Page 25 of Fake It Till You Break It
SO IF X3+Y3=(XY)…
I stared at the problem in my calculus book, but my eyes kept flickering over to the extra script next to my book bag. And my phone right next to it. Ben hadn’t called or texted me yet, although it was only six o’clock. He still had plenty of time to call. Plenty of time.
I shook my head and tried to concentrate on the problem instead. So far, I had been stuck on this particular one for the past twenty minutes.
No matter how much I worked through the equation, my answer ended up longer and more complicated than the actual problem. Which made absolutely no sense. Plus, why would I ever need to solve equations like this in the real world? It wouldn’t help me get a job or land a rich husband.
Okay, the rich husband part was just a joke. I would neverdate a guy because he was rich. Then again, if a rich guy suddenly landed in my lap and we fell in love, then that would be all right. Rich and handsome. And possibly could sing or cook a mean pan of lasagna.
But either way, I’m sure he would not care if I could solve forxoryor whatever the answer to this stupid problem was.
Okay, I needed a break before my head exploded both from waiting for Ben and from calculus. Going into the kitchen, I grabbed a can of Sprite from the fridge. The save-the-date card from my cousin Trang’s wedding fluttered off, but I caught it with one hand and put it on the table.
Mom was sitting by the counter munching on a piece of Korean pear as she shopped for clothes on her tablet. Without looking up at me, she slid the plate in my direction. “How’s your homework going?”
“Confusing. Stressful. And kind of feels like I’m getting an ulcer.” Even though I was still stuffed from the bag of chips I had inhaled when I came home from school, the pears looked so crisp and juicy that I couldn’t help grabbing one. Dropping onto the stool next to her, I inhaled another pear slice within a blink of an eye. “Would you mind if I just quit school and became a professional poker player for a living?”
“Sure, but you’re definitelynotgoing to be living here if you do that. I assume you’ll be living in your penthouse in Vegas.”
“Of course. You know me so well.”
She finally glanced over at me. “If that’s your plan, though,I think you should learn how to bluff. You’ve never been a very good liar.”
That’s what you think.
I leaned forward on my elbows, and my feet kicked against the legs of my stool. “Maybe I’ll just win the lottery instead.”
“Yeah, that definitely sounds more reasonable. What does Jake think of your new career aspirations?”
“He’ll probably say I’m crazy.”
Mom laughed and pushed her tablet away. “That does sound like him before you were dating. How are things going between you two?”
“We’re… good.” I glanced up at the clock on the wall and jumped up. “Actually, I’m supposed to meet him in front for a date right now. We talked about watching an early movie before dinner.”
“That’s nice. I’ll walk you over to their house. Mrs. Adler and I are going to a yoga class tonight to focus on ourchi.” She wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “I’m so glad that you’re both finally together. Have I told you that?”
Only a million times a day.I forced a smile on my face. “Me too. I always thought we were too different, but sometimes different isn’t that bad.”
She beamed. “I’ve been telling you that for ages! Like yin and yang. It’s about time you finally listened to me about how perfect you two are.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes as she locked up. I couldn’twait for all of this to blow up so that I could finally rub it inherface how wrong she was. That thought cheered me up as we walked toward the street.
“What’s that?” Mom pointed at my car.
It took me a few seconds to figure out what she was pointing at because there was a glare coming off my windshield. But as I got closer to my car, I saw a folded white note and a couple of daisies tucked beneath my windshield wiper. “I don’t know.…”
Careful not to get too close because I was allergic to daisies, I grabbed the note and opened it.
Saw these at the grocery store and thought of you. Looking forward to running lines with you tomorrow.
—Ben
A stupid smile crossed my face even though my nose started itching like crazy and I had to take a step back from my car. How did he know exactly where I lived? Although, our town was so small, it wasn’t that surprising. Everyone lived within ten minutes of one another. But before this week, I was surprised that he even noticed me, much less knew where I lived.
I mean, I could tell he was flirting with me earlier today, but this went so beyond just casual flirting. This was right into the “I like you” phase. I tapped the note against the palm of my hand. Should I call him to thank him or maybe send him a cutesy text? Or maybe—
“Who are the flowers from?”
