“Well, I’m a lesbian. So yeah, I think it’s weird anyone likes boys.” She chuckles. “But like, in general, no, it’s not weird that you like boys. Why?”

“Liking a guy doesn’t make me straight.”

“I know it doesn’t.” She looks legitimately horrified as we get on our bikes and start to pedal home. “I don’t care that you like boys. I just wish you had better taste in them.”

“No, I know. I think I just needed to say that out loud.” I take a deep breath. “Who I date doesn’t change who I am.”

“Right, and if anyone says different, they’re going to have to deal with me. Personally. And I’ve been working out.” She lets go of her handlebars and flexes her biceps.

I laugh. “Thank you for being so cool, even though I’ve sucked lately.”

“It’s my job as your best friend to both point out when you suck and tolerate a small amount of it, so you’re good,” she says. “But if I’m playing the supportive best friend role, then level with me—which of these two sad disasters you call crushes would you actually pick if you had to?”

“I have no idea,” I say, shaking my head. “I feel this pull toward Bats, but he’s on the other side of the country . . .”

“If Bats wanted you guys to date, like, hypothetically, if he wanted to be exclusive or whatever, would you do it?”

“I have no clue, because there’s Ridley! And Ridley is right here, and also awesome.”

Jayla laughs, pedaling faster. “So then what if Ridley asked you to stop talking to Bats? Would you be able to?”

“I really don’t know.” I spin the pedals backward and stare up at the moon. I wonder what Bats and Ridley are doing right now. I wonder if they’re thinking of me. If they’re wishing we could talk.

I wonder, if they had to choose, would they choose me?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN