Page 1 of Love, Just In

PROLOGUE

Fourteen years ago

Please don’t be dying.

Fear grips my chest as Zac blinks down at me with his long arms draped around the shoulders of his mates Cody and Hayden, his eyes glassy and wide and his skin the colour of spoiled milk. I can hear his shallow breaths from here—is he about to tell me he’s got a terminal disease?

‘Go on, bro,’ Cody says.

‘Just ask her,’ chimes in Hayden.

My fingers tighten around the edge of the train-station bench. ‘What’s going on?’ I ask Zac, the mid-afternoon sun scorching my trembling shoulders through my school dress.

Cody nudges Zac, who sways a little on his feet.

‘Uh, Josie?’ Zac begins, his voice thin and wobbly.

‘Yes?’ My stomach clenches.Don’t die, please. You’renotallowed to.

‘Will you go out with me?’ he asks.

My mouth falls open and I gape up at him.

Zac stares into my eyes while all the blood drains from my face and horror crashes into my stomach.

OMG, tell me this is a joke.

Zac and I are just friends. We’re the best of friends—why would he do this to me,andin front of Cody and Hayden??

‘Jose?’ Zac presses, a deep blush climbing over his cheeks.

My gaze darts to the infuriatingly empty train tracks behind the trio of sweaty boys in their crumpled school shirts. Why does my train have to be late today of all days?

‘So, will you be his girlfriend or not?’ Cody pushes.

I am being suffocated. ‘I don’t … I don’t think so.’

Zac’s face falls. Cody narrows his eyes at me, and Hayden bursts out laughing.

‘Why not?’ Zac asks in a small voice.

I lift a shoulder, mortified at being put on the spot in front of Cody and Hayden, who constantly tease me about being ‘Zac’s secret girlfriend’. Imagine if I say yes—Zac and I will be taunted for life. Plus, I’ve had a huge crush on Damien Di Fiore since Monday, when he left a sweet note in my locker that said he likes my hair. Damien is the most popular guy in our year—I can’t lose my chance with him because he thinks I’m dating Zac Jameson, who’s got the wild, messy hair of a lunatic and is built like a beanpole.

Don’t get me wrong, IadoreZac. But not like that.

‘Sorry?’ is all I manage.

I wish I could siphon out the hurt that’s seeping into my best friend’s hazel eyes. Blocking out Cody and Hayden’s amused stares, I zero in on Zac and offer him a small, apologetic smile, testing the waters. Because the thought of losing him as a friend is as bad as if he had told me he was dying.

His arms slip off his mates’ shoulders as he steps towards me, reaching down to gently brush his thumb over my jaw. ‘It’s OK, sunbeam. Don’t be mad. I won’t ask again.’

CHAPTER 1

One month ago

ME:Hi, I’m not sure if you’ll answer this, but I have some news you might be interested in.

ZAC:Hey, I’m so sorry I haven’t been in touch. I meant to reply to your messages a while ago, but things have been a bit full-on.

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