Page 19 of The Breakup Artists

I inadvertently smile, because as angry as she is, she also looks ridiculous.

“What?” she seethes.

Leah starts her countdown and fifteen people jump in the pool.

“Nothing,” I say innocently and cough, pointing upward to the boxer briefs she sports like a crown.

Her eyes double in size and she yanks them off. “At least I don’t look like I got into a fight with red glitter.”

I wipe my hand on my head, but barely anything comes off.

“It’s color stay,” she says, and the corners of her mouth tilt up ever so slightly.

“Are you telling me I still have balls on my forehead?”

“Big ones,” she says and suppresses a laugh.

“If I knew all it took to get you to smile was draw balls on my face, I’d have done it an hour ago.”

She makes her best effort to look annoyed, but it’s obvious her heart isn’t in it. “Icannot believeyou did that to us.” She sighs, the fight draining out of her. “I could have been lounging with lemonade service; meanwhile I spent half an hour blowing up a giant bunny float and calling Amber ‘your highness.’”

“Yeah, but just think about the possible memes they’ll make of us,” I say.

Her mouth opens. “I will kill you for real.”

We stand there for a couple of seconds, caught in this cycle of fighting and joking, but never actually getting to friendly.

Justin emerges from the water, this time as King. He pumps his fist in the air.

“I’m surprised you didn’t race again,” I say, trying to keep her engaged a little longer. “That could be you right now.”

“I’m pretty good with never playing that game again.” She shakes her head. “Where did you learn to swim like that anyway?”

And before I can even consider it, I say, “It was the only place I could stand to be after my sister—” The instant the words leave my mouth, I look away, shocked and embarrassed. Damn Tiny and that Des talk. Damn my brain for betraying me with the truth.

“I’m sorry,” she says, clearly understanding.

I wipe at my forehead again. “Bathroom?” I say even though I already know where it is.

But as I pass her, she puts out her hand and says, “Ella. My name’s Ella.”

I stop, taking her hand. “Holden.”

“Wow... Holden... you have those parents, huh?” she says, amused.

Even though my name isn’t actually Holden, I relate in every way.August? Really?“You have no idea.”

“Actually, I do. My middle name is Gertrude.”

“Oof,” I say. “But at least it’s your middle name.”

“I mean, yeah, but still—high school doesn’t care.”

“Truer words were never spoken,” I say, and this time when we make eye contact, the animosity between us is gone.

But so is the conversation. Because a soaking-wet Justin picks up Ella and twirls her in the air. “Babe, you’re dating the Kiiiiing!” he says, and she laughs.

Kyle twirled Des in the backyard, giving her a big kiss, both of them dripping salt water after beating their friends in a race out to the buoy.