“You’re both highly principled—though your principles might be different—and you’re both fiercely loyal to your friends and family. You’re both passionate about music and politics, and—”

He cuts me off. “Oh please, I’m not purposely prejudiced and proud of it, and I don’t lead people on just to get them into bed.”

I steal another crunch-bomb and laugh.

“Why are you laughing at me?”

“Michael, you are completely emotionally promiscuous.” Georgie had used that term, and it has stuck with me ever since.

“What is that supposed to mean?” The vein in his temple throbs.

“Oh, come on. You might not be jumping in and out of beds, but you, like, merge hearts with people and then keep them dangling on a string as you move on and do the same thing to someone new.” I’ve had years of experience with Korach Chevalier to prepare me for Michael Loew.

His eyes look betrayed. “Being able to be open emotionally with my friends doesn’t make me… promiscuous.”

“I’m not saying you’re purposefully being an ass. I’m just pointing out that you’re not so innocent in the way you manipulate people.”

“Ada, that’s really harsh,” he says. And I know he’s right. I know I’m being a little cruel and that what I’m saying is only partially true. But there’s something inside me that wants to hurt him. That wants him to see that he hurts me every day.

“Sorry, I’m just calling it like I see it. Look at what you do to Kaylie.”

Michael sighs in exasperation. “My relationship with Kaylie isn’t like that.”

I scoff. “You totally use her as a stand-in for a girlfriend, even though she’s clearly hoping for more.”

“That’s not true!” There are twin spots of red on his cheeks. He takes a deep breath, and his throat bobs. He slumps back in his chair and lets out a breath. “Is that really what you think of me?”

“I…” I look away, guilt taking over. I shouldn’t be taking out my frustration on Michael just because I wish things were different. I try again. “I think you’re a great guy. I just don’t think you realize how your actions might sometimes be perceived.”

“And you think I’m hurting Kaylie?” he asks.

“Um… I mean, you don’t see her dating anyone else.” Grey has been positively mooning over her since the Simon-in-the-tree incident, but she hasn’t seemed to have noticed.

He piles his dishes on to his tray. “So, what?” He meets my eyes, almost accusingly. “You think I should date her?”

The crunch-bombs turn to lead in my stomach. But I remember his look when he dismissed me the other day. I know that my wishes are nothing more than wishful, so I say, “I think it’s not a bad idea.”