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I laughed. “I should probably go. I didn’t tell my dad I was going anywhere after the rec center.”

Asher tugged on my arm, pulling me against him. “But the D&D group is coming over. You said you’d play.”

I gasped and hit his chest. “You are the worst.”

He wrapped his arms around me. “But you still like me.”

“Yes, I do.” I stepped out of his hug and led him by the hand toward the door.

“I’m going to walk my girlfriend out,” he called to his mom. Then to me he said playfully, “Am I allowed to use the title you gave yourself the other day?”

“Only if you want to.”

He nodded. “I want to.”

“Bye, Cori!” I called.

“Bye, sweetie.”

At my car, Asher pulled me into a hug. It felt even better than before. How was that possible?

When he pulled away I leaned my back against the car door. “I hope we can thank your catfish one day for getting us together.”

“He or she or they is one of my favorite people now.” Asher put his hands on the car on either side of me.

“You really have no idea who it is?” I took a fistful of his shirt and pulled him closer.

“None.”

In the back of my mind I still wondered if it was Elinor. But right now, I didn’t care. I wrapped my arms around his waist. And kissed him.

Rule:Always be proud of who you’re dating.

Asher was coming to my house this time and I felt the need to scrub every square inch of it. It was mostly my space, after all. My dad was hardly home and I couldn’t blame messes on my sister even though she did leave them sometimes.

After cleaning the hall bathroom and kitchen I stood in my room and looked around as if I were the one who’d be walking into it for the first time. Asher’s room was so full of personality, with its posters and paint. Mine was boring. What did it even say about me? The walls were white. I had a few Polaroids of Kamala and me around the mirror. My bedding was from my childhood. Like, literally, my mom had helped me pick it out when I was ten. It was blue with flowers on it. “Asher is not coming in here,” I said to my bed. “You’re very disappointing.” I was going to get new bedding tomorrow.

I looked in the mirror, ran my fingers through my hair, then shut my bedroom door tight as I left.

It had been two days since Asher and I had kissed. Yesterday he had been busy with family stuff, but we were supposed to see each other today. Any minute now. I smiled.

A sound from the porch stopped me short as I walked down the hall, my heart jumping in excitement. But then I heard the front door open and close. Asher wouldn’t just let himself in. Well, he might. That actually seemed like something he would do.

“Hello?” I called out as I walked toward the living room.

“Hey,” Zoey said, heading for the kitchen. “Do you guys have any food?” She went to the pantry and stood there with the door open, sighing. “This is sad.”

“I know,” I said. I used to be so good about keeping to my weekly shopping schedule, but lately I’d been off, letting things like that go, realizing I didn’t have to be so strict in my life with everything.

Zoey moved to the fridge and repeated the sentiment. Then she saw the chips and salsa I had put out on the counter for Asher and me.

“No, that’s not for you.” I pulled her by the back of her shirt. It did not slow her down at all. She just squealed and leaned forward.

“You’re going to eat all of this?” she asked.

“No, I have a friend coming over.”

“And you can’t share?” She opened the bag of chips.