Page 97 of Not in My Book

Tyler:I think I’ll stay in tonight, but you guys have fun.

Jess texted me separately.

Jess:you have to get tyler to come

Rosie:what makes you think i can do it?? you’re better friends w him!

Jess:i can’t seem too obvious

Rosie:we’re not in middle school

Jess:im begging

I groaned, switching back to the group chat.

Rosie:tyler, you should come out! it’ll be a lot of fun

Tyler:I’m not really in the mood

I sighed, knowing what’d get him.

Rosie:fine. the real reason i want everyone to come out tonight is because aiden and i kissed and i need to talk about it, ok??

Jess texted me privately.

Jess:you’re my best friend in the entire world

Logan:YOU’RE KIDDING WHAT WHEN WHERE???

Jess:on her mouth probably. unless aiden is as kinky as we thought

Rosie:shut up. the point is I need help from my friends processing this

Rosie:tyler, are you in???

Tyler:Fine. Drinks on Logan, though.

Logan:fine. fuck you guys, if this is the price of love then i’ll pay it

The New Romantics was probably theworstplace in New York to have a conversation on New Year’s Eve. The bar sat in the center of the room with a dance floor on one side and tables on the other. There were sweaty, glittery bodies all pressed up against each other, jumping to some techno song. The Countdown to Midnight ball drop was playing on every screen in the place, muted.

The four of us were sitting at a small booth draped in velvet, silver glitter adorning the table. Strobe lights illuminated the room every so often. I could barely hear myself talk as I relayed what happened the day at Aiden’s apartment and then last week at Christmas. I had already told Jess everything, but Logan’s jaw was slack in shock and Tyler’s eyes widened.

“I knew it,” Logan shouted over the music. “Itoldall of you when they were forced to cowrite they would end up fucking.”

“But we didn’t,” I corrected him.

“You’re obviouslygoingto.”

Tyler leaned forward. “Rosie, how are you feeling? That’s a lot.”

I messed with the straw in my cocktail. “I guess I’m … cautiously optimistic that part of him feels the same way as I do?”

Replaying everything that had happened between Aiden and me in the last few months for them, it seemed so obvious. It wasn’t until I’d said it out loud that I realized how ridiculous I was being, doubting how Aiden felt. The last time I’d started a relationship with someone, I wasfifteen.I wasn’t so great at picking up all the signs, it seemed, but they werethere.Adrenaline rushed through me at the realization, and I became a little breathless.

“So you like him?” Tyler asked.

I nodded, smiling as I touched my locket. I didn’t need to think twice about it. Everywhere I went nowadays, he popped in my mind, lingering there. And I wanted him to stay.

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