So many things to learn about this boy I’ve been observing for as long as I can remember.

I know he’s gonna get vanilla with rainbow sprinkles because I’ve seen him here with his friends and that’s what he got both times. He doesn’t disappoint. I get the same because I spent the whole ride thinking about how I knew he was gonna get it and by the end of the five-minute ride to the Ice Palace, I couldn’t get the craving out of my head.

“You know, everyone else teases me about how boring I am,” he says as we sit down on one of the benches outside. “You didn’t have to get the same thing to make me feel better.”

“As it happens, I think vanilla is extremely underrated,” I tell him as I lick a stray drop off my finger, knowing he’s watching me do it. I actually do think vanilla is underrated, but yeah, under normal circumstances I probably would’ve gotten cookie dough or one of those flavors with seventeen kinds of candy bar in it. “And so is a little colorful brightness on dessert.”

“Thank you,” he says, a huge smile breaking out onto his face. “How do you not get in a good mood eating something covered in bright colors? My little sister taught me that.”

God, I wish he hadn’t mentioned Kira. My crush on him grows three sizes whenever he does. #onlychildproblems.

And then my stomach twinges again because “hashtag onlychildproblems” was something Jasmine and I used to say all the time.

I’d been so upset at the thought of Shannon calling her when we were at Benny’s, but why didn’t I just do it? My mom’s right, at least in part—I did depend on Jasmine for friends in the Outer Banks. Shouldn’t I be making it up to her for introducing me to Keisha, Derek, and the rest by inviting her out with my friends?

Even if I’m worried Shannon might steal her.

Or Keith might.

Or both.

What does it matter anyway, if I have Chase?

That’s the million-dollar question, I guess.

But also, I don’t quite have Chase yet. And if I want to, I should probably talk instead of staring out into space, letting the ice cream melt over my hands. After a while, there’s no way to make cleaning that up look sexy.

I take another lick of the cone and look at this boy who has starred in my dreams. He’s looking back at me, with those beautiful eyes the color of the night sky, and I somehow feel warm and shivery at the same time.

“It’s clear I’m gonna kiss you now, right?” he asks, and I nod.