Page 56 of The Surprise
I feel my face flood with heat. “The point is, she cut me off, basically. And then Amanda Saddler suggested—”
“She knows about this too?” Izzy’s eyes widen. “Mom’s gonna be really hurt that everyone—”
“Shh,” I hiss. “Geez, what’s wrong with you? Do youwantother people to overhear? Two people in the whole world is not everyone.”
“Fine, but you need to tell Mom at some point.”
“Listen, there’s nothing to tell right now, you little yes-man. I know you hate the idea of keeping anything from Mom, but it won’t be for very long. I just need you to help me get into the friend zone.”
Izzy’s face scrunches up. “Wait, youwantto be in the friend zone?”
I twist her chair around and sit on it, backward, my chin on the chair back, and I smile. “Friend zone to end zone, baby.”
“That may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Well, you can tell that to Amanda Saddler.”
“That’s what she called it?”
“The name might have come from me,” I admit. “But listen, the point is, she likes me already. But she cut me off because I’m too much for her to handle in her delicate, guilt-ridden state. So I’ll slide into the safe side of things, and then I’ll transition.”
“What can I do?”
“She’s really into photography,” I say. “She’s great at it, too. And I know she’s on the school paper. So maybe you join that, and then bam. You can invite her over here, talk to her, and generally pave the way to me getting back into her life.”
Izzy looks skeptical.
“Come on, Iz,” I say. “When have you ever not been my wingman?”
She huffs. “I guess that’s true.”
“So you’ll do it?”
She inhales slowly, and then she exhales in a rush. “Fine, but I want it on the record that I am strongly encouraging you to tell Mom all about it ASAP.”
I can’t help my smile. Beth may be able to withstand me alone, but who can stay firm against the united power of the Brooks family? No one. I hold up my hand, and Izzy high-fives me back.
“How are you going to come up with money to help buy the ranch back?” Izzy asks.
“Dude, my college fund should be good for something, don’t you think?”
Izzy’s laugh is so loud that Mom actually pokes her head in. “Whoa, what’s going on in here?”
Izzy pelts me with a pillow. “Nothing. Ethan’s just being annoying.”
“So, the usual,” Mom says. “Carry on.”
“Soon,” Izzy whispers once the door is closed. “You have to tell her soon.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, realizing that Izzy is a very weak link. She loves me, but she loves Mom more. I’m on a timer, and when the time’s up, Izzy’s going to make sure the person who governs my college fund knows just what I’m planning.
But the next day, my gamble has already paid off. When the bus drops Izzy, Maren, Emery, Whitney, and Gabe off, Beth hops off with them. She’s not wearing her pink and sparkle heart shirt, but she waves when she sees me.
“Hey Ethan.”
It’s not the warmest greeting, but it’s not cold. We’re off to the races—next stop, besties who braid each other’s hair. I’d need to grow my hair out a lot longer for that to work, but you know, same idea.
Beth and Izzy seem to be having a great time, too. They talk about an article Izzy’s supposed to write—I’m gonna get it for that one—and then Beth shows her how to work a pretty fancy camera.
