Page 16 of The Even Odder Couple

“HA!” I gawk at her above my tumbler of tea, which is basically a vehicle for ice and sugar. I will not dignify this ridiculousness with actual words.

“Sure, we used to think he was kind of… rigid and inflexible,” she says. “But we were young and stupid then. I mean, we’re all still pretty young and a little bit stupid. And Spencer’s come a long way.”

If it’s possible, my gawk gets bigger. “Are you actually saying you think Spencer Crane is… attractive?”

Her shoulders creep up. “I mean, yes. Objectively. But personally, I’ve only got eyes for Owen.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. The two of you are so sweet together, I practically get cavities around you.”

“But you know more than anyone, it wasn’t always like that with us. If you hadn’t pushed me to tell Owen how I feel—”

“Which, technically, you didn’t. I’m pretty sure he told you first.”

“You’re missing the point.” She frowns. “I almost missed out on the best relationship of my life because I was scared to be honest with Owen about my feelings.”

I avert my eyes. “I’m not scared to be honest with Spencer. There’s absolutely nothing to be honest about. Maybe he’sslightlymore attractive than I originally thought, but that’s as far as this goes.” I set my tea on the porch and pick up a slice of pizza. Then I set it down again. Having no appetite is new for me. “Anyway, I thoughtIwas the best relationship of your life.” I add a smirk so Jill knows I’m kidding. Because of course I am.

I’m not jealous of her and Owen O’Dell. I’m completely happy for them. They worked together for eight years before they finally admitted how they felt about each other. But my situation with Spencer is totally different. Scratch that. One hundred percent different.

No. One hundred and TEN percent.

“And anyway, Spencer hasn’t come that far,” I say. “Did you hear him today? He was all, ‘You have spots on your windshield,Mess.Use this blue stuff to spray it,Mess.’” While I’m imitating Spencer, Jill gets busy washing down more pizza with big gulps of iced tea. “And his shorts looked like he ironed them. Plus there weren’t any scuffs on his shoes. Never trust a runner with un-scuffed shoes. And his teeth. They’re all so… even. And sparkly. I’ll bet he carries floss around in his pocket. Pocket floss. Is that even a thing?”

Jill sets her glass and plate on the deck next to her chair. By now her pizza is mostly crust. “You sure notice a lot about a guy you aren’t interested in.”

I roll my eyes. “Anyway, Spencer could be the hottest guy ever, and I wouldn’t care. I’m not in the market for any man. Hot or otherwise.”

Jill waves away my comment like I’m speaking nonsense now. “You’ve got to get over that, or you’re going to wind up alone.”

“What’s so bad about being alone?” I shrug. “It’s better than being rejected.”

Something rustles in the trees above the porch. We both look up and watch as two birds burst from the leaves, squawking out across the river. Jill leans over the arm of her chair, looking straight at me. “You haven’t been rejected,” she says. “To be rejected, a person has to put herself out there.”

I scoff, but I don’t argue, mostly because Jill’s kind of got a point.

“Here’s the thing,” she says, so I know she’s about to make a speech. “I get that you sometimes feel a little less-than around Darby and Olivia, but they don’t even live here anymore. They haven’t for years.” Jill sweeps her hand around the porch, like this spot represents all of Apple Valley. “You’re the one who stuck around, keeping your mom company when she lost your dad. Mac turned toyouwhen Gwen walked out on him and Daisy. Until they met Brooke, you helped him raise that girl. And you’re also the one who took over when Nash left McCoy Construction.”

“Until I quit.” I wrinkle my nose and stick my tongue out, uncomfortable with this praise. In my head, I’m the daughter who didn’t go to an impressive out-of-state college. The sister who backed out of going to law school. I’m the employee who left The Clumsy Goat. I even bailed on my own family’s company because I couldn’t figure out what I wanted. “I guess I just don’t see myself like that.”

“Then it’s a good thing I do. You are gorgeous. Hilarious. Free-spirited. Super fun. Stop selling yourself short. Your mom and Mac are so proud of you. So are Darby and Olivia. Your sisters are not in competition with you.”

“They don’t have to be.” I paste on a smile. “They’ve already won.”

Jill frowns. “Well, they didn’t win me.”

“True. And youarethe best prize ever. But you’re also an only child. You and Spencer graduated before us. So you don’t know what it was like. Every guy I looked twice at in high school fell in love with one of my sisters. And that’s hardly shocking. Darby was valedictorian, and president of our class. And Liv was head cheerleader. Homecoming Queen. She was more popular than…” My voice trails off.

“Than what?”

“I don’t know.” I splay my hands. “Who’s the most popular person on the planet now?”

“Baby Yoda.”

“Ha! Sure. Perfect. Liv’s more popular than Baby Yoda.”

“At least I’ve got you laughing.” Jill tilts her head and softens her voice. “Didn’t you play basketball and softball?”

“Lacrosse.”

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