Page 50 of Didn't See That Coming

Renata:Triss is a true Crazy Rich Asian.

Me:Ooh. Really?

Triss:No, not—

Peishan:Yes, really. Her parents own the Kwangtang Zipper. Check your jeans’ zip.

Me:Oh my god, it says KWT! That’s your family company? But these jeans are from Zara.

Triss:Yeah, Zara, GAP, etc. They all buy zippers from my family company.

Me:Incredible!

Zoelle:She seems sweet, but she’s rich enough to hire hitmen if her date is bad.

Me:…You’re kidding, right?

Triss:Oh my god, don’t listen to them! Of course I wouldn’t!

Everyone:She would.

Triss:I would not!

Me:Uh-huh. “Make sure date is fun and awesome.” Got it.

Before I know it, it’s fully dark outside. I’m exhausted but in a really good way. PlayingWHand killing Jonas and chatting with Liam is great, but there’s just something about having a good group of girlfriends to laugh with that feeds my withered, jaded soul. And I would do practically anything to keep this going, which means that tomorrow, I will let the Lil’ Aunties know that Liam has got two girls who want to datehim.

“A match?” Liam blinks at Eleanor Roosevelt like she’s just started speaking Russian to him.

The Lil’ Aunties ambushed Liam and me right outside our classroom at recess time and told Liam proudly (in low voices, since they don’t want the entire world overhearing) that they’re setting him up on his first date.

“Yeah,” Sarah Jessica says. “It’s kind of the whole point of running a matchmaking business?”

“And it’s a really good match,” I add. Ugh, saying these words to him feels like gargling scalding water. I spot Triss walking out of the classroom with Zoelle, and my gut clenches. They smile at me as they pass us, and Triss glances shyly at Liam before looking away, andgahhh.But it’s fine! It’s not like I can date Liam myself, not after the lie that our friendship has been built on.

“Yeah, I’m sure it’s a good match. I just”—Liam gives me an indecipherable look—“I didn’t think it would be this fast. So, like, you two are done putting together my profile?” He glances at me again.

Why is he looking at me like that? He shouldn’t be allowed to look at me like that. It’s too open, too tender, tooeverything!

I drop my gaze as Eleanor Roosevelt grins and says, “Yep! Your profile is done and it’s awesome, and there are at least two really great matches we’ve lined up for you.”

Liam nods hesitantly. “Cool. And these girls—uh—they know they’re being matched with me? And they’re okay withit?”

Eleanor Roosevelt laughs. “Where’s your confidence? Of course they do! And they’re up for it. So, this Saturday, you’ve got a date with the lovely Trissilla.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Is that a happy ‘oh’ or, like, an ‘oh no’ oh?” Sarah Jessicaasks.

I stare at Liam hard enough that I can practically see, through his skull, the thoughts swirling around in his brain. My emotions are a mess. I don’t want Liam to be happy about it, but I also don’t want him to be mean about it if he’s notinterested in Triss. Bwaaah! Why must humaning be so hard?

“It’s just a…” Liam chews on his lower lip for a second, increasing my heart rate by about 60percent. “It’s an—‘oh, cool’ sort of ‘oh.’ ” He pauses, giving me that look that leaps through the windows of my soul (i.e., my eyes) and reads my innermost thoughts. “Are you…cool?”

“Me?” I squeak. Eleanor Roosevelt and Sarah Jessica stare at me, and oh my god, these two kids are legit terrifying. I force a laugh. “Why’re you asking ifI’mcool? Of course I am. I couldn’t be cooler about it. I’m, like, subzero. Anyway, any thoughts on where you might take her?”

Liam’s mouth snaps shut. “Cool. Well, we could probably go for a coffee.”

My stomach sinks. I don’t know why it does, because “go for a coffee” sounds pretty generic as far as first dates go, and I should’ve been expecting it, but just hearing the words from his mouth makes this impending date way too real. Somehow, my mouth manages to move and make the word “Cool” plop out like a dead rat. I simply cannot with this moment anymore, so I tell him I have to go.

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