Page 144 of The Hookup Situation
Zane tries to win Autumn a spooky stuffed ghost at the ring toss and talks smack the entire time.
When I turn my head, I see Craig by the kettle corn stand with a blonde woman.
“Don’t look,” I tell Julie, but in the pumpkin head, she can barely see anyway.
“What is it?”
“Craig.”
Her body tenses. “Has he seen us?”
“I don’t think so.”
I move toward Zane and lift my pumpkin head. “We need to split up, okay?”
“Okay,” Zane tells me. That’s when he spots Craig—I can see it in my best friend’s expression. “Be safe. If you need anything, text me.”
“I will.”
I slide my fingers through Julie’s and lead her away from Zane and Autumn. With them, we’re too obvious; away from them, we blend in.
I try to steer Julie away, but the blonde woman who was with Craig approaches us.
“Excuse me,” she says, her voice shaky but clear. “Julie?”
“Who?” Julie asks, attempting to disguise her voice.
“I saw you with that dark-haired woman earlier. Autumn, right? The way you two hugged, I knew it was you.” The woman wraps her arms around herself. “I need to talk to you.”
Julie’s body goes rigid, and I can feel the tension radiating off her. This is the woman Craig proposed to after dumping Julie.
“We should go,” I mutter, sensing Julie’s discomfort, but she surprises me.
“No, it’s okay.” Her voice is steady despite everything. “I’m listening, Sarah.”
She looks surprised that Julie knows her name. “You remember me?”
“I’ll never forget you. Craig brought you to my parents’ anniversary party three months after we broke up.” Julie’s voice is neutral. “You wore the necklace I’d given him.”
Sarah touches her neck, though she’s not wearing it now. “He told me his mother gave it to him.”
I place my hand on Julie’s back, feeling her trembling, but she continues to stand her ground.
“Is that all?” Julie asks.
“No.” Sarah looks around, making sure Craig isn’t close. “He’s not over you. He talks about you nonstop. Julie this, Julie that. He even …” She pauses, tears welling in her eyes. “He calls me by your name sometimes.”
Julie is silent for a moment. “Why are you telling me this?”
“We broke off our engagement a month ago, but we’ve been trying to work things out. Or at least, I thought we were.” Sarah wipes at her eyes. “But all he cares about is you.”
“Sarah—”
“I’m pregnant,” she whispers.
We both freeze.
“What?” Julie’s voice is barely audible inside the pumpkin.
