Page 73 of Okay, Cupid

Cal shrugs. “I could eat. It’s a good day for Volcano Curry.”

The moment he says that, it triggers something in me, and my stomach growls. At the very least, it’ll be warming. Filling too, so I won’t have to worry about food for the rest of the day.

“Volcano Curry sounds good.”

“Great!”

I gather Huy’s stuff and let Cal lead me out of the park, Huy’s backpack slung over my shoulders.

Alice texts Neve and me five hours later in our group chat.

ALICE: confirmed broken wrist, he’s getting it wrapped up now.

NEVE: Wrapped up??

ALICE: cast will come later, he’ll be back to get that done in a few days

ALICE: his parents are PISSED

ME: yikes …

NEVE: tell him we love him

ALICE:

I don’t really know what I feel like doing. The curry katsu isn’t sitting well in my stomach as I go about the rest of my day with Cal, which he’s labeled a “self-care day” in the hope of cheering me after noticing my mood was down. He brings out the face masks and my nail kit from the bathroom, pulling a few different nail polish colors out for me.

“You want me to paint your nails?” I ask him. “You hate when I paint your nails.”

“I know, but you’re in a funk. And it cheers you up.”

“That obvious, huh?” At least he’s right. I pull out my cuticle pusher. I can’t explain why it’s super relaxing to sit here and work on his nails. I guess maybe because there’s a definitive answer as to whether or not I’ve done a good job. Like, when I’m done, I can sit here and look at what I’ve done and know if I’m proud of it or not. I can tell if his nails (or my nails, or Leah’s nails) look good. Same with when they let me practice my makeup on them. And if they don’t, I can start over without too much fuss.

Or just wipe the slate clean and try again another day.

After all, my nail skills are good, but they don’t compare to my makeup ones.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Cal prompts.

I guess if there’s another soul in the world who might understand—or at least sympathize—with what I’ve been feeling, it’ll be Cal.

But now? I feel so hesitant, wondering if it’s the right move. I don’t like the idea that I can’t trust Cal, because I know that I can.

“Do you ever … start to miss the people that you’ve worked with?”

His shoulders visibly slump. Like he’s thinking, Not this again.

“Like the couples that we help?”

I nod. “Or the people you meet when you’re with them.”

“I take it this is about your human friends?”

Well, I can’t exactly deny it. “Yeah.”

“You’ve gotten really close to them; I can tell just from the few times we’ve hung out together.”

“I know that there’s a timeline here. A ticking clock or whatever. And I don’t think that I’m ready to say goodbye to them.”