Chapters (93)
- Cover
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Books by Kelly Yang
- Back Ad
- About the Publisher
I really wanted to be alone today, but Blue Cap doesn’t take the hint. He swims alongside me, yelling out unsolicited swimming advice.
“Harder with your left arm!”
“Hold your breath here! Don’t inhale!”
“Now fill your lungs! Good!”
It’s annoying, and I finally turn to him, breathless. “Will you stop?” I shout.
He holds his hands up. “Sorry. I . . . I was just trying to help,” he mumbles.
He looks hurt.
“I’m sorry, I just broke up with my boyfriend,” I grumble.
“Shit, I’m sorry . . . ,” Blue Cap says.
His face brightens, and he adds, in that sorry, not sorry alpha way that guys do, “Clearly it’s his loss.”
I look away. Too soon. Quietly, I swim to the edge of the pool and get out.
As I’m sitting in the locker room drying my hair, I get a group text from Florence.
HOUSE PARTY TONIGHT!!! MY PLACE!!!
I smile. She’s forwarded it to all the parachutes. After what happened with Teddy, I could use a little distraction. Maybe Jay will be there.
I text Florence back, OK but no pics on Insta.
Jess quickly texts back, Girl chill. I swear on my Olaplex washed, Evian rinsed hair. 
I order an Uber. Blue Cap’s waiting for me when I get out of the locker room.
“Hey,” he says. “I’m sorry I offended you.”
He mumbles his name, but I don’t catch it. And I don’t want to ask him to repeat it either, because I don’t want him to think I’m one of those Asians who are really bad with American names. Instead, I point to his bag, which reads, American Prep Swim Team on it.
“Do you know how I can try out for the team?” I ask.
“Oh, you should totally try out next year!” he says. “You’d be great!”
I feel a pang of disappointment. “Next year?” I ask.
He nods reluctantly. “Yeah, sadly all the spots are filled for this year,” he says. “But come August . . .” He smiles and finger-guns me with both hands. “We’d love to have you.”
I stare at him, wanting to believe him. But the cynical part of me thinks all men are scum, and he’s probably saying that because he has “yellow fever” or some other despicable epidemic. My phone dings with my awaiting Uber.
“I gotta go,” I tell him.
He walks out with me and waves at me as I run toward my Uber. When I get inside, I look back at him and a smile escapes. He’s still waving.
Later that night, Nancy and Jess come over. We’re getting ready for Florence’s party together. As we’re putting on our makeup, Florence FaceTimes us.
“Florence!” Jess shrieks into the phone. “Did you get enough alcohol? I’m gonna get so lit!”
Dani walks by my room.