn’t even been a week since I started this endeavor, and I need to make some serious progress. I can’t get them together romantically if I can’t mend their friendship first.

“Oh, well.” Huy shuffles on his feet.

I think, Come on, ask! Ask me why she was talking about you.

“What?” I say.

“Nothing.” He grabs a rag, pretending to wipe the counter down.

“Is there a history between the two of you?”

“You could say that.”

“Can I ask about it?” It’s a bold move, direct. Not really my style, according to Leah, which frustrates her sometimes. “She seems … I dunno, angry with you.”

“Yeah, maybe …” His voice goes low, as if he’s ashamed.

“Are you angry at her?”

“No,” he says a little too quickly before he pauses, not meeting my eyes. Huy lets out a huff before he continues. “It’s nothing. Stupid teenager drama bullshit.”

“Right.” But how stupid? Was something said? Done? Feelings were obviously hurt. But before I can press further, I feel a hand wrap tightly around mine, another body pulling itself in close.

“There you are—I was looking for you!” Cal sings in my ear. “Oh, Huy!” Cal pretends to be surprised. “You’re here!”

“Yep.” Huy sighs. “Couldn’t think of a better way to spend my Saturday morning.”

“What were you two talking about?” Cal asks.

“We were just—” I start to say, but another voice interrupts me.

“Are you still open?” A woman with her child in a stroller pushes through.

In an instant, Huy’s voice changes from his normal speaking voice to what I’d call a customer-service voice. “Yes, ma’am, we sure are.”

“Oh, great. My kids have been begging me for these donuts.”

Huy gives me a sympathetic look, and it only takes another second or two for the line to grow behind the woman, as if it’s a sign from the universe that our magical moment has ended.

“Hey, Jude, do you have Instagram or something?” he asks me as he sets another donut in the oven.

“Oh, uh … yeah! I do.”

He grabs his notepad and writes down his username for me.

“Find me,” he says. “I’ll see you at school Monday?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ll see you then.” And with that, I’m completely shut out.