Page 33 of The Mistake

“No prob.”

“No, not just for the tissues. Thank you for showing up and rescuing me. This whole day has been so humiliating,” I mumble.

He sighs. “I guess you saw that Twitter feed.”

My embarrassment triples. “Just so you know, I haven’t been going around and telling everyone about us. The only person who knows we hooked up is Ramona.”

“Obvs. She was there at the movies.” His smile is reassuring. “Don’t worry, you didn’t strike me as the type to B&B.”

I offer a blank stare. “Bed and breakfast?”

He snickers. “No. Bag and brag.”

“Bag and brag?” I’m laughing through my tears, because the phrase is so absurd. “I didn’t realize that was a thing.”

“Trust me, it is. The puck bunnies excel at it.” His voice softens. “And just soyouknow, the chick who started the Twitter bullshit? She’s still pissed at me because Iturned her down last year.”

“Why did you do that?” I’ve met Maya’s sister, and she’s beautiful.

“Because she’s pushy. And kind of annoying, if I’m being honest.” He turns the key in the ignition and gives me a sidelong look. “Do you want me to drive you home? Because I was thinking of taking you somewhere else first, if you’re interested.”

My curiosity is piqued. “Where?”

His blue eyes twinkle mischievously. “It’s a surprise.”

“A good surprise?”

“Is there any other kind?”

“Um,yeah. I can think of a hundred bad surprises off the top of my head.”

“Name one,” he challenges.

“Okay—you’re set up on a blind date, and you show up at the restaurant and Ted Bundy is sitting at the table.”

Logan grins at me. “Bundy is your go-to answer for everything, huh?”

“It appears so.”

“Fine. Well, point taken. And I promise, it’s a good surprise. Or in the very least, it’s neutral.”

“All right. Surprise away then.”

He pulls out of the parking lot and turns onto the road that leads away from campus. As I gaze out the window and watch the trees whiz by, a heavy sigh leaves my chest. “Why are people such assholes sometimes?”

“Because they are,” he says simply. “Honestly, it’s not worth getting angry over. My advice? Don’t waste your time obsessing over the stupid actions of stupid people.”

“It’s kind of hard not to when they’re slandering my good name.” But I know he’s right. Why bother expending any mental energy on bullies like Piper Stevens? Three years from now, I won’t even remember her name.

“Seriously, Grace, don’t stress. You know what they say—haters be hating, and bitches be bitching.”

I laugh again. “That’s going to be my new motto.”

“Good. It should be.”

We pass the sky-blue sign with the words “Welcome to Hastings!”sprawled across it, and I peer out the window again. “I grew up around the corner,” I tell him.

He sounds surprised. “You’re from Hastings?”

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