Page 25 of The Romance Rivalry

“What do you mean?”

“From what I’ve seen, you tend to stick with safe choices, staying in a lane, not being contrarian in any way. I realize you have your reasons. But I’m assuming you don’t actually love every book you read, and sometimes I wish people online could see that side of you, too. You can hate a book, you know. You don’t have to find something to rave about in each one. For this assignment, maybe pick a book that will challenge us both.”

“I’m not safe,” I argue. So I don’t like disappointing people. It’s just easier to focus on making other people happy.

“Yeah, you kinda are,” he says.

“You barely know me.”

“Well, you haven’t given me any reason to believe otherwise.”

“Just because I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Just because I can find something to enjoy in every book, even if as a whole it wasn’t for me...”

“Exactly. Safe.” He leans back in his chair, that now familiar smug smile on his face.

My face heats as all the blood inside me simmers, building to a boil. How dare he judge me? And anyways...

“You only know my online persona,” I say.

“So, I’m right... youareputting on a show,” he says.

“Wait, no, that’s not how I meant it. I just meant...”

“Look, you don’t have to explain. I get it. You don’t owe your followers all of you. You can give them as much or as little of yourself as you want. I just think you should admit that who you are online isn’t entirely... you.”

I think about what Aiden just said. How he’s just nailed a truth that no one else in my life, maybe not even myself, could see. Or at least didn’t make the effort to see.

He’s leaned back into his chair, ankle crossed over knee, arms folded on his stomach, a picture of relaxed confidence. I examine him, trying to read his expression, to see if he’sbaiting me in some way or if we’re actually having an earnest conversation.

“Do you hold back online? I mean, like, do you have a persona?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I don’t think I care enough about my online presence to try that hard...”

Figures.

“...but with this opportunity with the Korean company in front of me, I have thought about how I might best present myself to fit what they’re looking for.” He lets out a deep breath, the first sign that maybe he’s feeling some pressure these days, too.

“Well, good luck with all of that,” I say. “Really, I hope you sign the deal.” And, surprising even myself, I realize I mean it.

We walk out of the library and halfway across campus in silence. It’s not awkward or uncomfortable, but rather, it’s... nice. I can’t say that we’re suddenly besties just because we shared little pieces of ourselves with one another. But maybe Aiden Jeon isn’t the enemy I made him out to be. Plus, if we’re going to work together all semester, I should at least try to get along with him.

“How was your date the other night, by the way? With Maddie?” I ask.

Left. Right. Left. Right. Our steps are perfectly in tandem. Even though his legs are way longer than mine, somehow,our pace is exactly the same.

“Oh, it was okay. Garrett was right about that place. It really was good. How was your date?”

Left. Right.

“It was fun, I guess. Are you going to see Maddie again?”

I pick up my pace slightly. He matches mine without hesitation.

“I doubt it. I just went out with her for research,” he says.

“Research?” I ask.

Left. Right.

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