Page 83 of The Surprise

“Isn’t that obvious?” That’s when I realize that I’m crying.

“No.” She shakes her head slowly. “I have no idea what’s going on.”

I wipe my eyes and inhale deeply.

“Beth. Open the door.”

I clench and unclench my hands a few times, and then I nod.

Izzy opens it. “Why are you leaving? I thought you liked him.”

“I looked like a weirdo back there,” I say. “I can’t just sit in there now like I didn’t just completely stare at him.”

Izzy’s mouth curls into a smile. “Wait,you’reembarrassed?”

How did she not know that? I nod slowly.

“Beth, I was laughing athim. Did you see his face?” She giggles. “Did you see him yell at me?” She snorts. “It was the funniest thing I’ve seen this month, at least.” The humor falls off her face. “But if you leave, then he’ll never talk to me again. Don’t go.”

“I don’t think he wants to see me right now,” I say. “Trust me.”

“You’re wrong,” Ethan says. His hair’s dripping on his shirt as he jogs toward me. “I always want to see you.”

I can’t breathe.

“I didn’t want to look like an idiot. And I thought—” He shakes his head. “Your graduation’s Friday, right?”

I nod.

“I’ll be there. And my mom’s wedding is the next week. Would you like to be my date?”

Hisdate. The word feels heavy, like real whipped cream. Like solid gold jewelry. Not the fake stuff. Not the pretending we’ve been doing. I drag a breath in, and I open my mouth, and then I force the word out. “Okay.”

“Okay, as in yes?” He beams. “Okay, great. Yes. That’s great.” I wish I had my camera in my hand right now, so I could capture this expression to look at forever.

And then my hands are moving as if I just don’t care how corny it is. I swipe my phone and snap a photo.

His face falls. “What are you doing?”

“I’m saving it,” I say.

“Saving what?”

“This moment,” I say. “So I can remember how I felt in this moment.” The tears on my cheeks started from distress, but now they’re full of joy.

Ethan leans forward and snatches the phone out of my hand, and then he spins it around and snaps a photo of me. “You can’t remember howyoufelt with a photo of me.”

I shake my head. “You’re wrong. I feel all the things when I see youlooking like that.”

“Well, then I deserve to have one, too.” His grin when he shrugs and texts the photo to himself is one of the most endearing things I’ve ever seen.

“What should I wear?” I haven’t been to a wedding since I wore my hair in pigtails.

Ethan shrugs again. “Overalls? A pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I don’t care as long as you come.”

“Ethan,” Izzy says. “Stop being an idiot.” She leans against the front of the car where she moved so she’d be out of the way. “Wear a dress and heels. That’s what everyone else will be wearing.”

“Thanks,” I say.

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