“And that is a very mature cat poster at your dad’s house—”
“Shut up.” She bumps me sideways, laughing for real now. I bump her back, trying not to grin.
But Maya’s face falls. “I just don’t know where to go from here. It’s like she doesn’t even want to be friends anymore. Just like that.”
“How could she not want to be your friend?”
Maya shrugs. “She has Jenna.”
“Well, fuck that.”
“Jamie!” Maya gapes at me.
I smile sheepishly. “Fork that?”
“No, I liked the first one. I’m just shocked.” She laughs, sounding startled—and then hugs me again. “Only you could say fuck and have it be the sweetest gesture ever.”
Okay, I might be a terrible person. Maya’s having the absolute worst day imaginable, and here I am, flooded with sunshine. It’s not that I’m happy she’s upset. I could never be. But I’ve never gotten to hold her hand like that, or anything close to the way it’s been today.
“I think I just need a distraction,” Maya says.
“A distraction. Hmm.” I pause. “Look! A squirrel!” Boomer stiffens, tugging the leash taut. “Well, my distraction worked on Boomer.”
Maya laughs. “What’s InstaGramm working on? Mostly Rossum stuff right now, right?”
“Yeah, I think Gabe is pretty much monopolizing her time. Tomorrow he’s actually going to photograph Rossum himself with Grandma and Boomer.” I shrug. “Gabe is obsessed with trying to go viral.”
Maya smiles down at Boomer. “Oh my God, you lucky dog. You get to meet Rossum?”
“He’s already met him! Boomer’s very well-connected.”
“I would flip if I met him,” Maya says. “I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get an introduction at that mixer! I didn’t really get it, you know? It was just a thing my mom made me go to.”
I nod. “Same here.”
“You haven’t met Rossum?” Maya looks surprised.
“Sort of? He’s mostly based at the Dunwoody office. And I’ve been to lots of his events, but I’ve never gone up and talked to him or anything.”
“Do you think you would now?”
“I don’t know. I’d be so tongue-tied.”
“I think you’d be great,” Maya says. “You’re so much braver than you think you are.”
I turn to see if she’s messing with me, but her expression is completely sincere. I guess that’s the thing about Maya. When she thinks or feels something, she says it. Which can be a little scary sometimes if she’s pissed at you, or if you’re a Koopa Troopa like Dickers who needs to be called out. But Maya never lets the good stuff go unspoken either. There have been hundreds of moments where Maya’s sweetness or cuteness or brilliance has struck me. I just never work up the nerve to say it out loud. But Maya always says it out loud.
And she’s so casually convinced that I’m brave, I almost believe it.
“Well, that means a lot coming from you,” I say.
Maya smiles, and I swear she holds my eyes a beat longer than usual. “Thanks.”
For a moment, we just stand there smiling on the sidewalk, Boomer pacing ahead of us.
“So . . . do you think Sophie’s ruined everyone at Catan yet?” I ask finally.
Maya laughs. “I love Sophie so much.”
“Oh, the feeling is very mutual. She hasn’t shut up about you since we finished canvassing.”
“I remember when she was a baby!” Maya says. “Your mom let me hold her, and I went home and threw the biggest tantrum, demanding a little sister. I was so jealous of you. I just remember thinking she was so cute. And now she’s this legit grown-up person, and she’s actually really cool. She was so great at canvassing too!”
“Maybe you should give the bat mitzvah toast,” I suggest.
“Nice try.” Maya grins up at me. “I’ll help you with it later, though.”
We make our way back home, where the guys and Sophie have abandoned Catan in favor of Bob’s Burgers and Goldfish crackers. Felipe and Nolan are on the love seat, while Drew and Sophie have claimed the couch, an economy carton of cheddar Goldfish stationed between them. Boomer dive-bombs into Sophie’s lap as soon as I release him.
I hang back in the living room doorway with Maya, suddenly feeling like I’m under stage lights. “So. Uh. Guys, this is Maya. Maya, this is Felipe, Nolan, Drew, and you know Sophie.”
Felipe jumps up to hug Maya, which seems to both startle and please her. Nolan peers over the back of the couch, smiling. “You’re Jamie’s canvassing partner, right?”
Drew snorts and grins. “Canvassing partner.”
I ignore Drew, turning quickly to Nolan. “Yes!”
Maya eyes the Goldfish carton. “Are you guys obsessed with