Page 37 of Okay, Cupid

“I just get the vibe that there’s a story there. And your behavior right now isn’t really contradicting that. So why are you avoiding the question?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Did it ever strike you that I don’t want to talk about him?”

“You could’ve said that,” I tell her.

“I’m saying it now.” Alice pauses. “I don’t want to talk about him.”

“Okay.” Fantastic, Jude. Absolutely fantastic. “I’m sorry.”

Just like that, I’ve effectively undone whatever work I’ve managed to accomplish over the past week. Alice leans forward, resting her hands on her chin.

Okay, okay. I need to play this carefully. Alice and I might not have that much in common on the surface, but there is one thing we share with each other.

Hearts were broken.

It’s a dirty trick, to maneuver closer to her, to pull out my phone and go to Leo’s Instagram, scrolling back and forth and letting out a deep, melancholic sigh, laying on the drama to get her attention.

Humans all like to think that they aren’t nosy, that they don’t engage with other people’s “private matters” or whatever. But when push comes to shove, they all love a good, juicy story.

“Who is that?” Alice asks after I linger on Leo’s most recent picture, out at the beach with his sister.

“My … ex.”

“Oh. He’s cute.”

“Yeah.”

“What happened?” she asks because she just can’t help herself.

“And I’m the invasive one.”

“Sorry.” She holds her hand out. “Forget I said anything.”

“No, it’s fine. Probably good to talk about it.” I can make up any story I want. Because what can she do about it? It’s not like she can fact-check me. I think, given the circumstances, I can come up with something that’ll remind her of Huy. “We were both counselors at this camp last summer, and we started dating. He was my first real boyfriend.”

Alice turns toward me ever so slightly, tucking one leg under the other.

I go on. “It’s so dumb, but I, like … I pictured this life together and getting married. Which is so cheesy, but … I don’t know. I thought he was …”

“The one?” she finishes for me, just like I wanted.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“What happened?”

“Camp ended, and we kept seeing each other over the last few weeks of summer. Then he literally tells me he’s not actually from the Bay. That he lives in … Oregon. And that he’s leaving the next day.”

“Jesus.”

“Right? Totally caught me off guard.”

“Did you ever consider dating long-distance?”

I shake my head. “He said he doesn’t believe in it or whatever.” I don’t like mocking Leo, especially when he’s literally never done anything wrong to me. But it’s for the story. He’ll just have to forgive me in another life.