Page 128 of What I Like About You

Hi.

6:51 PM

Hi? Period?It’s so distant.

What’s up?

6:53 PM

Just at temple, you know, getting ready for services.

6:54 PM

Are you okay?

6:54 PM

Stomachache.

6:55 PM

It’s not even a lie, honestly.

Oh no! I hope you feel better for Sunday.

6:56 PM

Me too.

6:57 PM

The service is about to start, but still I hope for some last message, a flirty emoji, anything. It doesn’t come. Disappointed, I return to my mission of frosting two hundred and fifty-two more cupcakes, alone. I work methodically, focusing on one pattern at a time until I am on autopilot.

Is it self-centered to think his weirdness is because of the renewed possibility of meeting Kels IRL, because of me? It doesn’t even make sense. What happened to Kels isn’t real? He hasn’t brought up Kels to me, not once, sinceFireflies and You.

Still, he thought he loved Kels—that can’t just go away. Even if he’s mad or hurt or whatever he’s feeling. But I’m pretty sure he loves me, Halle, too.

To him, it’s a triangle.

But I know it’s just a line.

It’s always been a line.

It’s Cupcake Day, and Faneuil Hall is the definition of too much.

Quincy Market, the food hall of Boston’s historic shopping center, stretches endlessly in front of us. Food vendors line both sides of the path. Seriously, any food you want? It’s in Faneuil Hall. Sushi. Pizza. Lobster. Ice Cream. Every choice is at your fingertips.

“Gotta get me some chowdah,” Ollie says.

I almost spit up my sip of water. “Never say that again.”

Ollie smirks. “Chowdah.”

“Okay,” Gramps says. “We get it, Ollie. Hal, what do you want?”

We’ve already walked the entire food hall, so I should be able to choose. But I don’t know. There are too many choices. Too many tourists pushing past me every time I pause to read a menu.

“How about we get a pizza?” Gramps asks. “Can’t go wrong with that.”

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