“It’s fine,” I say. “Everything’s fine. But I was with him and I just . . . I wanted it to be you. I really wanted him to be you. I think, I mean, the thing is . . .” I can’t believe how hard it is to get the words out, even now.

“Say it,” he says, and he kisses me again quickly, the hope sparkling in his eyes giving me courage. “Come on, Keely, say it.”

“Iloveyoumorethanpizza,” I say, the words tumbling out of me so quickly they blend together. “I love you more than pizza,” I repeat, slower this time. “I got your note. Is it true?” I feel like I can’t breathe.

“Are you kidding?” he says. “Keely, I’m so stupidly in love with you.” He leans closer to me so our noses are touching. “I’ve been in love with you since middle school.”

For the first time in my life, I feel really and truly alive. I kiss him again, and it’s just the two of us, the only two people in the entire world. But after a minute, I pull away, remembering that’s not true.

“But you love Danielle,” I say. “You told me. You gave her that valentine.”

“Do you know how many times you’ve turned me down?” he asks, shaking his head. “How many times I started to tell you the truth and you made some joke as if dating me was the most ridiculous thing in the world?” I want to disagree with him, but I know it’s true. “So I started saying it before you could say it first. If I could convince myself it was true—if I could agree it was ridiculous, then maybe I could get over you.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” I say.

“I made that valentine for you, you know, back in middle school. I was going to tell you how I felt. But then you made another stupid comment like you didn’t like me, and I chickened out. I gave it to Danielle because that’s what everyone else was doing.”

“I’m so sorry,” I say. “I’ve been such an idiot.”

“Yeah,” he says. “You have.” He’s grinning and I whack him on the shoulder. “But so have I.” He reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “When you asked me who I was in love with, I thought you knew it was you. I thought you were trying to tell me you loved me back. But then you turned me down again, and I couldn’t handle it. I told you it was Danielle, because it was easy. I knew you would hate it. And then I felt so stupid and I didn’t know how to fix it. I wrote you that card on your birthday, and you never even said anything.”

“I didn’t see it!” I say.