Page 38 of Didn't See That Coming

“So why are you headed this way? Are you following me? Isthis a Joe Goldberg situation?”

Liam raises his eyebrows. “Okay, first of all, I’ve been going to the library during break a lot longer than you have. Second of all, are you kidding me? I amnotsetting foot in the canteen after that showdown with Jonas.”

“Are you scared?” I tease.

“Uh, yeah? I was practically shitting my pants back there.”

I’m so caught off guard by his honesty that I double over laughing.

“Like you weren’t scared too?” Liam cries.

“I very definitely was. I mean, I of all people know what Jonas is capable of. I just—” I take a breath between laughter. “I guess I was expecting you to be, like, ‘I am man, I not scared of anything.’ ”

“Oh, right.” Liam puffs out his chest. “Well, obviously I am very manly and not scared of anything. Except privileged billionaires who can make my life a living hell. And cockroaches.”

“Cockroaches?” I shake my head in disbelief. “You realizewe live in Jakarta? The big durian? I see a roach literally everyday.”

Liam shrugs, his cheeks turning adorably pink. “They creep me out, what can I say?”

“Fair enough. I—”

“Ci Kiki!”

“Oh god,” I hiss, “don’t move!”

“Are you hiding behind me?” Liam says.

“Don’t move, I said!”

“Ci Kiki!” Eleanor Roosevelt calls out again, and this time, she sounds closer.

“You know we can see you hiding behind the hot guy,” Sarah Jessica Parker says flatly.

“Thank you,” Liam says.

With a sigh, I slink out from behind Liam’s back (noting for a second how broad his shoulders are). “Hey, girls. How’s it going?”

“We should be asking you that,” Eleanor Roosevelt cries. “We’ve sent you fourteen messages in total, and you’ve ignored every single one of them.”

“According to the contract you signed, you are obligated to check in with us after each Lil’ Aunties date to give a detailed report of the date.”

My mouth falls open. I gape at them, then at Liam, who’s openly staring at us, and back at them. “It’s not really—uh—I’ll update you later.”

“Are you two loan sharks?” Liam says.

Eleanor Roosevelt frowns at him. “What? Obviously, we’reentrepreneurs.”

“Pretty sure that’s what loan sharks call themselves nowadays too. I’m just saying, I’m getting a somewhat threatening vibe from you.”

“Thank you.” Eleanor Roosevelt preens.

“It’s not a compliment,” I say, but it seems that I’ve been forgotten for the moment, because suddenly Eleanor Roosevelt and Sarah Jessica’s attention is riveted on Liam. Sensing their interest, Liam takes a hesitant step back.

“What’s your name?” Eleanor Roosevelt asks.

“Uh. Liam?”

“Year Eleven?” Sarah Jessica says.