That’s what I’d thought at the beginning of the day. But I wasn’t as convinced now. My dad teaching here was kind of a disaster. And Axel kissing Gigi was an epic mess. But he’d given me his varsity jacket. And Jacob had stared at me in a way that no one ever had before. I had no idea how to feel about any of it.

As I climbed into my dad’s car, my phone buzzed.

I pulled it out and saw a text from Sophie: “This is going to be the worst year ever. Your dad is totally going to cock block me with Mr. Halifax, isn’t he?”

I shook my head. It was definitely going to be either the best or worst year ever. I just didn’t know which one yet. But I didn’t think my dad was going to interfere in Sophie’s love life. I looked down at Axel’s varsity jacket. He was 100% going to interfere in mine.

Chapter 6 – Grounded

Thursday

Yesterday Axel had given me his varsity jacket. He’d told me I looked better in it than he did. That should have meant something. But he’d also told me he liked my old glasses more than my new contacts. And I had no idea what to do with that combination of information.

I took a step toward Axel’s jacket and then a step back. I crossed my arms and stared at it on the end of my bed. Was wearing it to school today a good idea or a bad idea?

I sighed and sat down on my bed. I reached over and ran my fingers along the 10 etched on the sleeve of Axel’s jacket. For years I’d dreamed of wearing this jacket with this number. It felt momentous. But I was just so confused.

I stood up and stepped away from it again. As if staring at it from a distance would give me clarity. God, what do I do? I bit my lip as I stared at the jacket.

Sophie would know what to do. I grabbed my phone, shot a picture of it, and texted her an SOS message. “To wear or not to wear?”

She responded right away: “Wear it. You’re still in the incest phase of Operation Too Hot to Handle. So while you’re wearing Axel’s jacket, keep flirting with Jacob. Total power play.”

I pressed my lips together. That kind of was a boss move. But really, why were we sticking with the name Phase Incest? It was terrible and made zero sense. I wasn’t even related to Jacob. I much preferred good old-fashioned Phase Three of the plan.