“More or less.”

“And she isn’t fawning all over you?”

“Why are you messing with me? I got you a ‘date’ with Carter, Madi. I thought we were square.”

“Yeah . . . I know. This was supposed to work, though . . . .”

I swerved around a tight corner, narrowly avoiding colliding with a cop car. Holding my breath, I waited to see if they’d pull me over . . . nope.

“How?” I shouted, “When has making people jealous ever worked?”

“Usually in that sweet spot where they might barelyyyy kind of like you and then see you’re actively looking for potential new friends, shall we say?”

“She obviously doesn’t barelyyyy kind of like me. Kinda the opposite now. Actually.”

“I’m sorry, Nick, this never happens, swear to God.”

“Thanks.” I practically spit onto the steering wheel, braking hard into the standstill traffic. “I’m gonna go—” The light we’d all been waiting for finally turned green, and the cars in front of me were off to the races.

“Unless,” she cut me off, “she . . . okay, Nick. Imagine this: suppose you are minorly into, like Taylor Swift.”

“Why would I be minorly into Taylor? She’s a straight-up babe.” I tried to keep up with the cars in front of me. Ignoring Madison made it easier.

“Bear with me. You’re minorly into T-Swift, and she tells you she likes Justin Bieber. How do you feel?”

“Taylor would never go for the Biebs,” I said, “but fine. I’d want to do everything I could to turn her off Justin. I’d want to spend more time with her and gradually fulfill her wildest dreams. Which I would, because I’m more of a man than Justin will ever be.”

“There’s the Nick we all know,” she teased me. “Right. Okay. Now imagine you’re like, super, secretly in love with Taylor Swift and she tells you she likes Justin. Now how do you feel?”

“After everything I’ve done for her?” I joked. “She goes and crushes on Bieber?”

“Exactly,” said Madison. “Nick. We’re talking your top-secret crush like from when you were a kid. Like honest-to-gosh, ride or die.”

I finally reached my driveway, the stones gently rolling as I turned in. Shutting off the engine, I slumped down until my legs were on the dashboard.

“How’d you know I feel that way about Tay?”

“Nick, what would you do?”

I’d pretend I’d never liked her in the first place. I’d overcompensate as hard as I freaking could.

“Crap.”

“If she more than barely liked you, which I had no way of knowing, then what happened makes sense.”

“And if she didn’t like me at all?”

Madison paused. “Then why would your Hannah comment bother her?”

I considered this. Whether to trust or distrust Madison was still a coin flip—either way, this was interesting.

“Now what am I supposed to do?” I asked.

“What you do best,” said Madison, “Go get the girl. Oh, and tell Carter to meet me again tomorrow. Thanks, Nicky.”