Page 145 of Be My First

Zadie looks off in the distance for a moment and says, “You’re right. I don’t.”

Her eyes fall on me. “Bode!”

“Oh god,” Brooklyn mumbles.

“Run, dude. Just run,” Declan leans forward and says.

“Hush,” Zadie snaps. “I know a lovely girl, and she’s West Coast.”

I look around the table nervously. I’ve heard about Zadie’s matchmaking skills – or lack thereof. “Why don’t you set Eli up with her?”

Eli laughs. “She already tried.”

I’m trying to find an excuse, any excuse to say no. Zadie’s eyes are glued on me. “Well?”

I shift nervously in my seat. “I guess.”

She claps her hands together. “Yay. You won’t be disappointed.”

“Spoiler: You will,” Keene says.

“Oh, shut up. I swear this is a great match,” Zadie says proudly. “I’ll reach out to her and text you all the details.”

I nod and resume twirling my pasta on my fork.

“Juno, I saw that video you made the other day about the gingerbread house,” Olivia says. “It was great. Really informative. Entertaining. Funny.”

Juno smiles. “Thanks. I enjoyed making it, and I had some extra time since I’m on Christmas break.”

Celeste jumps in. “I saw it too. It’s gotten a ton of views. Do you think that’s something you’d want to do?”

She frowns. “What do you mean? Like my own channel or something online?”

Celeste nods. “I don’t think it would take you long to be profitable.”

She looks down and thinks for a moment and then says, “I just made the video on a whim. It has gotten a really good reception, but I wasn’t planning to do more.”

She tilts her head from side to side, considering this.

Declan jumps in. “You have an opportunity to do more and monetize it. This might work better than trying to work for someone.”

“Yeah. It won’t be easy for me to work in a restaurant or bakery with my security team. I’ve always like the idea of teaching people anyway.”

“Do it. Do it,” Eli chants.

Everyone’s watching her. “Yeah. I might do some more. I had fun doing it. I guess I’ll see where it goes.”

“Yes,” Eli leans forward and high fives her.

“You gave away a few good tips about gingerbread decorating,” Maggie says. “We stole a few of those ideas for our house this year.

The Sterlings do a big, outrageous gingerbread house competition every year. Not normal gingerbread houses but elaborate scenes from pop culture and movies. They take it very seriously.

“I know. You’re going to use that knowledge against me,” Juno laughs.

The day after Christmas, I see Juno sneak out of the house by herself. I slip out onto the porch and see her putting on snowshoes.

“Can I join you?” I call.

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