Page 57 of The Love Interest

Right now. Tell her it would matter to you because then it means you wouldn’t like her. Which you do.

“Wearegood friends,” I say. “But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t flirting with you.”

I don’t think my heart has ever beat so fast. If I screw this up, I’m a dead man. Also, Kaylee was listening in. Now she knows what I honestly think, and that’s absolutely terrifying. It could become an issue for me down the road, but I can’t stress about it now. I need to focus on Juliet.

“Oh,” she says.

“I like you, Juliet. I always have. But I’m not a boy anymore, I’m a man, and I like you in a way that I didn’t before. And I would love to go out with you sometime.”

“I’m going to stop you there,” she says.

Everything slows down and all I can think about is the LIC, with its shiny mirrors, neon-white lights, and skintight, sky-blue clothes. I failed. I failed so I’m going back. I was too forward too soon and I screwed everything up. I—

“Yes,” she continues. I finally look up at her, just in time to see her smile. “I would absolutely love to go out with you! So there’s no need to stress. Pick something for us to do and ask me properly then, because I’m guessing this was an impulse and you should make a plan. Also, I don’t want to think that you asked me out to prove you aren’t gay. We’re too special for that, and if we end up together for a long time I don’t want this to be the story of how you first asked me out. Oh God, I’m going to leave now before you think I have this big plan for our future, like a notebook filled with Mrs. Walker doodles or something. Which I don’t! Truly. Ugh, I’m shutting up now. I’m going to go and find Nat and Trev. So bye.”

She dashes away.

Did I do well, Kaylee? She said yes. That’s good, right?

I don’t know. It’s too early to tell, but she seemed a little bit uncertain. The date you take her on is going to have to be an absolute killer.

I walk into the crowd. The beat coming from the massive speakers makes my entire body vibrate. I slide between two girls and suddenly I’m surrounded by bodies. Facial features are only detectable when the neon lights flash. I roll my shoulders and crack my neck, then I start to dance. The music is good, and eventually I start to drift away, focusing only on my movements and the beat. I run my fingers through my hair, messing it up, and lose myself to the music.

CADEN!

What?

Juliet! Go to her now!

I shove my way through the crowd. People scowl at me as I pass.

She’s at the back of the gym. With Dyl. Alone. Run!

I finally break out of the mosh and stop beside the food table. I can see her. No, I can seethem. At the back of the gym, a muscled, naked back is writhing against her. The wings bob up and down as he sucks like a vampire at the spot of skin beneath her ear. She’s pressed against the wall. He pulls his mouth away from her glowing white skin and runs his hand through her hair. And then he leans forward and whispers something.

STOP THEM, CADEN!

Their lips touch. She closes her eyes and slides her tongue into his mouth. My blood turns to slushy ice water. Around me the sound and movement of the party continue in slow motion, but all I can see is the two people in the shadow of the bleachers.

Kissing.

Tears fill my eyes.

“Caden?”

I blink rapidly and turn. Natalie and Trevor are walking toward me.

“Oh man,” says Trev. “That totally sucks. I’m so sorry, dude.”

Natalie reaches to grab my hand. I flinch away. “Are you okay, Caden?”

“Peachy, Natalie. I just… I’m going to go.”

To get to the exit I have to pass Dyl and Juliet. But all I can think about is the door, so I break away from Natalie and Trevor and head toward the closed double doors. There’s a long, empty stretch between me and the exit. Every step feels like it takes an eternity.

I wipe my eyes as I reach the door.

“Caden?”