Chapter20:

“Are you okay? You’re really distracted and haven’t heard a word I have said for the last ten minutes.” Elisa brings me back to earth with a bump. “What?” I blink at her, pulling my thoughts back to the present, and gaze around, confused that I must have zoned out. The sun is beating down on us in this bare, deserted patch of surf and sand. We’re having a very rare day of fun and downtime at the beach, and my head was a million miles away. “Earth calling Koala….. you have been like a zombie all morning.” “I’m sorry, it’s just….” Just what? That since yesterday, I have been fixated on my stupid brother and churning over every moment and interaction we have had all year to examine them and see if I do, in fact, have a crush on him. Picking apart my reactions to him and replaying yesterday like a stuck record. It’s totally screwing with my head. “Just…” Elisa tries to coax the end of my sentence out of me. Staring at me with puppy dog eyes and the sweetest expression, I crumple and bury m