Page 40 of (Not So) Famous in Paradise

After a long pause, I see her response.

Georgia: Wanna meet at Britta’s for a minute first? Talk it over? I have a break in fifteen.

Me: See you then.

I’ve got an idea of what to do, and Georgia is just the person to give me advice. She’s always been my wing-woman. I know she won’t let me down this time.

On my way out the door, I grab the ring I’ve been saving for the right girl. It’s not the one I was going to propose to Carly with, but I haven’t had a chance to find one that’s more like what Carly wants.

I stuff it inside my jacket. With all the padding of my coat, I can’t feel it in the pocket there, but knowing it’s safe is enough. I’ve waited too long to give it away to let anything happen to it now.

I get to Britta’s before Georgia and order for us. I guess she’ll want a chai latte today and get one for myself too.

“Why are you so amped up?” my sister asks as she makes the drinks. Things are slow this late in the afternoon, so she’s the only one here.

“Nothing.” I shake my head, but I can’t shake the nervous energy coursing through my body.

“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes. “Go ahead and tell Georgia whatever it is instead of your own favorite sister.”

“What makes you think you’re my favorite?” The best thing about having a little sister is that I always have someone to tease.

“Very funny.” She pulls back my drink as I reach for it. “You know I have two other brothers I could choose as my favorite. I’m the only sister you have to choose from, not to mention your only source of free caffeine. Don’t make me cut you off.”

Just then, Georgia walks in. Britta waves to her, then leans over the counter to hand me our drinks. “She’d better be the woman who put that smile on your face,” she says too quietly for Georgia to hear over the Taylor Swift song blasting from the speakers.

I draw back in surprise. Britta’s eyebrows shoot up, and she nods toward Georgia, like she knows something about the two of us that I should know. Before I can reply, Georgia comes to the counter.

“Hey, Britta. Are the pans shut down, or can I beg you to make me ebelskiver?” Georgia takes the drink I hand her, but I’m still staring at Britta and the stupid smile on her face. “What’s going on with you two?” Georgia asks, looking between us.

“Nothing.” Britta smiles wider. “Lemon curd? Or Nutella?” She knows those are Georgia’s favorites.

Georgia takes a sip of her drink, then tips it toward me. “Chai latte?”

I nod.

“Perfect. Thank you.” She turns to Britta. “Lemon curd to go with my chai.”

“You got it!” Britta goes through the swinging door to the kitchen, but she can still see us from the stove. “You saw you two are blowing up again, right? Your nickname reel is all over Instagram.”

“Uh, yeah, I saw. Stella is on fire with her posts.” Georgia leans her hip against the stainless counter and asks me, “Did you see it?”

I stare into my cup. “Last night.”

“We’re getting tons of shares. Like close-to-viral numbers of shares.” Her eyes bore into me, trying to draw out the appropriate response. “This is good for us, Zach.”

“I know.” I push away from the counter and head to our table. Georgia follows. “It’s not so good for me and Carly. That video is the reason she isn’t talking to me, and it was supposed to do the exact opposite.”

We slide into the wood and metal chairs, their legs scraping across the cement floor. I expect Georgia to launch into problem-solving mode once we’re seated, but that’s not the look on her face when I glance across the table. Her lips pinch together, and there’s nothing of the sparkle I saw in her eyes yesterday. In its place is something closer to…

Hurt.

Great. I guess she can join the club of people I’ve hurt. Carly’s the president.

“You kind of changed the plan on me yesterday,” she says in a tight voice before sipping from her cup. “So I don’t know what to tell you about yours not working.”

“Are you mad I didn’t tell the world your nickname?”

Her face goes soft, and she shakes her head. “No, not at all. That was really sweet.” There’s no edge to her voice now, and tension eases out of my shoulders. “I’m just saying, I don’t have any other ideas for making Carly believe there’s nothing going on between us.”

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