The adults take over and separate us into groups for a few rounds of icebreakers, after which we’re released for a snack break. I’ve ended up in a corner on the opposite side of the room from Emily, talking to this really fun girl named Fiona with tight dark curls and thick lashes and a tiny rosebud mouth who talks a mile a minute and loves fantasy novels. She’d be perfect for Emily. I bring her over to introduce her. “Hey, Em, this is Fiona. You know what? I’m starving. You guys stay here and I’ll get some food for all of us.”

I go to the snack table and take my time loading up on chips and veggies. I bloop some ranch dressing next to a pile of baby carrots and a mountain of chips, and I’m just turning to go when I see Owen walk in the door with Will Taylor from Weekly History Minute. Oh, right, I think. He has the night off, too.

But mostly I’m thinking, Well, well, well.

What did Owen say about having a boyfriend or girlfriend when Hannah asked him that first time we met? Neither, at the moment. Interesting. I take a bite of a chip and watch them for clues. Are they boyfriends? Friends? Not that I even care whether he’s dating right now.

I check out Emily and Fiona; Em’s laughing hysterically at a story that Fiona’s telling. Brynn is on the other side of the room, deep in conversation with a gorgeous Latinx girl whose aura of self-confidence and general awesomeness indicate that she’s probably a #winner at whatever school she goes to. Brynn glances over at Emily and Fiona twice but doesn’t move. Good.

I’m deciding what to do next when Owen sees me. His face breaks into a big smile, and he waves. I raise my plate-o’-chips-’n’-carrots in greeting and walk over.

Owen gestures at Will and says, “Hey, this is Will.”

Okay. That was unhelpful. Is Owen single or is he taken? NOT THAT I CARE, BECAUSE I DON’T. As I’m wrestling with this, we’re joined by a guy with dark brown skin, close-cropped hair, and a body like a barrel, who introduces himself as Will’s boyfriend, Sam.

“Look at those guys over there.” Sam nods in the direction of some certifiably hot boys. “Whaddaya say, O?”

“Nah, he’s good,” Will says with a half grin and a sideways glance at Owen. “There’s this girl he’s kinda into these days.”

These days?

“Oooh! Pray, tell me more!” says Sam, articulating my exact thoughts.

“Nothing to tell at the moment,” says Owen, reddening. He scowls at Will, and his hand strays to the back of his neck.

Will’s grin becomes a smirk, and he elbows Owen in the ribs. “C’mon, O. You can tell us. This is a safe space.”