“Me? I’m used to it. I was more concerned about you. How do you feel being my new ‘love interest’? That’s what they’re going to probably say. Although since Spencer is here, they could assume we’ve ‘made up.’” She crooked her fingers as she muttered “made up” after shoving one more piece of cotton candy into her mouth.

“Could that be true? You and Spencer Rome?” Zeke shoved his hands into his jean pockets and looked up at the autumn moon hanging on the horizon like a giant stage prop. He seemed to be trying to hide his emotions, but they were there for her to see anyway. Zeke wanted the idea of her and Spencer to be very much untrue. Something about his expression tilted her toward him more than the Scrambler had earlier.

“No. Spencer and I have never been anything but friends. That doesn’t mean those meatheads who chase celebrities and spin conjecture about their lives know that. Chances are, you and I will be made to look like we’re together. Like you’re my new guy.”

“You said we were dating, but I wasn’t sure if you were joking or not. So if I’m your ‘new guy,’ what does that mean?”

Chase shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, we’re friends. We said we’d be friends until I got my shit together. If I’ve learned anything through this whole process—outside of reconciling a bank statement to the penny—it’s that being vulnerable means being courageous, means taking a chance. Still, I’m afraid to mess things up with you by starting something that could hurt both of us. I’m not sure I’m strong enough, and how would this work logistically? It’s a bit like I’m in a bubble here. What will happen when I go back to the world I live in?”

Zeke slowed his walk, eventually stopping. “That’s a lot to unpack. I guess first I have to say that I understand being afraid of messing things up. I’ve really enjoyed being your friend. You’re a good friend, Chase.”

“Really?” The word escaped her before she could think much about it. She’d never felt like much of a friend before, not really. Some of the people who hung with her did so because of who she was on the outside, not who she was on the inside. Of course, she’d never really thought about being an intentional friend before. Maybe she felt so isolated because she’d never cared enough to find out what kind of friend she could be.