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“That sounds exhausting.” I’ve had little crushes before, silly ones. Ones that didn’t mean anything and only lasted a few days, but I don’t want to like anyone now. And I definitely don’t want anyone to like me that way. It would be too painful. I’d never let it happen.

“I figured you’d be into boys long before me,” she says.

“Hey.”

“Think about it. You’re outgoing, and everyone likes you.” She looks between me and the road.

“So?”

“So those are the kind of girls who get boyfriends first.”

I laugh. “Well, you’re a closeted romantic.”

“This isn’t about me.”

“Okay. If you say so,” I reply, closing my eyes.

“Why are you so tired?” There’s a hint of worry in her voice.

I rest my head back on the seat. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

She takes my excuse and moves on, talking about something else, but I drift to sleep before I can comprehend any of it.

My nose tickles, and I open my eyes.

Annie holds the tail of her long braid and taps my face.

I grimace, rubbing my face, and push her away. “What are you doing?”

“Waking you up. I’ve tried everything else. I blasted my music. I shook you. You were out. I even checked to make sure you were still breathing.”

I move as far from her as possible. “I hate being tickled.”

She shrugs. “You left me no choice.”

I stretch my neck, tilting my head from side to side. Then, I rub my eyes.

We’re at the bookstore, which is my cue to walk to the nursing home. It’s only a few blocks from here, so it shouldn’t take too long.

“I only have a short shift today,” Annie says, hopping out of the car. “Be back by six.”

I check my phone. I have three hours. “Perfect. I’ll be back way before then.”

I leave my backpack in the car. I don’t feel like dragging it around with me all afternoon. “Have fun reading.”

She gives me a look. “I’ll be working.”

“Sureyou will,” I say. She always gets everything done quickly and then spends the rest of her shift sitting behind the counter, reading.

“Don’t hate it just because you’re jealous,” she says.

“Have fun,” I say with a smile as I walk in the opposite direction.

I pull up the walking directions on my phone. It says it’ll take twenty minutes by foot, which is a little more than I was hoping for, but it would’ve been more awkward if I had her drop me off because I would’ve had to explain why I’m randomly visiting a nursing home. This is definitely the lesser of two evils. Besides, after my nap, my energy is back up.

I could run a mile at this point.

That’s a lie. I couldn’t run a mile, but Icanwalk for twenty minutes.