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I had no idea who he was going to the dance with. Hopefully he wasn’t back together with Gigi. I didn’t love the idea of her being in my apartment.

I watched as Jacob kissed Olivia’s cheek. The way he used to kiss mine. Aunt Brooklyn looked over at me. And there was that look again. Pity.

I felt like I was going to cry.

I loved Axel first.

Then I fell in love with Jacob.

Neither of them loved me. And I was still in love with both of them. I wasn’t sure I was ready to fall in love a third time when I knew how that ended. With me in tears.

“I’ll be right back,” I said to my mom and hurried into the kitchen so I could stop looking at all the happy couples. I sniffed as I put my glasses on and pulled my phone out. My kiss thief hadn’t texted me since last Friday. Not one peep.

And I had a sinking feeling that he’d chickened out.

“Are you still coming?” I texted and hit send.

I waited for his response. And waited. I felt my bottom lip start to tremble.

Of course he wasn’t coming. He’d kept his identity a secret for months. Why would he suddenly just show up and reveal everything? God, I was such an idiot.

I should have just gone with Leo. At least then I wouldn’t be the only one here without a date. It was pathetic to go alone while Jacob was with his new girlfriend. I’d pushed my luck, agreeing to go with my kiss thief. And I knew better. I wasn’t lucky.

Part of me just wanted to slip back into my bedroom and sleep through the dance.

Sophie walked into the kitchen. “My dad said it’s time for pictures. Uncle Mason and Aunt Bee even stopped by to see our outfits.”

I groaned. “More people? Why?”

“What’s going on?”

“My kiss thief isn’t coming.”

“What?” She grabbed my phone and stared at my text that had gone unanswered. Her shoulders slumped. “Darn it.”

“I can’t go in there, Soph. I don’t feel like taking pictures to commemorate a terrible night.”

“It’s not terrible. It’s barely even begun. Come on.” She squeezed my hand. “Your kiss thief probably just didn’t want a run-in with your dad. He’ll meet you at the dance.”

My bottom lip kept trembling. Maybe I was just the kind of person that would never be loved out loud. I could just watch people fall in love from a distance. Surrounded by a bunch of cats.

“What is going through that head of yours?” Sophie asked. “Because it seems bad.”

“It is bad. I’m going to die alone.”

Sophie laughed. “You’re not. Your kiss thief is in love with you. He just...” She didn’t even know how to finish her sentence.

“He’s just a hideous drifter scaredy pants.”

Sophie pulled my into a hug. “I don’t think hideous drifter scaredy pants fits the bill. He’s bold stealing all your firsts the way he did. It doesn’t add up.”

“Then why isn’t he here?”

“I don’t know.” She ran her hand up and down my back. “Maybe something’s keeping him away.” She pulled back. “He probably thinks you’re still in love with Axel. And Jacob. Because you are.”

I didn’t even know what to say to that.

“Come on. I’ll be your date.”