“Yes,” Rani says. “Exactly like that.”
“You know George, who came to the party?” Megan says. “He asked me to go to prom with him, man. And prom ain’t even until next May.”
“To be fair to George, you are a catch,” Rani says.
“Are you going to say yes?” I ask Megan.
“Nah, don’t think so,” Megan replies. “I mean like, you know, it’s not for ages anyway and in any case I’d rather just hang with my girls and have a laugh.”
“Girl power!” Rani says, raising a fist.
“You’re too young to be so nineties,” Megan says with a chuckle.
“But you’re right though, Megan,” I say. “Boys just get in your head. You don’t need that. How are you going to make groundbreaking art or invent cutting-edge technology if all you can think about is a boy?”
Megan and Rani each give me a long, curious look.
“Apparently,” I add.
“Anyway, I saw Jess this morning,” Rani says. “We watched your video, giving marital advice to the newlyweds like seventeen times, and it is the funniest thing I have ever seen.”
“It’s hilarious,” Megan chuckles, grinning at me. “You are hilarious.What is love? Is it a dream?”
“I did not say that. Please tell me I didn’t say that,” I plead. “Anyway, how did you see it, Megan?” I ask.
“TikTok,” Megan and Artie say together. I drop my face into my hands. I don’t have regrets about the champagne, or even the stupid things I said out loud; if I regretted all the times that happened, I’d never open my mouth again. It’s more that until now I’d never really cared what anyone thought of me, outside of Rani. Maybe Forrest saw the video. Maybe that’s what he meant bySee you later. And no, I don’t know what I mean, either. I’m extremely sleep deprived.
“There’s Dad!” Megan stands up, waving, as the front half of an articulated lorry, minus its load, rattles up the drive. It creaks to a halt in front of the steps.
“Cool truck,” Artie says. “Can I drive it?”
“All right, pet.” Megan’s dad gets out. “Been living the high life, have you? Won’t know yourself, will ya. Be all lahdy-dah and that.”
“Yeah, I want caviar on my chips!” Megan says, flinging her arms around her dad and hugging him. “Not really. Would kill for a frozen pizza. Well, bye, Ava.” Megan gives me a hug. “Bye, Rani, and thanks again for the dress.”
“Anytime, kid, and you know where to come if you need a job after school,” Rani tells her, to Megan’s delight.
“Or in STEM,” I reply. “I’ve always got a lab coat for you, Megan.”
“Right.” Megan gives me a thumbs-up and then looks past me to the open door. “I thought Forrest might come and say hi to Dad.”
“Daddy’s very tired,” Artie says. “It’s because of the ghost and the fairies.”
“Here I am!” Forrest calls as he trots down the steps barefoot, in jeans and a T-shirt. He doesn’t look at me as he walks straight to Megan and her dad. What does it mean that he didn’t look at me? What does he mean bySee you later?
“So, you’re the feller that got her into her English and her art, then?” Megan’s dad says. “Cheers, mate, she’s really enjoyed herself.”
“I mean it was okay,” Megan says, rolling her eyes.
“She’s a bright kid,” Forrest says. “She deserves the best.”
Megan hugs Forrest and then climbs into the truck, waving at us through the open window as her dad pulls away.
“Funny how you never can know when you’ll meet someone who will make you see everything differently,” Forrest says, giving a final wave as the truck rolls out between the gates. “Right, come on, Artie. It’s Sunday. Want to go swimming?”
“I do!” Artie screeches. “Rani and Ava too?”
“Oh, I’ve got some more prep to do before tomorrow’s big finales,” I say, trying to be all casual and offhand and that it’s no big deal to me that I had sex or anything.
