I’ve hunkered down in the library, trying to squeeze in a few hours of study time before my social obligations take over my night. My phone buzzes and lights up with the shop number. I smile wide. “Missing me, Big Man?”

“Hello to you too.” Rob’s light tenor and easy laugh sounds through the phone. Oops.

“Sorry, Rob.” My cheeks catch fire. “I thought it was Devin.”

“So I guessed. Sorry to disappoint you.”

“No disappointment. What can I do for you?”

“We’re looking to do an inventory tonight. Hoping to validate our new system. Finally silence all those naysayers.”

Devin’s the last hold-out resisting the new system. Everyone else adores it. Even Mikey, once I showed him the voice input and icon options. Devin was pissed when he found us in the office at the crack of dawn. He was desperate for an explanation, but Mikey’s dyslexia is none of Devin’s business.

“What time are you starting?” I ask Rob, wondering if I can make it after my dodgeball game.

“We’re hoping to start as soon as we close up shop. But whenever you can make it, Jessie. I know you’re a busy young lady.”

I pull my phone away and check the clock. It’s already past four o’clock. The shop closes in less than two hours. Damn it. I’d have to cancel my whole night. I toss my head back and shut my eyes. I’d much rather see Devin than any of the stupid other things I’m supposed to be doing.

“Jessie? You still there?” Rob’s voice snaps me back to reality.

“I’ll be there.”

The coward that I am, I type out a text to Maddy and tell her I’m not going to make the game tonight. I stare down at my phone, waiting for the river of sad face emojis to come pouring in. Instead I get—

Don’t worry about it. Now that we’re in the finals everyone wants to play! Ha. See ya later babe!

Huh. Wasn’t expecting that. But that was the easy one. I take a deep breath, dial Hannah’s number and gnaw on my bottom lip.

“Hey, Jessie. What’s up?” the sweet voice of my sorority’s president chirps in my ear.

“Hey, Hannah. So, I hate to do this, but is there any way you could find someone else to host the board game night tonight?” There’s a quick pause and the awkwardness makes me keep blabbering. “I feel awful, but there’s—”

“Hold on a sec,” Hannah cuts me off. Another long pause leaves me begging to make excuses. “Okay.”

I shake my head. “Okay?”

“Yeah. I just texted Michelle and she said she’d be happy to host. She was going anyway.”

“Oh, great. Thanks!”

“Sure thing. Catch you later, Jessie.”