Page 67 of Didn't See That Coming

I vaguely hear Jonas say, “Wow, that gruesome, huh? Told you to let the chef do it.”

Once I step outside, the sunlight pierces my eyes and I grimace, shielding my face with my hands. I lower my sunglasses from my hair and sigh, heading for the lounge chairs on thedeck. I’m pretty sure I’m the most miserable person there ever was on a fancy yacht. I slump onto a lounge chair and rest my gaze on the endless horizon. I love being surrounded by nothing but the waves. The vastness of the ocean is a reminder of how minuscule I am and how my problems don’t actually matter in the big scheme of the world. Well, usually it’s a comforting thought, but right now, it doesn’t do me any good. All I want is…

Liam.

I want Liam.

The thought surfaces with such clarity, such force, that it shocks a gasp out of me. I can’t lie to myself any longer, can’t pretend that there’s nothing between us. That moment inside the kitchen should have been the least romantic moment ever. I mean, we were literally covered in fish water. But just thinking about it gives me goose bumps, because it’s Liam, and he could make any situation incredibly hot. I just need to find a way to break things off with Jonas without pissing him off, then I’ll somehow find a way to come clean to Liam.

Easier said than done.

CHAPTER 17

Dudebro10:So how was the yacht date today? Anything interesting happen?

Was that too obvious? It was probably too obvious, wasn’t it? No, surely it’s natural between friends to ask about a date, especially a yacht date. Right? Just to be safe, I type out another message.

Dudebro10:What was the yacht like? I’ve always wanted to be on one

Ha, that’s totally normal and not at all suspicious. Go me.

Sourdawg:It was fine

What? Just “fine”? I almost type out: “Just fine?? What about that hot moment you had with me in the kitchen,Liam?!” but through a heroic effort of self-restraint, I manage to stop myself.

Dudebro10:Cool. Did you hit it off with your date?

Sourdawg:No. Wanna know something rly stupid?

I smile bitterly. Nothing could be stupider than this predicament I’m in.

Dudebro10:What?

Sourdawg:The real reason I couldn’t get into either of my dates is because…I’m really into Kiki

Sourdawg:Kiki’s the Grumpy Cat girl, btw

A sound that falls somewhere between a squeak and a laugh and a hoarse yelp burps out of my mouth. I’m squeezing my mouse so hard that it almost cracks. I blink several times at my screen, rereading the last message from Sourdawg. Oh god. What is this mess I’m feeling? Am I happy? Yes, yes! So much yes. So happy that my blood is roaring in my ears and I want to shriek out my window:LIAM LIKES MEEEE!I can’t believe this is happening. My head is completely scrambled, every neuron in my brain misfiring, or maybe firing everywhere all at once. When he told me there’s someone he likes, that wasme?

More than anything, I wish I could tell Liam the truth. But how can I, especially now that I’m fake-dating Jonas? And let’s not forget how I’ve been lying to Liam this whole time. Even now, he’s telling me something I shouldn’t have access to. It’s such a huge betrayal to our friendship, to him. As quickly asthe euphoria comes, it evaporates, leaving me crushed under the weight of my reality.

Sourdawg:It’s so stupid, right? We’ve been hanging out all this time and I was working up the courage to tell her how I feel, and then…suddenly she’s dating Jonas

Sourdawg:Hey, dude. U still there?

Dudebro10:Yeah

Sourdawg:I just—I really can’t shake off the feeling that she’s into me too. Do you think I should talk to her about it?

Sourdawg:Ugh, that’s probably a dick move, huh?

God, what fresh hell am I in? What do I say to him? Can I just shout:I AM REALLY INTO YOU TOO!!!

I force myself to lean back, taking my fingers off the keyboard, and take a deep breath. What is the ideal outcome here? Well, the ideal outcome is that Jonas magically stops existing so Liam and I can skip together hand in hand into the sunset.

Okay, and how do we get there?

My mind goes, “Insert blank space here.”

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