Page 135 of While You Were Trending

“I’ll use purple and pink and green.”

“That’ll look good on you.”

“It’ll probably get all over Flow.”

“She likes different hairstyles every now and again.”

The more agreeable he is, the madder I get.

And I don’t even know why I’m mad.

I just know I want him to fight me back.

To tell me I’m acting like a spoiled brat.

To completely lose his cool.

“And I want the rest of your ribs,” I add.

He doesn’t tell me there are still plenty on the smoker, like he should.

Instead, he offers me his plate.

Like he shouldn’t.

Cricket’s watching me wide-eyed. Mabel’s doing the same, but far more wary, and I realize all of the conversation inside the barn has stopped too. Heath and Lavender and Dori and Olivia and Samantha and Pip have all fallen silent.

Even Flow and Fluffy are watching us.

I grab a rib by the bone and gnaw on it, then turn around and march toward the house. “I’m going to bed,” I announce.

“Sleep well,” Declan says.

Flow trots along next to me.

Declan doesn’t call her back.

And that makes me mad enough to turn around and glare at him. “Stop being so damn agreeable.”

He tucks his hands into his pockets. “Okay.”

“Argh.”

“I hate your hair when you put it in a ponytail,” he says. “Is that better?”

I rip another bite of rib off the bone. “What else?”

“Wedge sandals are an abomination.”

“Quit quoting your brother.”

“Just because he said it first doesn’t make it untrue.”

“You have opinions on women’s footwear?”

“I do. And unlike my brother, I think high heels in general are an abomination.”

“Why?”