More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
I’d gone to Bubba’s birthday party two weeks ago. His eighteenth. The first of the group to hit it. Coop was next. Archie closer to Halloween and Jake at Christmas. Me? I didn’t get the right to vote until almost Easter.
I’d known Coop since kindergarten, we’d been best friends from day one.
Commencez à planifier le plat français que vous souhaitez préparer pour le menu du mois de septembre. Vous devez faire une vidéo de chaque étape. Si vous avez des questions, contactez Madame ou moi-même.
Peut-on réparer quelque chose? I sent it to the Remind for the class. The app was useful; it let the whole class have one open text thread with the teacher, so in theory the teachers only had to answer once. La nourriture de votre choix.
“Mais ton nom est magnifique. Comme toi.” Holy hell, my face was hot by the time he pivoted
“Because the themes in literature are only themes because they serve as a metaphor for real life. Dickens wrote about the common man and his stories resonate over a hundred years later because we have orphans, we have foster kids, we have—single parent families—and financial struggles. We know what it is to be torn between a personal goal and what society thinks we should want. Literature should be like a flashlight, giving us a new way to look at our own lives.”
after finding out they’d pretty much taken out an ad to inform everyone I was untouchable, some of the fun worn off. No one was to ask me out, no one was to bother me, and no one was to call me.
“Aim for the stars. Even if I miss, I’ll still be above the clouds.”
dictate everything. It wasn’t fair. “Okay… Frankie?” “Yeah?” “Will you go to homecoming with me?”
“Vraiment merveilleux. Je vous remercie.
“So this is Matthew. I’m Ian,” Bubba introduced himself. “Hello, Ian,” Mathieu greeted him. “Un autre petit ami, oui?”
“Si tu le dis,” he murmured as he followed me inside. Smartass. If I say so…yes, I said so.
Jake raised his eyebrows. “I go out with girls, sure. Sometimes they ask me, sometimes I ask them. But that’s pretty much go to a party, go to a movie, maybe make out, and then I’m on the phone with you. You’re the one I want to see every day.”
“So you want to date? I’m in. Just to be clear—I want to take you out, Frankie. You and me. If I get to make out with you? Even better.”
“You’re holding my hand,” I told him. “Good,” Jake said. “You noticed.”
Jake: Tonight wasn’t a date, but a lot of fun. I do want to take you out—just you and me. Say yes? We’ll make time.
Just you and me. That was what Coop said. He wanted me to himself for a while. Bubba wanted to take me to homecoming. Jake wanted to take me out. And Archie? He hadn’t said. I swallowed. Was I dating my best friends?
Nervous, I sent to Jake Even if I’m still going out with Mathieu—well, sorta—and Bubba wants to take me to homecoming? Biting my lip, I waited. Jake: Even if. Say yes. Eyes closed I let out a little shiver then typed in Yes. Jake sent me a big smiley face and a kiss emoji followed by: Talk to you tomorrow. We’ll make time.
I looked at him. “Dumb question?” “Sure.” “What do you want to do that late?” “See, the girl I like. She’s really busy, and she’s got these other dates planned, but I still want to see her.” Jake gave my hand a squeeze. “I don’t care if we do homework or watch videos. I’ll grab a pizza and bring it, then you and I can hang out.” The jitters turned into little knots. “That’s really sweet.” “But I’m putting in my request right now. Your next full free evening… you and me. Real date.” My next semi-free evening was Sunday. I’d been… “Are you busy Sunday?” He grinned. “I am now.”
Coop pointed out. “That’s a perk. You already know that Archie can be controlling, Jake demanding and overprotective, and Bubba’s basically a golden retriever.”
“Nope, but since they crashed my date, I plan to totally crash one of theirs. You just have to let me know when they’re going to be there. Or, you know, I can just be at your place regularly.” I groaned. “Coop…” “What?” he asked as I pulled into a parking spot at the apartments. “Think I didn’t want a shot at dating you, too? Don’t be silly, Frankie. I’m in.”
“Hey, Frankie?” Coop said and Bubba straightened as we both glanced at him. “I know you’re busy this weekend, but next Saturday? Go out with me?”
Archie: Rule #1 don’t text us when on date. Jake: Rule #2 Sunday nights are mine. Coop: Rule #3 don’t step on another guy’s date.
Rule #1 don’t text us when on date.
Jake: Rule #2 Sunday nights are mine. Rule #3 don’t step on another guy’s date.
Rule #4 No competing with each other.
Rule #5 Just us, no one else.
Rule #6 Don’t hurt Frankie.
Rule #7, mind your own business.
Rule #8 No fighting.
Rule #4 No competing with each other.
Rule #5 Just us, no one else.
Coop was zen, the go along to get along. Archie could be demanding and a little high maintenance, but he was also generous to a fault and he never treated any of us differently—impressive considering the wealth difference. Jake? Jake could be bossy and overwhelming. He never shied away from saying exactly what he thought. While the others could be subtle, Jake just went for the jugular to find out what he wanted. But Bubba? He’d always been a sweetheart.
Rule #6 Don’t hurt Frankie.
Rule #7, mind your own business.
“Frankie?” “Yeah?” “I’m not dating Maria,” he said firmly. Then pressed a kiss to my forehead before he squeezed my hand. “The only person I’m dating is you.” “Okay,” I sounded like I was stuck on repeat. “You don’t owe me an explanation.” “I know. Wanted to give you one anyway.”
Rule #8 No fighting.
“Excuse you?” Of all of them, Coop was the last one I expected to suddenly sound hostile. “If you’re going to fart from your mouth, you could at least do us the courtesy of covering it. No one here needs to smell your stench.”
“I just—I wasn’t expecting it. Not sure you noticed, but I don’t really own jewelry. No one has ever given me any before.” The guys had given me presents, don’t get me wrong. We had several years of birthdays and Christmases behind us, but this was different. It was intimate and personal.
Coop was the guy who helped keep me grounded; he’d always been there. Jake was a close second to that, but he never let me keep rose-colored glasses on, we were always brutally honest. Ian? He was the guy who made me think fantasies were possible, but he always knew how to make me smile. Archie was my confessor. We confided sometimes really uncomfortable truths to each other, and we could talk about anything.
Mom’s new boyfriend was Archie’s dad? She’d been here? She couldn’t get away, she couldn’t get home, because she’d been with his dad? Had they been here the whole time? What about Archie’s mom? Oh. Fuck. The pair broke apart, and I recoiled, backing away from the rail because I didn’t want them to see me. I slammed into Archie, who didn’t look surprised, but he did look pissed. Twisting, I searched Jake’s, Coop’s, and Ian’s expressions. They’d known. Every single one of them. Just when I didn’t think it could get any worse. I had to get out of there.
