Page 45 of The Bad Boyfriend Curse
“With two hot guys,” Keeley says.
“How do you know they’re hot?”
“Because you have impeccable taste,” Keeley says. “What are their Instas?”
I tell them both Noah’s and Quinn’s Instagram handles.
“Holy crap,” Adanna says. “I… I’m speechless. Keeley’s right, you have theabsolutebest taste. Both of these guys are gorgeous. Why can’t I get sent to the boonies? You have all the luck, Meera.”
“Why does she have luck?” Adanna’s sister asks, presumably from the front seat.
“She got sent to live in a mansion in a town where apparently every guy is hot, and they all want to date her,” Keeley explains, and I throw her a glare. “As friends.”
It does sound like I have a charmed life here. And I guess I do, on the surface. I still feel like a complete fish out of water 80 percent of the time, though. It’s like I don’t speak the same language as most of the people here, and that includes my mother.
The only time I have felt completely comfortable is when I’m alone with Noah. And I may have lost his friendship becauseanotherguy asked me out, but I only said yes to Quinn in the first place to help get Noah off my mind.
The curse is really working overtime with me.
“I don’t see the issue,” Adanna says. “You said you were clear with both of them that you will only be friends, so why can’t you be friends with both? A true friend wouldn’t care who else you’re friends with.”
I sigh. My friends can’t understand how divided this town is. Or how hard it is for me to figure out where I’m supposed to fit. And I’m scared that the longer I stay here, hanging out by the pool in Jason’s mansion and shopping with Mom, the more I risk turning into Sadie’s friends, like Mom did with her tennis lessons and lunches at the club. Maybe I’ll be like Sadie and Liv, well-meaning but with biases they don’t realize they have, thanks to their privilege. Or maybe I’ll become like Kaitlyn and feel entitled to things just because of how much money my family has. But I’m also afraid of turning into Kennedy, Ash, or even Noah, resenting people without knowing them because I’ve been burned too many times. I’m afraid I’ll lose my drive to achieve my goals because I’ll see all the effort as futile.
But most of all I’m scared that the reason I’m afraid of turning into someone else means I don’t really know who I am.
“We need to go,” Adanna says. “We’re at a rest stop.”
I put on a brave front, smiling for them. “Okay. Have the best time, guys. I wish I was with you.” I really do. I wish I could ignore all these confusing feelings and tune out the world while listening to amazing music. I’d even buy a band shirt—and wear it.
“Can you guys get me a festival shirt?” I ask. “I’ll pay you back.”
“Of course!” Keeley says. “We wish you were with us!”
“Bye!” Adanna says. “Text us after your date. We wantdetails.”
After hanging up, I pick up Rosie and hug her. She’s still the best thing about Cherrybridge.
My friend date with Quinn is… fine. He takes me to a trendy burger restaurant, and the burger and fries might be the best I’ve had. Maybe it’s my mood, or maybe it’s because of that almost-kiss with Noah earlier, but I’m really not feeling Quinn today. Not even as a friend. He still seems like a good guy, aconscientiousguy. Especially for someone who grew up on the rich side of this town. He’s actually done the work to learn about social inequalities, and talks a lot about the housing crisis and how it’s affecting Cherrybridge. He even says that he’s brought up to the board at the club that the racial demographics of the members don’t match the demographics of Cherrybridge. I know Adanna would say that he has a white savior complex, and after today, I think maybe he does. I’m grateful he doesn’t mention anything about the thrift store, but I can’t forget that he called Ash arandom.
“So… you’re going to university in Toronto in the fall, right?” I ask.
He nods. “Yes. Prelaw at University of Toronto. My father wants me to join his firm here, but I don’t know. I suspect it will be hard to come back after living in the city. Maybe I’ll work for a nonprofit there, or in a legal aid clinic for a while.”
“U of T is my top choice too,” I say. “For architecture.”
Which leads to a discussion about equitable design, and then about my favorite buildings in Toronto, and about the BEAD mentorship program. I actually do enjoy the conversation. It’s been a while since I could talk about my goals with someone who has similar dreams for themself. If we were having this discussion in two months in Toronto instead of now in Cherrybridge, I know I would enjoy it even more. Rightnow all I can think about is what Noah would think of whatever Quinn says.
“So… can I ask you something?” Quinn asks while we’re eating dessert. Salted caramel profiteroles, which turn out to be big cream puffs like the ones my mom used to get in a tub, except with ice cream in them.
“Yeah, of course.”
He squeezes his lips together a moment, then smiles. “That program in the park… how close are you with the kids there?”
“I’m mostly just close with Noah. He’s been a good friend since I started the program. He’s also going through some stuff at home, and I want to be there for him.”
Quinn smiles. “I really like that about you. You’re seizing the opportunity to help the less fortunate, even while doing court-ordered service. People of color are targeted by the police much more than those born to privilege, but you’re making the best of it.”
I raise my eyebrows at Quinn. Does he think I was arrested because I’mBrown, instead of because Gabe and I were being dumbasses? I suppose it might be true. Maybe if we looked like Kaitlyn and James, we would have gotten off. And yeah, Jason’s fancy expensive lawyer probably helped me get a lesser sentence. But Quinn is making it seem like I’m hanging out with Noah as some service to the poor biracial son of an alcoholic, instead of because he’s the best person in this town.
