AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We stared at each other for a second before bursting into laughter. This was something we’d never done before.
“You think we should tell them?” I asked. Maybe if Millie told Jacob, he’d tell Bruno . . . or Millie could tell both of them, and I wouldn’t have to do it.
“Of course, we should! Can you imagine their reaction when they find out?”
“I think it’d be hilarious.” In a ‘ha, ha—kaboom!’ sort of way. Or it could mean I would lose him forever . . . .
“Or it could blow up in our faces,” Millie said, as if reading my mind. “They’ll be so confused.”
“But the look on their faces!” I said. No need for Millie to know I was worried. I was just the same old Lira, only wanting fun and nothing more.
“You know you’re going to have to come clean to your boyfriend now?—”
“Not my boyfriend. We are not there yet.”
She laughed. “Could have fooled me. What’s his name, anyways?”
“Bruno.”
“Oh, he’s the one I didn’t get to meet that night I was at their parents’ place for dinner. Well, you can’t pretend you’re me anymore. What are you going to do now?”
“Nothing. I’m just going to keep being you when I’m with him. I kinda like it. I think I might permanently change my personality, because being you seems to get the right response from him.”
“Lira!”
The tone of her voice hit me right in the chest, and I snapped, “Don’t be like Mom! Don’t tell me what to do!”
She gaped at me while I stomped into her room. Why did she have to be right all the time? She was a Goody Two-shoes while I was here sailing through life without an anchor. The only time I ever felt grounded was when I spent time with Bruno.
I wrapped my arms around my legs and dropped my head onto my knees. Why was my life so difficult?
Bruno
I had called Millie this morning to tell her how much I enjoyed yesterday’s meal and that I wanted to go out with her again this weekend. We had talked about how we both felt so close to each other and how we both knew there was something going on between us. She agreed to explore it more. My heart was singing as I ate my platter of pancakes at Rosey’s. I was just eating the last bite of food when Suzy stopped by.
“What do you want, Suzy?” I asked.
“I just wanted to say hi. Is that so bad?”
“Yes. Cut to the chase.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “Fine! I heard what you and Jacob were talking about at dinner last night.”
I growled. “It’s none of your business.”
“But I can help. I’ve been seeing a therapist, and she said I had to atone for my actions. I know I didn’t treat you and Millie well when you two came in to dine yesterday.”
“No, you didn’t.” Where was she going with this?
“I wanted to gift you our special drink of the day. It’s a smoothie full of veggies and fruits. Chef even put in some protein powder. If that’s not enough of an apology, I’ll throw in the omelet of the day. It has ground pork wrapped inside, and I know you boys are always hungry.”
Maybe accepting it would get her off my case? Swallowing the response I really wanted to give her, I said evenly, “Sure, that’s nice of you.”
“Great! I’ll go bring it out right now.” She nearly skipped on her way back to the kitchen.
I was relieved she was gone, but I made a note to keep my eye out for Suzy in the future. I did not want a repeat of yesterday.
My stomach hurt, and I felt weird. After finishing my meal, I wandered into the alley behind Rosey’s Diner, wanting to throw up but not being able to.
