Page 57 of Clinically Awkward

“You’re not screwed,” Gabriel said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “Well, technically you GOT screwed, but⁠—”

“Not helping.”

“How did this happen?” Gabriel asked, pulling out a chair and sitting down as if we were about to have a proper conversation about my catastrophic life choices.

“She had a bad date,” I said, my voice muffled by my hands. “She texted me. I invited her over for a beer. We had several beers. And then tequila. And then⁠—”

“And then you shagged her!” Fitz finished helpfully.

“Can you please stop saying it like that?”

“How would you like me to say it? Made love? Mattress Mambo? Bumped uglies? Played hide the sausage?”

“FITZ!”

Gabriel was grinning now, too. “I’m actually impressed. You swore off dating entirely and then went straight to sleeping with your best friend’s sister. That’s bold.”

“That’s suicidal,” I corrected.

“Was it worth it?” Fitz asked, and for once he sounded genuinely curious rather than mocking.

I thought about last night. About Vivian laughing as we fumbled with her jeans. About the way she looked at me. About how right it felt.

“Yeah,” I admitted quietly. “It was worth it.”

“Aww,” Fitz cooed. “He’s in love.”

“I’m not in love.”

“You’re absolutely in love.”

“I’m not⁠—”

“Quinton,” Gabriel said gently. “You’ve been spending every weekend with her for two months. You light up every time she texts you. You bought concert tickets just to have an excuse to see her again. You’re in love.”

I opened my mouth to argue. Then closed it. Because he wasn’t wrong.

Oh God.

Oh God. I was in love with Vivian Darcy.

“I’m so fucked,” I whispered.

“Yep,” Fitz agreed cheerfully.

“What are you going to do?” Gabriel asked.

“I don’t know. She snuck out this morning. She’s avoiding me. She probably regrets the whole thing. I should just⁠—”

“QUINTON!”

All three of us froze.

Julien’s voice carried clearly from the lobby, sharp and confused.

“Oh shit,” I breathed.

Gabriel and Fitz both turned to look at me with identical expressions of dawning horror. “Mate,” Fitz said slowly. “What do you think Julien’s going to do when he finds out you shagged his baby sister?”