Page 75 of Betting on You

“Quit acting like you just initiated nuclear war or something,” he replied with amusement in his voice. “This is no big deal.”

Zack: No idea. Am I supposed to?

“What’d he say?” Charlie asked, in response to the noise I made in my throat.

I told him, and he said, “So just say no but add something cute.”

I squinted. “I thought you were going to Cyrano this for me. ‘Add something cute’ is not freaking Cyrano!”

“Calm down, Glasses.” Charlie tilted his head, his eyes still on the road. “Just say, uh,No but we were hopingand add an emoji.”

“That’s not cute,” I said, a little disappointed.

“Your usage of the word ‘we’ will make him assume you and a mysterious someone are hanging out, and the smiley face will make it seem chill and absolutelynotlike you’re hitting on your ex. Trust me on this.”

I rolled my eyes but typed exactly what he said while he broke the rules and changed the radio station.

Me: No, but we were hoping. I’m somehow getting it wrong. ;)

I wondered what Zack was thinking, getting a text from me, and his face was all I could see as I waited for his response.

Which was almost immediate.

Zack: Do you want mine?

“Whaaat?” I yelled, reading it again and feeling like it had to mean something. “He asked if I want to use his!”

“Duh,” Charlie said, sounding unsurprised. “Now just go with something quick and funny that gives you the last word. Like…Haha no. I think I’ll just act out the entire third season ofBreaking Badinstead. Thanks, though.”

“Okay, first of all, I’ve never watched that show. Second—”

“I know you haven’t,” he interrupted. “Anyone who knows you knows you haven’t.”

“I don’t get it,” I said, wondering why I was even taking advice from him. “So why—”

“Silly child,” he said, glancing over at me as he interrupted yet again. “That tiny joking reference tells him you’re likely with someone whodoeswatch that show.”

“A dude,” I said, my mouth falling open at his genius. “I’m making him think I’m with a dude.”

“Bingo,” he said, looking pleased with himself as he gave me a smug smile. “Saying without saying.”

I started typing his exact words, in awe of Coach Charlie. As soon as I hit send, I said, “You are quite the manipulator, Mr. Sampson.”

“We all have our gifts, Miss Mitchell.”

A second later another message came in.

Zack: I’d pay money to see that.

“Ohmygod,” I squealed, freaking out that it worked. That we’dactually reconnected. I read the response to Charlie, begging, “Tell me what to say now, you diabolical genius.”

“Nothing,” he said, slowing as our exit approached. “Send him a smiling emoji but nothing more.”

“Won’t that be a waste of this entire conversation?”

“Hell no.” Charlie sounded deep in thought when he said, “If there’s one thing that I know, it’s the power of stringing someone along.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENBailey

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