Page 59 of The Love Interest

“Juliet?”

She spins and looks at me. Her cheeks are glistening, and the tip of her nose is red. She’s still wearing her Alice dress, but her feet are bare. I turn away from her and notice her high heels are on the bench. One is upright, the other has fallen onto its side.

“Caden?”

I nod and step up onto the metal platform. The metal mesh dips a little under my weight.

She turns toward me, but her hand remains on the railing. “What are you doing here?”

“I come here when I need to think,” I say. “What are you doing?”

She looks back out over the town. I walk over to her and follow her gaze. The town looks much bigger than I thought it was, filled with so many houses. I spot the school. So many things happen there, yet from here, it looks like nothing, just a tiny speck of light. I turn to face Juliet. She’s holding her head high, and the wind is making her hair flutter.

“I’m a mess,” she says. Her voice is an octave lower than usual. The slightly zany spark that usually lights up her tone is missing. “I told you I’d go out with you and then I kissed Dyl. Who does that? I think he just surprised me. I mean, he’s always flirty when he models for me, but I didn’t think anything was going to come of it. But tonight he was extra flirty, then he led me to the spot by the bleachers and he kissed me and I kissed him back. Seriously, what’s wrong with me? I should’ve said no.”

“Nothing’s wrong with you, Juliet.”

“But you looked so hurt! I don’t want to make anyone feel like that. Especially not you.”

I look down, shaking my head. “Don’t ever be sorry for making me feel what I feel. That was one sad moment, sure, but you’ve made me feel so happy countless times. Even if you break my heart it would be worth it. You’re special, Juliet, and I know you’re going to have boys falling for you your entire life. Don’t ever let them make up your mind.”

“You’re too kind to me,” she says. “You know, I was doing fine until you showed up. And then Dyl appeared and everything got so complicated.”

You have no idea.

“Do you like him?” I ask. “Dyl, I mean.”

“I’m not sure.”

“Do you like me?”

“I love you, Caden. I’m just not sure if it’s in the way you want me to.”

I grip the railing tight. “I want you to feel how you want to feel, Juliet.” I drum my fingers against the metal. “So, was he a good kisser? We’re friends, remember! I want to talk to you about this stuff.”

“It was actually my first kiss, so I don’t have anything to compare it to. But yep, it was hugely agreeable. He even tasted good, Caden.”

I snort. “What, pray tell, did he taste like?”

“I don’t even know—like boy, I guess?”

Caden, I’ve made you a dinner reservation at a fancy restaurant. Ask her out.

“Oh, Juliet, I decided where we should go on our date. I booked us a table at…”

Mario’s on the waterfront. Seven-thirty, tomorrow.

I repeat what Kaylee told me.

Juliet smiles super wide. “You still want to go out with me?”

“Of course.”

“Oh my God! I thought I’d screwed everything up. I freaking love that place! Seriously, they have this pesto chicken pasta that’s pretty much my favorite meal ever.” Her eyes narrow. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t, I guess I just got lucky. So that’s a yes? You’ll go out with me?”

“Yes, it’s a yes. And Caden, I’m sorry about kissing Dyl. I don’t know what I was thinking. I get so swept up in him that I don’t feel like myself when I’m around him, you know?”