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33 Ways You Know You’re Gen Z

#19 The Author of Your Favorite Books from Childhood Is Hooking Up with the Author of Your Favorite Books as a Teen and You’re Like, “Yeah. Makes Sense.”

I screamed in horror and threw my phone against the bed.

“What? What’s it say?” Bernadette dove to fish my phone out from beneath the pile of throw pillows where it had landed, then read the link Gabriella had sent. “Oh, is that all?”

“Is that all?Is that all?Bernadette!” I paced the room, clutching fistfuls of my hair, which for once I was wearing down, since it was dry. “This can’t be happening.”

“Why? You look cute in the photo. And check out the way Will is smiling at you. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the two of you were hooking up, too.”

I screamed some more, this time into my clenched fists.

“Oh, come on.” Bernadette couldn’t seem to stop smiling. “This isn’t the worst thing. At least they’ve got you paired up with Will and not Garrett. Could you imagine if everyone was saying you were hooking up withthatguy? One-eighth Cherokee, my butt.”

I looked up from my fists. “Bernadette, I can’t go tonight.”

“Because ofthis?” She waved my phone. “What are you, twelve? Jo, you have to go. First of all, you told that little suitcase girl that she had to go—”

“Lauren. Her name is Lauren.”

“Fine, Lauren. She was going to stay in her hotel room and write tonight, but you told her she had to go. Imagine how disappointed she’ll be if you’re not there. And secondly, no one’s going to have seen this.”

“My eleven-year-old cat sitter saw it.”

“Well, okay, but no one at the book festival is going to have seen it. They were too busy enjoying themselves out on the water or eating clam chowder or whatever they were doing today. It’ll be— Oops, your phone is purring, you’re getting another text. I think it’s your agent.”

“Oh.” I rushed over to grab the phone from Bernadette. “Finally! I’ve been waiting all weekend to hear from her.”

Rosie Tate:Sorry for the tardy reply, I was traveling. Can’t apologize enough for Will Price being there when I know I swore to you that he wouldn’t be. But it looks like you’re getting along well enough now. Saw the piece in BuzzFeed. ? You two are trending at number ten in the U.S. on Twitter right now!

I thought I might start hyperventilating when another text from her arrived.

Rosie Tate:I have never heard a word about Will’s personal life. I honestly don’t think he has one. All the guy seems to do is write and then work to promote what he’s written.

Rosie Tate:P.S. I ran into the head of Netflix children’s programming in Aruba and pitched her a Kitty K reboot. She said she didn’t hate the idea! Let’s talk on Monday.

Rosie Tate:P.P.S. How’s the writing going? I’m only wondering because your editor emailed me Friday to ask when she can expect a first draft.

I drew back my arm to throw my phone off the balcony, but Bernadette pried it out of my hands. “What? What did she say?”

“Nothing.” I sank down onto the bed in defeat. “Just... Will and I are trending.”

“Trending?”

“On Twitter. We’re number ten in the U.S.”

Bernadette’s lips twitched. I could tell she was trying not to laugh, but she couldn’t control herself. “I’m sorry,” she said, and dropped my phone in order to whip out her own. “But I have to tell Jen. This is just too funny.”

“I’m glad that my agony is so amusing to you.”

“You’re not in agony,” Bernadette said as she typed. “If you were really that unhappy about what was going on, you’d pack up and leave.”

“I can’t. Like you said, I owe it to Lauren to stay.”

“Oh, just admit that part of you is getting something out of this—whether it’s inspiration to writeKitty Katz number twenty-sevenat last, or... something else.” She waggled her eyebrows as she saidsomething else. “I haven’t seen you this heated up over a guy in... well, ever. Even when you andJustin were breaking up, you hardly talked about it, because you just didn’t care. Face it, Jo. Love or hate, whatever is going on with you and Will Price, there’ssomethingthere. And something is better than what you felt for Justin by the end, which was nothing.”

I dropped my head into my hands in shame. I didn’t want to admit that Bernadette was right. There was “something” between Will and me. I saw it every time I looked into his eyes. It struck me like a heat-seeking missile.