Jonah didn’t answer my question right away.

“Jonah?” I pressed, frowning at him.

Austin looked between us for a moment, then took a wary step back. Austin was as lovable as they came and had his adorably clueless moments, but in that moment, he was canny enough to read the room.

“I’m doing javelin next,” he said, glancing at Jonah. “I gotta stretch and stuff. I’m going to go get ready. I’ll um… see you both out there.”

Alone with Jonah, I rounded on him, folding my arms over my chest. “So? What’s up?”

“Nothing,” he muttered, though I knew it was a lie. Jonah had never had a poker face, and I could read him like a drugstore novel.

I rolled my eyes. “Give me a break. Just spill it.”

Jonah looked at me for a moment. “He’s not good enough for you, Millie,” he said, using his childhood nickname for me.

“What?” I asked, shocked. “Not good enough? What are you talking about? Where is this coming from?”

“Look at you, girl. You’re a ten. You’re gorgeous; you’ve got a killer rack. You’re smart and kind and ambitious. You’re generous with your friends and wicked funny. And Editor Eric Evans—”

“Don’t call him that,” I snapped.

Jonah pressed on. “Eric is a bland, skinny six in an ocean of fours. Listen, I get it, okay. I can see that the pickings at this school are slim—dire, even—but don’t sell yourself short. You can find a better dude than Eric Evans. Anyway, I don’t get the point of wasting your time with him. He’s going off to college in September—to Iowa, for the record—so what future could you have with him?”

I stared at my friend in shock. I felt like Jonah had just sucker punched me, right in the stomach. I had come out here so excited to share my news with him, and now I could barely breathe.

“I like him, and he likes me,” I managed to get out. “You know how I’ve felt about him, so why can’t you just be happy for me?”

Jonah sighed and ran a hand through his hair, looking unhappy. “Listen, I’ve also heard he’s kind of a dick. It’s a small school, and…I’ve heard he gets around. Honestly, I think you’re just one more notch in his lame, braided belt. And because I’m your friend, I want more for you than being some tool’s locker-room story.”

I shook my head, trying to wrap my mind around this wild turn of events. “I can’t believe you’re saying this. You’re the one who told me to go back in there. Save the day, I think was what you told me, right?”

Jonah looked stern. “That wasn’t what I meant—”

“I can’t believe you’re being so unsupportive about this,” I snapped. “You know how I feel about him—you’ve certainly given me enough shit about it. I don’t understand. And what do you mean he’s kind of a dick? What have you heard?”

Jonah shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “It’s just rumors, I guess, but it’s just…”

“What?” I demanded. “You brought it up, so tell me.”

“There was some talk with the guys on the football team. I guess Eric dated Paul’s sister for a while. He messed with her—and kind of messed her up—and then dumped her out of nowhere. Just was kind of shitty to her—”

“Yeah, and you’ve heard exactly one side of that story,” I shot back.

He sighed. “I don’t know why you’re getting so pissed at me. I’m just the messenger, Millie.”

“I think you know exactly why I’m getting so pissed at you,” I countered.

Jonah rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Listen, Camilla, I love you. You know that. You’re my friend, and I just want what’s best for you. That’s all.”

I could feel my face flushing with heat as I glowered at Jonah. I was furious, and the anger was raging through my body, spreading like a wildfire. “God, Jonah, this is so like you!”

“What does that mean?” he asked.

“You think it’s so freaking easy to find the perfect man, just because you’re dating the super hot, super nice football hero, like you’re in some kind of rom-com. Well, let me tell you something—it’s not that easy for the rest of us, okay? We can’t all date an Austin! And you’re saying that you just want the best for me, and that you’re my best friend. If that’s true, then start acting like my friend. If you can’t do that, then why don’t you just get the hell out of my life!”

Without giving Jonah a chance to respond, I spun on my heel and stormed away.