Page 60 of Better Than Revenge

To go from five to forty-five from one episode to the next is odd.

It was a good episode. Maybe it got shared.

Did you share it?I texted.

No.

That leaves my mom and Deja. Not sure they have that kind of social media power.

Thanks,Deja chimed in.Waking up to an insult is refreshing. But you’re right, I didn’t share it. Didn’t you say Theo was listening to it. Would he have shared it?

Theo hugged me yesterday.Deja saying his name easily pulled the confession out of me. I obviously needed to talk it through.For a long time.

What?!she responded.No!

Followed by aReally?from Lee.

And then I reiterated that we were friends,I texted.

Why would you say that after he did that?Lee replied. I could hear the confusion in the text.

I don’t know why I said it…it felt right?

Deja was first to respond withLike how when someone saysI love youand the other person saysthank you? That kind of right?

No, it was more like I was having a breakdown after the Jensen at my house thing and he was comforting me and I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea or for him to think I was getting the wrong idea. That kind of right.

Lee texted:I think you mean you didn’t want him to get the rightidea.

Wait, do you like him?!Deja asked.Is that why you’re analyzing this so much?

No!I insisted.

Good,she texted.Don’t let him charm you into letting your guard down. He has a reputation for a reason. Stay focused on your goal. No more jerks.

Max was the last to the group chat, and he must’ve caught up on all the texts because all he said wasI have given up my beauty sleep for your denial? Disappointing.

You guys have been entirely unhelpful lately. I have to go.

“WHAT IS THIS?” I ASKEDstaring at the red barn Theo and I stood in front of. Bleating sounds rang out in the distanceand Theo had his signature teasing grin on his face, so I knew he was up to something. “A goat farm? Why are we at a goatfarm?”

Even just twenty minutes inland, the March weather was much colder without the Pacific Ocean tempering it. I hadn’t prepared well enough. I was in my workout clothes—shorts, a sports bra, and a tank top. I rubbed my arms.

Theo took off his sweatshirt and handed it to me.

“No, it’s fine. I’m fine,” I said.

“I know you are. Take it anyway.”

I let an indignant breath out of my nose but pulled on his sweatshirt. Immediately his scent enveloped me. The soapy vanilla warmth I’d come to associate with him.

“Let’s go—it starts in five minutes,” he said, walking toward the barn.

“What starts in five minutes?” I asked, following him. Before he answered, I saw the chalkboard sign attached to the wall beside the open door of the barn. It read:Goat Yoga.I turned my stare on him. “I thought we were training today.”

A couple brushed by us and into the barn. Now that we were closer, I could see the back doors were open as well. They led out to a fenced-in field where yoga mats were set up. Walking around and through and over those mats were…goats.

“Thisisfor training,” Theo said, turning back when he realized I had stopped. “Focus is important. This will help you focus.”