Page 9 of Lonely Hearts Day

“What was the criteria again?” Sage asked.

“People who would’ve been better off single.”

She playfully smacked Jack’s arm like they’d been friends for ages. “Not cool,” she said. “Scarlett’s parents are great.”

“I know,” he said. “That’s why it’s a good joke.”

Troy held up an empty two-liter Dr. Pepper bottle. “I still think spin the bottle should be in play. What better way to celebrate singlehood than to kiss anyone you want? Multiple anyones.”

“No!” both Jack and I yelled at the same time.

We looked at each other and smiled.

“Fine,” Troy said. “Seven minutes in the closet then.”

He steered Jack toward the only closet in the room: a game closet by the bathroom. Jack must’ve told him we were playing that at some point. I followed, wondering if I needed to move anything to make room for a body. I opened the door only to have someone else shove me in along with Jack and shut the door behind us.

Chapter 4

I tried to open the door but obviously Troy—and whoever else was responsible for us being in here—was also holding the door shut. There was giggling and shuffling outside as the door banged a few times against the frame.

It was very dark inside and very cramped. Not really a walk-in closet. Less than a foot of floor before the shelves, which were now digging into my back. Good thing I wasn’t claustrophobic.

“Iamthe one who suggested this game,” Jack said. “So it’s only right that I ended up here, I guess.”

I couldn’t see him but our shoulders were smashed together in the tight space. “The alone part was the key to your suggestion.”

I pressed my face to the crack of the door and yelled, “Save me a slice of pizza!”

“Your parents bought eight boxes for fourteen people,” Jack said. “Pretty sure there will be plenty left. They’re so proud of you for throwing a party. They never thought they’d see the day.” There was a smile in his voice.

“It’s pretty pathetic when your parents are cooler than you, isn’t it?”

“Wouldn’t know,” he said. “Is it my brother?”

“What?” I asked, confused.

“The name on my forehead.”

“No,” I said. “Why would it be your brother?”

“Because you wish he was still single.”

I gasped. One time. One! I had told Jack that his brother was hot. Because he was. And Jack was never going to let me forget it. “No, I don’t. Your brother is kind of a jerk. No offense. Besides, I told you that your person was fictional and you established he’s in a movie.”

“Oh, right. Is my movie a current one?”

“No,” I said. “Eighties? Nineties?”

He rocked back and forth on his feet. “But we’ve seen it?”

“Yes.” On one of our many movie nights.

“Is the actor who played me still relevant?”

“I mean... yes? To adults. He’s also in a Taylor Swift song.”

“Jake Gyllenhaal? Who has he played?”