Page 26 of The Summer of Everything

Wes face-palms. Up until junior year, Wes had managed to keep his name—and face—out of the Savannah Kirk fan communities. It’s not that he cared; popularity for being the son of a bestselling author beats notoriety for being the guy who nearly blinded his best friend with a skateboard or who fell runningupthe bleachers at a pep rally. It was mostly his mom’s concern. She wanted Wes and Leo to be free of the constant messages about her.

“What’s her next book about?”

“Is she going to write a sequel to the last one?”

“Why didn’t my two favorite characters hook up?”

“Why the hell won’t she reply to my messages? Why won’t she tell me her favorite perfume? WHEN’S HER NEXT BOOK COMING OUT?!”

People are strange. But then junior year hit like a high-speed train. A group of sophomores did a little research—nothing stays hidden on the internet forever—and started tagging him everywhere on social media.

Since then, Wes’s little social media corner of geekery and Green Lantern fanart has been mobbed with the Kirklands, Savannah’s hardcore legion. He ignores most of the messages, but it’s still weird.

“Oh, this is adorable.” Mrs. Rossi, hand over her heart, stands over them. “Take a selfie and send it to me. Then, Wes, sweetie, show me how to download it. Mr. Rossi bought me a new phone. I can’t work it at all.”

“He’s just keeping you young.”

“Well, I feeloldwith all these iOS updates or whatever,” Mrs. Rossi complains.

“Never trust the Apple,” Cooper insists, holding up his own phone. “Android for life.”

Wes rolls his eyes. Under no circumstance would he trust an Android.

“Oh.” Cooper stiffens next to him, cheeks flushed. “Sorry, Mrs. R. We should be working, right?” He closes the book and tucks away his phone before standing.

“No, no. It’s fine.” Mrs. Rossi surveys the store. She coughs, and then rubs at her eyes. “No one’s here today.” Then, looking down, she adds with a smile, “No offense, Lucas.”

Lucas. The quiet blond in the hoodie.

Lucas shrugs, refocusing their attention on the graphic novel in their lap.

“Wes, sweetheart?” Mrs. Rossi turns to him. The shadows under her eyes are darker than usual. “Could you stay a little later today? Just until Anna gets in this afternoon.”

Wes lowers his eyebrows. “No problem.”

It’s not as if Wes has some amazing, ask-your-best-friend-out plans to attend to today. He has to fine-tune this list first.

Before he can inquire about Mrs. Rossi’s health, she says, “It’s just a bug or something. Probably allergies.”

Funny, Wes has known Mrs. Rossi for over a decade and she’s never been allergic to anything except Ella’s dramatics.

“I’m sure Anna can handle the store,” Mrs. Rossi says, as if she almost means it.

Anna’s improving, but even Wes wouldn’t leave her in charge yet.

“I can stay longer to help if she needs it,” he offers.

Mrs. Rossi’s mouth stretches into a proper grin. “Thank you. But she’ll have help if…” She studies the thin gold watch around her left wrist. “…that oneever gets here.”

As if summoned through some demonic ritual involving a baby lamb’s heart and Fall Out Boy’s music collection, Ella pushes through the front door. She looks as if Hot Topic’s summer collection vomited over her.

“El’s Bells,” Cooper calls, holding up his phone to record her reaction.

Ella squints at him. “I thought I compelled you not to call me that.”

“Did you?”

“Yes.” Ella snaps her grape gum. Neon green thunderbolt earrings swing from her ears when she tilts her head. “Put away the phone, Zuckerberg. I’m not in the mood.”

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