“You’re right,” she replied softly. “I think I keep trying to get back to the Bonnie I used to be, and too much has changed.”
“You should try being the Bonnie you are now,” I said, squeezing her fingers. “I think she’s pretty great.”
Her cheeks went a little pink, but she didn’t argue. “We can be as public as you want to be. I’m not trying to pressure you or—or make you my boyfriend or something. I’m fine with casual. But we can be done with hiding. If you want.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “I’d like that.”
I’d never been with someone long enough to have an argument, much less reach a resolution to one. There was something to be said for honesty and communication. I was glad Bonnie hadn’t just given up on me and moved on. Grateful that she’d given me the chance to apologize for my shitty behavior.
“And I like basic factory settings,” I said earnestly. “We should panda mode together sometime.”
She grinned over at me.
“Or does that break the rules?” I asked. “Do you need to be alone to recharge? Would that still fill your bucket?”
Bonnie pressed her lips together like she was trying not to laugh. Then she confessed, “I really want to make a joke about youfilling my bucket.”
I burst out laughing.
She smiled and assured me, “But we can do panda mode together whenever you want.”
“Yeah?”
“Sure.” She nodded. “Do you have gray sweatpants?”
“Is that required?”
Her brown eyes sparkled. “No, just encouraged.”
“I know it’s late and you have work in the morning, but do you want to come in? I haven’t had dinner yet. Thought we could heat up a midnight snack. I have samosas.”
“Those are my favorites.”
I stood and pulled her with me.
Fighting my own laughter, I replied, “Yeah. I know.”
fourteen
BONNIE
“Bonnie, can you check the pantry for more corn syrup?”
“Sure thing,” I called to my mom, already making my way across the kitchen.
My family was gathered at my uncle William and aunt Maggie’s farmhouse for our annual Halloween celebration. It was Friday, and the holiday was tomorrow. There would be trick-or-treating on Main Street, where Grandpappy’s had a booth along with many other local businesses. But today was for family.
This was one of my favorite get-togethers. Every year, we prepped popcorn balls for the trick-or-treaters and drank apple cider. There was also a slew of Halloween-themed appetizers that everyone contributed, potluck-style. The central kitchen island contained the spread, and we generally grazed like farm animals throughout the evening.
Brady, Becca, and I were helping my mom and aunt with the popcorn balls while Mac and Will nibbled on mummy-wrapped pigs in a blanket, ghost roast beef sammies with melted mozzarella cheese, and a variety of other tasty apps.
Larry emerged from the living room, where my dad and uncle were watching a football game. Her girlfriend followed a moment later.
My cousin had come out to the family a couple of months ago. She’d nervously announced that she was bisexual at a family dinner and followed that up with the news that she was dating a photographer from Greenville. We’d been pretty stunned but ultimately supportive. It had been a long time since Larry had brought anyone around, and we were excited to see her happy.
She and her girlfriend, Corie, made their way to the slow cooker in the corner of the kitchen and refilled their cups with spiced apple cider.
“I’ve never had a popcorn ball,” Corie said as she observed the assembly-line process we had going on.
