Page 19

“Sorry! Sorry! Wishful thinking,” she said. “You know I’m living vicariously through you at the moment, right?”

“Well, you should probably put the brakes on that because nothing else like this is going to happen. I’m only going to be staying here a few days, and then my parents will be back and everything will go back to normal. At least, as normal as things can get at the moment.”

“Only you could throw a cold bucket of water onto the hottest scenario ever,” Zoey grumbled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that you’re turning eighteen soon, and you should live a little. You need to loosen up, and Aiden is the perfect solution.”

“I don’t need to loosen up.”

“Yes, you do. You’re too safe and too responsible,” Zoey replied. “My parents would never leave me home alone while they were out of town for work, and yours do all the time. Why do you think that happens?”

“Because I’m trustworthy. And, unlike you, I’ve never come close to burning the house down with a curling iron.”

“No, it’s because you never do anything that might get you in trouble. Life is boring enough while we’re in lockdown; you need to have some fun.”

“I’m not boring.”

“No, you just choose the boring options. Take your last boyfriend for example…”

She meant my only boyfriend. “You’re talking about Daniel?”

“Yes, Daniel.”

I failed to see how he’d been a boring option. He was sweet and kind, and there wasn’t a bad bone in his body. I always felt relaxed around him, and I couldn’t see how that was a bad thing. We’d only broken up because his family had moved away. But that was years ago. I’d been a freshman at the time, and I didn’t understand why Zoey was bringing him up now.

“You know that was forever ago,” I said. “I can’t see why it matters.”

“It matters because he was pretty much the guy version of you—except you’re like a million degrees hotter.”

“So,nowyou’re saying I’m boring?”

Zoey exhaled. “No, I’m saying that he was a safe option. There were no fireworks or explosions between you two. It was comfortable and easy. You were more like friends thanlovers.”

“I can’t believe you just said lovers.” I scrunched up my nose. “And what’s wrong with being with someone who you’re comfortable with? Surely that’s what makes a good relationship.”

“Ah, young Clarissa, you have so much to learn.”

I didn’t know how else to respond. Zoey and I clearly had very different beliefs when it came to the fundamentals of what made a good relationship. The way she flitted from guy to guy, it seemed Zoey thought any relationship was better than no relationship. She had dated enough guys to know what she was talking about though. Was I too safe when it came to dating? I hadn’t dated anyone since Daniel and I broke up though, so perhaps that was a sign I was doing something wrong.

“So, what have you got planned for today?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from thoughts of my sad dating life. There was a chance Zoey wouldn’t be derailed, but thankfully, she took the bait.

“You don’t want to know…” The enthusiasm in Zoey’s voice was gone, and she sounded like she was completely dreading whatever she had planned. My curiosity was piqued though.

“Sure, I do.”

She let out a long breath before she continued. “So, you know those dolls my dad keeps?” She hadn’t video called me this morning, but I didn’t need to see her face to know she’d be cringing as she mentioned them. Zoey was well aware of how weird her dad’s dolls were.

“Yeah…”

“Well, Mom thought it would be a great idea to take a picture of them.”

I had no idea where this was going. “Okay…”

“And she had that picture turned into a one-thousand-piece puzzle for Dad’s Christmas gift last year. She thinks we should get it started, as a super fun family lockdown activity…”

I burst out laughing. “You’re doing a puzzle of your dad’s dolls?”