Ricky’s line of sight never leaves me.
Matty plops me down in a cushy row that’s one long couch, between Monroe and Tyler, who, until we raided their territory, looked on the verge of respective naps.
“Not a good flyer?” Monroe adjusts the eye mask on her forehead. “Me neither.”
Matty intercepts. “He’s good, just dramatic. But I’ll take one.”
“I like you two,” Monroe says. “I’m not really the best flyer—this is my first time flying out of the country, and I don’t really know anyone here, so I’m kind of freaking myself out. Do you guys know Sienna well? I went to college with her, and she’s the best. I’ve spent a lot of time with your cousin, and I love him so much. He’s good people, and I get good vibes from you even though I don’t know you at all. Does that make sense? I can kind of read auras.”
I don’t think this girl took a single breath while talking.
“Read auras?” I ask, almost distracted enough to look awayfrom Ricky and Cam who are entwined in each other’s arms, nuzzling necks, giggling. My stomach cramps, and bile rises in my throat.
“I’m kind of an aura and energy reader. My grandma is one, too. She’s also a pretty famous tarot card reader. I can totally read your cards if you want.”
Matty and I look at each other. Nonna would scream if she heard Monroe right now. I can hear her now:She’ll put the malocchio on you!
“Maybe later.”
“I’d be down,” Tyler, Topher’s hot Cornell roommate, says.
Matty is giving him serious “kiss me” googly eyes. I elbow him.
“Ouch, dude,” he says.
Tyler laughs. “Did I miss something?”
“He thinks you’re hot,” Monroe says.
I unleash a cackle so loud nearly every head in the cabin turns toward us.
“What?” she says. “He does.”
Matty’s face turns crimson.
“Energy reader,” I repeat.
Tyler doesn’t miss a beat. “You’re a good-looking guy yourself, buddy.” The compliment plus the friend zoning with “buddy” sends me. “I’m straight, but flattered.”
“All the good ones are!” Matty cries.
“Tell me.” Monroe leans in, eyes narrowed. She wants us to spill the scalding, piping-hot tea on the tension in the PJ. “What’s the drama here?”
Without hesitation, Matty fillets me open: “Fielder is Ricky’sex. Love-of-each-other’s-lives-level exes. Fielder thought that when they saw each other at a romantic wedding in Italy, they’d immediately run back into each other’s arms. Except Ricky is here unexpectedly with aboyfriend.”
I grind my teeth. “Thanks for that.”
“Oh, I sense a plot,” Monroe says.
“To destroy the Jedi?” Tyler asks.
“No.” Monroe shakes her head playfully. “So are we planning to win Ricky back and dump the new boyfriend into the Mediterranean? Because honestly that would besucha movie moment.”
“We?” I ask.
“We’re obviously in on this now,” Monroe says, grabbing Tyler’s hand. He blushes. “I need something to distract me and calm my nerves. How long were you guys together?”
“Officially, two and a half years,” Matty responds for me. “Unofficially, for twelve years, since they were five and six. We all knew. The tension was ridiculous. We all thought they would get married once Fielder graduated high school.”
