Maybe, just maybe, just for a moment, I’ll forget the photo on my nightstand when I’m in this Escape Room. And maybe I’ll forget that those blue eyes will never look at me the way I want them to.

“Shouldn’t you be working?”

I turn around and see Miles. He points at the flyer in my hand. “What’s that?”

I’m mad at him too, maybe even more than I am at Alissa. Those longing looks he was giving her yesterday. I just can’t bring myself to look at Caitlin that way, no matter how hard I try.

I stuff the flyer into my jeans pocket. “Nothing.”

—

Alissa and Mint are waiting outside when I leave work later. Alissa’s piercing twinkles away at me. Like she wasn’t pretty enough already.

“You coming to the movie?” Alissa asks.

“Got a date with Caitlin.” The moment I say it, I feel nervous again. Recently I’ve had the feeling that Caitlin wants to go further than just kissing. I know I should want the same, but I can’t do it. My mind’s on someone else.

“Things are pretty serious with you two, huh?”

I make a strange noise that could mean anything. A quick change of subject.

“Want to go here next Friday?” I pull the flyer for the Escape Room out of my pocket.

Alissa frowns. “What is it?”

“Oh, I’ve heard about that!” To my surprise, Mint pulls the leaflet out of my hand. “You have to solve puzzles so you can escape.”

“And that’s your idea of fun?” Alissa raises an eyebrow.

Mint nods. “Sounds cool.”

Alissa exchanges a quick glance with me. She’s clearly thinking the same thing I am: Mint’s too timid to do anything. She usually stays at home when we have a school trip, and Alissa and I go to the fair on our own every year because Mint says the rides make her nauseous. She rarely visits me at work, always claiming she has a stomachache or headache.

“Fine by me,” Alissa says.

I point to the bottom half of the flyer. “We just need a fourth person.”

“Caitlin?” Mint suggests.

Being with Caitlin already feels like one big real-life Escape Room.

“Or Miles?” Alissa says.

I curse to myself. No way I want to spend sixty minutes watching those two getting closer.

“Then there’ll be four of us.” Alissa looks at me. “Shall I ask him?”

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