Page 99 of The Do-Over

“I went over to your grandma’s and asked what she knew about the purple unicorn cake.” His eyes moved over my face, making my heart pound, and he said, “As it turns out, she’s been having a fling with the bakery owner for years, so she called him and asked him to make one for you.”

I blinked. “My grandma’s dating Old Man Miller?”

“I don’t know if it’s technically dating since she said they just have sleepovers—”

“Ew.”

“But they’re close.”

I stared at the cake, unable to slow down my thoughts.Nick went over to my grandma’s just to see if she knew about the cake?

I managed to say, “I can’t believe you remembered the cake.”

“I remember everything about you, Em.”

The crack in his voice brought my eyes back to his face.

“I do.” His voice was raspy when he said, “I remember the ‘Thong Song,’ the breathy sound of your voice after I kiss you,and the way you kissed mynosewhen you thought I was sad.”

A train whistle blew in the distance, its sound almost haunting in the cold darkness.

“I messed up,” he said as he stared down at me, “and I’ve regretted it every minute since you walked away in the school parking lot.”

I swallowed and my eyes traveled all over him, drinking in the one person I hadn’t allowed myself to really look at since he’d broken my heart.

“I fell in love with you on Valentine’s Day, Emilie, but I need more than just seven minutes.”

“You do?” Warmth started sliding through every molecule inside of me. I wanted to be closer to him, but first I had to ask, “What about everything you said after Valentine’s Day, though? What about the mirage?”

Nick lifted his hand like he wanted to touch my face but stopped himself and said, “You were right. About me being stupid because of Eric.”

I cringed. “I didn’t say that.”

“You implied I was holding back because of him, and it’s come to my attention since then that it’s probably true.”

“It has? Really?”

“Yeah.” He made a face likeIt’s all so dramaticand he said, “As it turns out, when your parents have a yard sale and you lose your ever-loving shit because they’re giving away your dead brother’s baseball hat the day after the one-year anniversary, you have issues.”

“Oh no.” I take a step toward him, reaching out my hand to touch the sleeve of his hoodie. “That sucks. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He cleared his throat and said, “Believe it or not, I’m glad. I’ve actually started seeing a therapist. I don’t know, it’s really weird, talking to a stranger, but also kind of like a relief.”

“Nick, that’s so grea—”

“Stop.” He looked at me out of the corner of his eye and said around a smirk, “The last thing I want is the girl I’m obsessed with to tell me she’s proud of me for going to therapy. I’ve got a mother for that, thank you.”

That made me laugh. “I knew you were obsessed.”

“Yes, Emilie Hornby, I’m here to tell you that I’m a little obsessed with you. With this.” He raised his hands and cupped my face. “With us.” His eyes crinkled at the corners and his mouth slid into the full-on smile that made me weak in the knees.

“Don’t get all clingy on me now, Stark,” I said, but the “k” sound got cut off when his mouth covered mine. Electricity and liquid warmth drizzled through my body as Nick kissed me like only Nick could.

Somewhere in the distance I heard my friends clapping, but nothing could’ve pulled me away from the one person in the world who knew it took a sparkly purple unicorn cake to sweep me off my feet.

Nick stayed for the celebration, holding my hand as we all walked around the Old Market together after dinner. And when it was time to call it a night, he asked me quietly, so no one else could hear, “Can I drive you home?”

Of courseI said yes.

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