“No. We’re just being private right now.”

She rolls her eyes. “Who is Shane seeing?”

“I can’t tell you that either.”

“Fletcher, what is wrong with you? You have known me my whole life, and you know if you act like something is secret I’m just going to go nuts until I figure it out. I hate mysteries. What, are two you seeing each other?”

I nod emphatically. “You figured it out. Yes. Shane and I are a couple now.”

“Whatever.”

“Hey, I could be gay.”

All conversation stops around us, and Jenna erupts into giggles. “That’s going to get back to the ‘rents before we get home.”

Small-town life.

“I just don’t understand the big secrecy. It’s not like I really know that many people you go to school with. Does Penelope know?” Jenna lights up with an evil enthusiasm. “I bet she does.” She claps.

“Do not put her in the middle of this. That’s not fair. She has to live with us, and you’re her best friend. Don’t make her choose loyalties.”

We push the cart ahead another four inches. “You say that because you know she’d pick me.”

“Whatever.”

The person in front of us remembers she forgot something, so she pulls her cart out of line, and we start unloading. Must be our lucky day. A lot of people would have just made everyone wait. Jenna handles the jar of mincemeat like it’s a bomb that might go off. “So really, I don’t get why you and Shane are both secretive about your relationships. Maybe one of you, but not both.”

“Maybe we’re seeing the same girl.”

She squints at me and then shakes her head. “No way. Not buying that one either.”

By the time we get home and get the groceries unloaded, it’s time to pick up Penelope for her slumber party with Jenna. I give my sister the keys to my car and then go up to my room to change my shirt. Because I’m suddenly filled with nervous excitement, and I want to look nice. My life is so weird right now. Penelope has seen me in dirty sweats, naked, and in a Fred costume. It’s not like I’ll impress her with a fresh T-shirt. But I feel like making an effort even though she’s going to be here to see my sister.

My folks order pizza for dinner, and we all catch up at the kitchen table. I don’t know how my family isn’t feeling the sexual tension in the room. My gaze keeps landing on the pulse point of Penelope’s neck. I want to kiss her, right here, right now, in front of everyone.

After dinner, we have a movie night. During an intermission between the first and second movie, Pen offers to get more drinks from the kitchen. I offer to help her.