Page 33 of My Irresistible Enemy

Ididunderstand what Tanner was saying. And I needed to talk to Nolan.

6

Nolan

Iwalked into my room and flopped down on my bed in a daze.

Home. I was going home next week. That was it.

It didn’t matter what the judges had just told me. It didn’t matter that my bakes had been technically competent. It wouldn’t even matter if viewers magically started liking me over the next seven days.

I was going home next week, whether I liked it or not.

I’d let my mom down.

As if thinking about her summoned her, my phone began to ring. I pulled it out of my pocket and stared at her picture on the screen, thinking about ignoring it. I didn’t want to tell her I was coming home next week. Didn’t want to admit that I’d failed.

But it might be important. With a sigh, I brought the phone to my cheek.

“Hey, you,” I said, trying to smile as I stared up at the ceiling. “What’s up?”

“Whoa, I didn’t expect you to actually answer.” My mom’s voice was a little muffled. “Sorry, I’m doing dishes. One sec.”

I heard a pot clang against the sink and then a whoosh that must have been the water turning off.

“Why did you call if you didn’t think I’d pick up?” I laughed.

“Do you want the real reason or a fake one?”

“Definitely a fake one. Why would I ask a question I wanted to know the answer to?”

My mom snorted. “I just meant that you’re not going to like the real answer.”

“Well, now you have to tell me.” I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. “Is everything okay? Did something go wrong, do you need new meds, or—shit, did I forget a test or something?”

“Nolan, Nolan, calm down. You didn’t forget any tests. I’m fine, the chemo’s fine, everything’s fine. It’s still just a waiting game.”

She laughed softly. “It’s not about me. I called when I thought you’d be filming because I wanted to leave a message. I figured you’d evade or change the subject if I got you on the phone—which you’re already doing, so great job—but that if I left a message, your overwhelming sense of responsibility would force you to listen to it the whole way through, so I’d have a better chance of getting you to pay attention.”

“That is…”

“True?” my mom suggested. “Diabolical? Genius?”

“Definitely one of those things.”

“Or all three. So, do you want to know what I was going to say?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really, but I thought the illusion of choice might make you feel better.”

“I don’t think it works once you tell me that. But yeah, lay it on me.”

“I think that Aiden guy likes you.”

“You think—wait, what?That’swhy you called?”

“Yeah! Well, that, and to tell you that I think you should take him up on—”

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