If I'm Being Honest(93)

Guardedly, Owen turns over his notebook. “What are you doing?” he asks protectively when I open the cover.

I jot down my phone number. “Call me if you want any character insight for your play,” I say, handing back his notebook. “I had my own ill-advised self-taming project this year.”

I expect him to laugh it off or politely decline. Instead, his eyes brighten. “Really?” he asks intently.

“Yeah,” I say. The lights flicker, indicating the performance is about to begin.

“I definitely will,” he says and heads for the doors on the right.

I enter the theater through the center doors. I hope Owen does call me, I find myself thinking. I’d like the chance to talk to him and this Megan.

I see Brendan’s head poking up in the middle of his row, inches taller than the rest. I edge down the row into the empty seat next to him. His gaze remains sternly on Paige and Andrew sitting in front of us.

“He better not just be with her because she’s blonde now,” Brendan grumbles. I laugh. “This isn’t a joke, Cameron.” He turns to me, exasperated. “He has demonstrated a penchant for blondes.”

I school my features into sympathy, forcing down a laugh over how he’s Not Handling This Well. “He genuinely likes her,” I tell him.

“I don’t trust him,” Brendan replies resolutely.

I can’t contain the laugh any longer, earning a scowl from Brendan. “Being blonde has nothing to do with it,” I say patiently. “Think of us. We ended up together even though you told me blondes weren’t your type.”

He rounds on me incredulously. “You believed me?”

“Of course not,” I say easily. “I just wanted you to admit it.”

Brendan throws me a look, sweetly annoyed. “Very helpful.”

I reach over and with two fingers tilt his chin to face me. “You’re not just with me because I’m a blonde, right?” I ask, teasingly threatening.

The annoyance fades entirely from Brendan’s expression. “No. Well, I won’t lie, I might have spent a few freshman nights fantasizing about you because of it.” I shove his shoulder, and he catches my hand to his chest. “It’s not why I love you.”

The lights dim. I lean into him and whisper, “Why do you love me, then?”

Brendan tips his head, pressing his forehead to mine. “Because you’re smart and funny, understanding and opinionated, kind and bossy. You’re a thousand things that make up Cameron Bright. You could never be just a type.”

I grin, incalculably grateful to be nestled into this boy who says perfect things. “Exactly. And if Andrew doesn’t recognize the thousand things that make Paige worth loving, I’ll personally ensure he regrets it.”

Brendan finally returns my grin. “Let’s add ‘a little scary’ to your list of wonderful attributes.”

I shrug. “Good thing you love me for it, because there are some things I’ll never change.”

“Better not.”

He kisses me as the curtain rises.





Acknowledgments



THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR WORDS PUBLISHED is a gift that—if we’re being honest—never loses its wonder. We’re grateful to everyone whose talent, encouragement, and friendship have brought us here.

First and foremost, thank you to our readers. We would not have this opportunity without you, and we express our gratitude with every word we write.

To our agent, Katie Shea Boutillier, thank you for continuing to champion the characters and narratives we want to write with precise guidance and endless enthusiasm. We’d be nowhere without you. To Dana Leydig, our editor, thank you for bringing this book to life with us from the beginning (even when the job called for dissing English class and Shakespeare . . .), and for inspiring us with your thoughtful, careful commentary. Oh, and for comparing Brendan to various teen movie and Broadway musical characters, which was the best.

Thank you to the Penguin Young Readers team for giving this book the perfect home. In particular, we’re grateful to Katie Quinn and Tessa Meischeid for wonderful, innovative publicity helping this book find its way into readers’ hands, and to Kristie Radwilowicz for our favorite cover art ever; and to Krista Ahlberg, Marinda Valenti, Janet Pascal, and Abigail Powers for thoughtful and diligent copyedits. To Kara Brammer, Caitlin Whalen, Felicity Vallence, and Friya Bankwalla, thank you for promoting our work and being wonderful humans.

Thank you to our friends in the writing community—Alexa, Bree, Bridget, Britta, Dana, Demetra, Farrah, Lisa, Mae, Marie, Maura, and Zach, we’ve loved celebrating and collaborating and commiserating with you amid karaoke, festivals, and Koreatown coffee dates. We’re very grateful to the authors we’ve admired who have generously provided perspective on publishing and everything else—Julie Buxbaum, Sarah Enni, Morgan Matson, Kayla Olson, Romina Russell, Robyn Schneider, thank you for everything!

Thank you to the friends who encouraged us in the days when publishing was just a dream of ours, and who have continued to celebrate the ups and be there for the downs of our writing process. We love you.

To William Shakespeare, thank you for inspiration and for taking a beating in this book with grace.

Finally, to our families, thank you for valuing creativity and writing, for encouraging us to chase this dream, and for every fortifying word and excited text message that’s come with this book. We owe you everything.