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“Right.” I stood up and followed Asher out of the booth and to the worn wood floor just in front of the door.

“Thanks,” he said, giving me another one of his world-class hugs. “For showing. You’re…amazing.” He whispered that last word.

I sank against him, holding him tight right back. When was the last time I had a hug like this from a guy? Phillip? Last year? No, Phillip wasn’t really a hugger. He’d always just wanted to make out. Maybe that was why I didn’t even cry when we went our separate ways. Kamala said it was because I never let anyone in, had toomany rules, but what did she know? She’d obviously never been hugged like this either.

“Gemma,” Asher said, for what I assumed wasn’t the first time. “Are you okay?”

“What?” I let go and took a step back. “Yes, I’m fine. It was good to finally meet you.”

“I’ll DM you later.”

“Oh yeah, for sure. Bye.”

He gave me his goofy smile and then they were gone. I watched them through the ocean-painted window as they left and climbed into a blue car parked out front. Then they drove away.

I could feel Kamala behind me before I saw her.

“What are you going to do now? You just made that boy fall in love with you.”

Rule:If he doesn’t exist online he can’t exist in your heart.

“He’s not in love with me. He’s in love with Gemma,” I said, turning to face her.

“Who is most likely some forty-year-old man.”

“Ew.”

The man who had come in earlier was sipping on his coffee while looking at books in the corner nook. I lowered my voice and whispered, “Ew,” again. “Maybe this Gemma person is real and just…shy.”

Kamala blew air through her lips. “Oh, okay.Nowyou’re changing your story?” She pointed to the back hall. “What happened to all thatoh, she’s totally faketalk?”

“Apparently I’m hug starved.” I kicked at the blue-and-white checkered tile floor.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, what?” she asked.

“That boy can hug, is all. I’m rooting for him.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Wait, doyoulikehim?”

“Stop, I just met him.” Which was the first of many strikes against him. “You know I like Chad.” Well, I wason my wayto liking Chad. I worked with him at Petsacular and so far, he was meeting most of my criteria. The list Kamala said was an impossible set of standards. Chad would prove her wrong.

“Oh, right, Chad. You haven’t said his name in a while. I figured you decided he wasn’t right for you.”

“Slow and steady, Kami.”

She chuckled. “And the perfect hugger?” she said, nodding toward the corner booth.

“He was nice. Like I said, I hope his catfish is real.” My eyes flitted to the table where my mostly full, now-cold coffee still sat. I pointed. “Did you poison me with dairy?”

She covered her face. “I’m sorry! He stood there and watched me make it, like he wanted me to get it just right. I thought you’d taste it and know not to drink any more.”

“I knew it was too good to be dairy-free.” I hoped I hadn’t drunk enough to regret it later.

Kamala patted my stomach. “I’m sorry, Wren’s stomach. Be nice to her.”