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snapping at her, teasing her, rolling his eyes at the things she’d said. But Meg had noticed. And Meg didn’t take any crap from anybody. It was one of the things Bailey loved most about her best friend—and also the least.
    She frowned at herself for the traitorous thought. She’d first seen Meg’s courage that day back in second grade on Bring Your Dad to School Day. There were a bunch of kids in their class who didn’t have dads. Bailey didn’t, so she asked Gramps, but he had to work, and there was no way her mom’s skeevy boyfriend would show up, even if she wanted him to, so Gran came instead. Rather than being grateful, Bailey nearly threw a tantrum because she was the only kid there without a male guest. Abby had brought her uncle. Karla had brought her big brother. Marc had his mom’s boyfriend with him, and Shane, a pudgy kid with a buzz cut, had brought his grandpa, who was also chubby and had a buzz cut. Everyone without a dad had brought someone—except Megan. And she stood up there in the front of that classroom and told everyone her dad was there, even though they couldn’t see him.
    He was watching from heaven.
    Bailey thought that was the bravest thing she’d ever seen and told Megan that at recess, when she’d shared her cookies because Meg didn’t have a snack. Over the years, she’d come to rely on Meg’s courage to say what needed to be said, even when she didn’t want to hear it. But Simon wasn’t that pair of yoga pants Meg warned her not to buy. He was the love of her life, and now…he wasn’t.
    Oh, she shouldn’t have listened to Meg! She should have talked to Simon and worked things out, but it was too late. He’d never speak to her again. She’d been so sure Simon was “The One.” Guys never stuck by her for very long. Meg said it was because Bailey was too nice and that guys appreciated a little strong will once in a while.
    Bailey moaned in frustration. It wasn’t fair! She just wanted to fall in love. Was that really asking so much? To find someone who loved and adored her in an Edward-loves-Bella way, only in a less stalker-y way, someone who she could fall head over high heels into love with—love song love, movie love. Real, happily-ever-after, to-die-for love.
    She thought of Chase and moaned again. Meg had it! She had the kind of love Bailey dreamed about and wished for just a few houses away, only Meg just kept swatting at it like it was some hairy spider. If Chase ever looked at her the way he looked at Meg, she’d never, ever tell him no. He was no Simon, but Chase was strong and quiet and loyal and seriously cute, the way his brown hair dipped over his eyes. Those eyes.
    Meg had a little shrine in her room dedicated to Chase’s eyes. Sure, she never talked about it. But Bailey knew exactly what the various shades of green smeared all over Meg’s easel meant. She had it bad for Chase but would rather paint those gorgeous green eyes instead of stare into the real thing. Meg was all about “The Future,” and unless Chase Gallagher came with a Satisfaction Guaranteed! promise, there was no room for him in those plans.
    The future , she snorted. The future was years and years away! Who cared about that stuff when they were seventeen? She pressed her lips together and sighed at her jeans. They were hopelessly stained. Gran would know some laundry trick that would work. Maybe she should call Gran and pretend she was way more upset than she really was just to get out of spending the rest of the afternoon in these jeans. That was as far into the future as Bailey ever dared to look. She much preferred the present.
    Bailey’s lips twitched. If Chase were part of her present, what would Meg think? If Chase liked her , would Meg mind? Would she even notice? Meg would never admit it, never talk about it, but she had a competitive streak in her as wide as Simon’s