“Hey, handsome.” Her voice dropped its trademark line. Madison looped her arm through mine and tapped her chin. “Hard decision, isn’t it?”

“What do you want, Madison?” She wore tight jeans, a leopard-print tank top, and a black leather jacket. The heels of her combat boots clacked against the linoleum floor. “Kinda dressed up for picking up eggs and milk, huh?”

Madison pretended to look offended, even as the dads pushing around kids in unnecessarily big, space-hogging strollers swung past us.

“Who said I wanted anything? Maybe I’m happy to see you.”

“If that’s what you’re going with . . .”

“I need your help with something,” Madison whispered. “I’d call you about it but now that we’re here . . .”

Restless anxiety crept into my lungs, as if she were about to deliver the news I feared most. “Did you take a test?”

“No. Maguire, I’m not pregnant.”

Her hushed whisper got more than a few looks from the parents that passed by.

“Okay . . .”

“Is there a girl you like?”

“I haven’t liked anyone since the second grade, Madison. You know that.”

“Nice try.”

“Joke’s on you,” I avoided her answer, “’cause I’m actually trying to focus on myself right now. You know, find myself before going off to college. I’m thinking of taking a gap year with the monks.”

Madison started to protest my sarcasm but was interrupted by my bro from another hoe.

“Whaddup, Mags?” Carter’s grocery cart squealed down the aisle, followed by Eliza. Because apparently the entire town had received an exclusive invitation to buy groceries at the same time, which was now. I stepped away from Madison and she took her ringed fingers off my shirt. Carter, like me, still donned his sweaty soccer clothes. Eliza had on her volleyball sweatpants.

“’Sup, man.” I pounded Carter’s fist.

“What’s up, Madi?” he asked. Good call. Madison loved being the center of attention.

“Stocking up your lime supply?” I said to Eliza while they chatted.

“Maybe. I’ve heard having a citrus-scented locker is the thing this year.”

She still wasn’t going to admit to it.

“I heard that too.”

Eliza leaned back against their shopping cart and put one of her sneakers on its bottom rim. Even under the flickering fluorescent lights, she still looked pretty cool.

“You know, for a moment there, Maguire, I’d almost forgotten about your reputation. You certainly know what you’re doing, don’t you?” It wasn’t a question. And it didn’t come with the usual admiration or praise that other guys, or even girls, gave.

“Comes naturally.”

“Good for you.” Eliza crossed her arms defensively, as if protecting her heart.

“No way . . .” I smirked. “You’re not jealous, are you?”

“You’re not funny.” Oh. My. God, I stopped breathing. She is.

Be cool, Nick. As casually as I could, I reached behind her to pick a bread loaf off the shelf. I didn’t care what kind it was; I needed it to mess with her.

“Lucky me,” I said, trying not to get caught up in the lightheadedness from standing a breath away from her.