Page 99 of Okay, Cupid

“The two of you are going to make me sick,” Neve says as she nabs a spring roll.

To think, a week ago, the two of them had no idea what to say to each other. Two weeks ago, they didn’t know what their feelings were. And three weeks ago, they hated each other.

That was me.

I helped them find this again.

It’s all my fault.

I just need them to say something, to say anything at all. But that can’t really happen here, can it? As much fun as I’m having, as easy as it’s been to forget myself, a tent packed to the brim with people all fighting to have conversations of their own doesn’t exactly lend itself well to the heart-to-heart conversations.

I need to get them outside. Out in the night air where they can be alone.

I watch as Huy takes another piece of pork, flying it toward Alice’s open mouth like she’s a toddler, deviating at the last second to eat the meat instead. I should be proud of what I’ve accomplished. Even if they weren’t in love with each other, I helped two people who’d lost their way find each other again, recover this friendship that clearly meant so much to the both of them. I should be proud of what I’ve done here.

I need to get this over with. I want to get this over with.

So I can finally catch a break.

“I think I’m going to grab one of those fruit bowls,” I tell Huy because he’s the only one who can hear me right now.

“Sounds good!” He nods, turning back to Alice and Neve.

With the two of them distracted, I can go for the tall heat lamp that we’ve been seated next to this entire time. It’s been doing its job, keeping us and the neighboring tables warm, but I need a little more from it right now. I carefully turn the knob as far as it’ll go, cranking up the temperature.

I don’t hang around, waiting for it to climb. I just go and grab my fruit bowl. By the time I make it back to the table, everyone’s foreheads are visibly shinier. Huy’s even moved spots, picking seats closer to Alice and Neve, bent down like they’re having a serious conversation—a conversation that ends when I’m back at the table.

That can’t be good.

“Whew.” I pull on the neck of my sweater. “Is it boiling in here? Or is it just me?”

“Not you,” Alice whines, falling forward onto the table and catching herself with her hand. “I think I’m going to do a lap outside, get some air.”

“That’s probably a good idea.” Neve grabs her purse.

“Come on.” I nudge Huy. “We can get some fireworks.”

“You seriously think they’d let us do fireworks in the city?” he asks, standing tall. “We’ll get you some sparklers, though.”

“Hmm … I’m not sure if that’s good enough.”

Huy just laughs, putting his hand on my shoulder and leading me out.

“What were you guys talking about?” I dare to ask as we finally step outside, where Huy can actually hear me now.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” He puts his hand back down. “Don’t worry about it.”

But how can I not? How can my brain not run wild with the idea of what they were saying behind my back? Do I smell? I steal a whiff of my armpits, and it’s not that; thankfully my deodorant is doing its job. Do they all secretly hate me? Has this entire month just been one long prank on me? Or maybe they’re all secretly Cupids? Maybe Huy, Neve, and Alice were planted by Richard; maybe this has all been a test, different from the test that I thought it was supposed to be, and they wanted to see if I’d crack. Like Richard specifically chose Huy, knowing he was super charming and the kind of boy I’d fall for.

No, that doesn’t make any sense.

So then … what were they discussing?

Alice and Neve go right for another dessert truck while Huy leads me to the booth where they’re handing out sparklers. We stand feet away from each other, drawing shapes that hold in the air for a split second before they’re gone.

Alice and Neve loop back to us. “Here, do something cute,” Alice says as she whips out her phone.

“Make a heart or something!” Neve calls from behind her.