“Darn.” The glimmer was gone now, and I slumped in my chair, hating that I didn’t have better answers for him.

“But it wasn’t all bad news. He and Alden are coming down this weekend to film a special episode of the Gamer Grandpa vlog we’re both regulars on. He says he’s going to do some hunting and we can talk about it Saturday night. Alden might have ideas too.”

“So you’ll keep me posted?” Milo’s tone was cautious. And somewhere in between wanting to give him something worth getting excited about and my own complicated feelings about the gathering, inspiration struck.

“Actually, I can do one better. You free Saturday night?”

“You want me to meet your friends?” Frowning, Milo leaned back. He wasn’t nearly as positive as I’d presumed.

“Well, you’ve already met some. Kellan will probably come too and bring Jasmine. They’ve both been on the program more this year. We’re filming at Professor Tuttle’s house, and his husband is making food.”

“I wouldn’t want to impose.” That wasn’t a no, but like earlier when I’d made the pizza invite, Milo’s discomfort was hard to read. Like, was it a new-people thing or a not-wanting-to-be-perceived-as-a-couple thing?

“I already told Conrad that I needed the cards for a friend, not myself. And the professor loves a crowd. One more won’t be a problem. In fact, it might even be good,” I admitted.

“Ah. Good for the get-Milo-new-friends quest or good for not wanting to appear jealous of your friends coupling up?”

Damn. He was too perceptive. “I’m not jealous.”

Milo merely raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, not jealous much. I’m used to being seen as just a friend, the goofy one in our crowd, not date material. It’s not like I was in love with either of them. And I’ve had boyfriends.” I sounded way too defensive, and Milo continued to study me carefully. “It’s more that it’s…mildly annoying to see them all lovey-dovey. Maybe I miss when they hated each other, but I’m also happy for them. Really.”

“I’m in.” Milo nodded like he knew something I didn’t.

“Okay. But—” The arrival of our food cut me off from telling him that I didn’t need a buffer. And I had a feeling he would have seen through the denial anyway. It was weird, being happy for my friends, but also wistful that I hadn’t been able to finish the road trip with them. I didn’t want to be with Conrad precisely, but I sure wouldn’t have minded playing hero for him. The past weekend with Milo had shown me how good that felt but also made me more aware of what I’d missed.