Page 74 of Next to Everything We Wanted

Gracelynn’s brown eyes widened, both eyebrows lifting. “Oliver?”

“What? Gosh, no.” I thought about how tight Oliver had hugged Kami at the shelter on Sunday. No way would he hugmelike that. “Why would you think that?”

Gracelynn shrugged. “You hang out with the same four guys, and he’s the only one who isn’t off-limits.”

“Trust me, that’s not happening.” I giggled. “I . . . I went to the Whiteout concert with Ivan, and we kissed during our favorite song.”

Her jaw dropped onto the bed, and she cursed loud enough for Bailey to poke her head up from the floor.

“And you thought it couldn’t happen,” Arielle teased as she rolled around in my desk chair.

“I take back what I said about you being bad at pranks,” Gracelynn said, her eyes still bulging out of her skull. “How long has everyone believed this?”

I laughed, heat prickling the back of my neck. “I promise it’s not a prank.”

“Man.” Her lips curved in a smile. “I was so wrong about your fantasies being ridiculous.”

“Trust me, I’m having a lot more fantasies now. That’s why I had to write this song.”

Gracelynn covered her mouth as she snorted. “That sounds so wrong.”

My face grew hotter. “Gosh, not those kinds of fantasies! I promise we’re fully clothed in them.”

“Are you?” Raina asked.

I threw a pink pillow at her.

“That’s not an answer.”

Gosh, this wassucha bad idea. I should’ve kept the stupid song to myself.

“Wow,” Gracelynn said. “Who else knows?”

I shrugged. “Pretty much everyone.” Emma hadn’t shut up about it, Adam found it gross, Oliver was happy for me, and Caleb cracked a bunch of inappropriate jokes. All my secrets were out now.

Except for the fact I knew something about “Ivan” that everyone else didn’t.

“So, I was the last to know?” Gracelynn feigned a frown. “I’m very offended.”

I would’ve hugged her if she actually liked being hugged. “I’m sorry. Anyway, I’m very excited about the song. I’m not sure how the boys will react to it, though. I can only imagine all the jokes Caleb will make.”

“You have to admit some of those jokes are funny,” Raina said with a smirk.

“They’renot. He’s obnoxious.”

“Amen,” Gracelynn muttered. “Anyway, it’s up to you whether or not you want to share the song or keep it for something else. Most of my songs never see the light of day.”

“I’ll just have to see how I—wait.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “You write songs too?” How had I not known this?

Gracelynn bit her lip, her cheeks flushing. “I do it in my free time. It’s pretty fun.”

Arielle’s eyes widened. “I thought you only did that with?—”

Raina slapped her leg, causing Arielle to yelp and glare at her.

Gracelynn rolled her eyes. “Gosh, does everything have to be about Caleb? I’m fully capable of writing songs without him.”

“He’s going to be at Apple of the Arts with you,” Arielle said. “Aren’t you worried you’re going to have a class together?”