David: Come over after! We’re all staying at Griffin’s tonight
David:Pleeeease :(
I don’t have time to think of a clever comeback before my phone dings again. It’s still Griffin Hart, but this time it’s outside of the group text.
Griffin: Come hang out, please
Griffin: I’ll even kick them out if they get on your nerves
Griffin: It would be fun to hang without Señor Flores in the room
The way my stomach swoops is foreign, and it must show on my face, because Abby jumps like a shark who caught a whiff of blood in the water. “Who was that from? The boys? Or maybe one boy in particular?”
The thing about being friends with someone for thirteen years is that they canalwaystell how you’re feeling–sometimes before you know it yourself. I’ve been avoiding any sort of critical thinking when it comes to my budding friendship with Griffin, and I can tell Abby is starting to do it for me.
“Yes, it was from the boys,” I admit begrudgingly. “They want me to come hang out, but I toldthem I was with you.”
“Okay and I have to go babysit the gremlin in 20 minutes, what does one have to do with the other?”
“I don’t know,” I say, biting my bottom lip. “I’ve only ever been around them at school, what if it’s weird outside of that?”
“It’s going to be weird no matter what because you’re there,” she deadpans.
Abby and Jack would get along great.
I keep the thought to myself, but make sure to roll my eyes out loud.
“I’m just saying, I think you should go.” Her expression turning serious, she continues on, “You’ve seemed lighter lately. You’ve been my best friend my whole life, and I know you better than anyone. Certainly well enough to notice that your sunshine has dimmed a little these last few years, my love.”
Voice dropping low, she continues, “I get that you want to see the world outside of Larkspur… I just think it’s good that you’re letting some roots grow here, even if you plan on leaving.”
Abby is one of those girls adults call “wise beyond her years”—which usually just means she was a quiet kid who grew up too fast, carrying the weight of being the only-turned-eldest daughter in a single-parent home. It also means that she’s usually right.
My mom honks at us from the parking lot, and I realize I missed a text from her while I was lost in my thoughts. Abby and I quickly scarf down the rest of our food, and I shoot off a text before we walk out the diner doors.
Ellie: Fine, twist my arm.
Ellie:We’re dropping Abby off at her house, then I’ll ask my mom to bring me over.
Jack: Thank God.
Griffin: YESSSSS
David: Tell Susan I said hi ;)
David:And that she looked ravishing in the pick up line today
Ellie: Gross, David. See y’all soon.
On the drive over, I purposefully choosenotto think about why I responded to the group chat, but left Griffin’s texts unanswered. I guess that’s an answer on its own.
Chapter 6
Griffin
March, Age 15
Istare at my phone waiting for another text from Eleanor to come through, but it never does. Maybe she didn’t feel like she needed to text me back because she told the group she was on her way.
