Page 94 of The Do-Over

“I think you’re hot, Em—don’t worry.” Like always, he kind of understood the way my brain worked. “I just think that maybe we’re meant to be the best of friends.”

“Stop saying things that make it sound like you’re dumping me. Remember the intercom.”

“Oh, I remember.” He coughed out a laugh and said, “I’ll be ninety-five years old at the home, and I’llstillremember you slamming me and the Bards.”

That made me laugh. “Gah—is this weird? That everything feels just as comfortable, even though we aren’t a thing anymore?”

He shook his head. “It feels right, I think.”

“Can I torture you a little, though?” I crossed my arms. “Kind of like my own special goodbye to us?”

He slowed as a car tried miserably to parallel park on the street. “I’m scared but okay.”

I looked out the window at the late-day winter sun and I said, “I got you the Coach watchband for Valentine’s Day. If we hadn’t broken up, you’d have a stunning chocolate leather band on your wrist.”

He lifted his hand off the shifter to cover his heart as if I had mortally wounded him. “You know how to deliver quite the parting blow.”

“Right?” I said, grinning at him as he smiled at me.

“I know this is absolutely unheard of in real life, but do you think we can still hang out? And not, like, just say it?” He swallowed and said, “Because I really don’t want to lose you.”

“Let’s play it by ear.” I pulled out my phone and checked for messages.Nothing. “But I could theoretically continue to kick your ass at Scrabble if you don’t piss me off.” “Good.” He turned into my driveway. “Because if you desert me, who will call me out on my contrarian shit?”

“Ooh—I do enjoy doing that.”

He gave a little laugh. “Thank you for hearing me out, by the way.”

“Ditto.” I opened the door. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Anytime. Seriously.”

I got out and slammed the door, and was almost to the porch when he yelled, “Em—wait.”

I looked back and his window was down. He was waving me over. I dropped my bag and jogged to his window. “I’m not going to kiss you goodbye, Sutton.”

“Ha, ha.” He put the car in reverse and looked at me intently. “So… what’s the deal with you and Nick Stark?”

I felt my face flush. “?‘Deal’?”

“When I was waiting for you to come out of the office, we had a little talk.”

Wait. “What? You talked toNick?”

His brown eyes were full of humor when he said, “The second you went inside the office, he walked up to me. Honestly, he looked mad and he’s kind of tall, so I was a little intimidated.”

My lips were tingly and I felt breathless. “What did he say?”

“He said, ‘I don’t really know you, Josh’—and he totally said my name like he thinks I’m a douche.”

“Well, I might’ve—”

“I figured.” He gave me a look and said, “But then he goes, ‘Emilie’s too good for you. If she takes you back, don’t screw it up this time.’?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “What? He said that?”

“The thing is, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, the guy seems really into you.” Josh rested his elbow on the open window and said, “So if you like him—”

“I don’t.” I shook my head and felt sick to my stomach. My body was all aflutter at the thought of Nick pining over me or giving a shit, but it wasn’t enough. “Thanks for telling me allthat, but Nick likes me enough to want me not with you, but not enough to actually do something about it.”

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