Page 71 of Don’t Be A Stranger

Your father and I have given our lives up for you and your siblings.

You don’t appreciate anything we do for you.

I don’t try but I often find my parents’ words seeping into the life I’ve been trying to create for myself.

You take and take—never contributing anything good.

The irony of me loving art and not being able to see color falls quite in line with me being in love with the most perfect person in the world—and not being able to come close to what she needs.

It’s sickening.

“I think you should give it a try.” Summer nods her head, determination taking over her features. “You don’t even have to tell me about it.”

“Why wouldn’t I tell you?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. If that’s something you want to keep a secret between us, then I’d say keep it. But just this once.” She turns away, something else catching her attention.

Just this one secret?

I think we’re stacking those up, Pretty Girl.

Twenty-Four

Summer

“You’re staying?” I shriek and Bethany quickly slaps my arm while frantically looking around to make sure that no one else at the party heard me.

Moose, especially.

Bethany shushes me. “I’ve been thinking about it. I mean, I’m going to be out there anyway so what if I just stayed for a little while?”

I try not to dissuade her from staying in Japan. I know she’s leaving in six days, but she was supposed to be back within a week. Right before school started. Bethany was just meant to visit some family she hasn’t seen in forever but now she’s planning on staying.

“You only have one year of school left, Beth. Are you sure?” I shouldn’t be the voice of reason right now. I should be helping her pack her bags and telling her to go on her adventure.

“Look.” Bethany scoots closer to the edge of the lawn chair she’s sitting in and leans into me. “I know it sounds ridiculous, okay. But ever since Milo died, it’s just been…hard. I love it here but something just keeps pulling me toward Japan.”

I get that and I might be a little selfish, but who am I going to talk to at the country club? Sure, I have Hazel, but she’s one of my bosses. It’s not the same thing as Bethany and I fighting to keep a straight face for the entirety of our shift.

I lean back in my own seat, unable to help the sigh that escapes. “When are you going to tell him?”

Bethany looks like she’s on the verge of crying and I feel really bad for even bringing up her trip in the first place. This isn’t how this party is supposed to be going.

Bethany shakes her head. “Tomorrow. And I know I should’ve told him by now, but I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?” My eyes narrow and I’m ready to go all mother bear.

“Moose and I haven’t been dating for that long,” Bethany explains. “And I know everyone thinks that we’re moving fast. Sometimes I’m even aware of how quickly we’re moving, and I just don’t know if our relationship can survive long-distance.”

I kind of just picture Moose packing up his things and going with Bethany. Maybe she can read this on my face because she shakes her head.

“I’m not asking him to come with me. In fact, I’m going to beg him not to.” Bethany chews on her bottom lip. “He thrives here. Moose has his friends and hockey and he wants to graduate. I’m not going to ask him to give that up. He wants to stay and I want to go.”

“If anyone can do it, Beth. It’s you guys.” I feel the need to promise her something I can’t even be sure of, but at this moment it feels right. “I think it’ll be shitty sometimes, sure, but I think you two will make it.”

Bethany lights up like I’ve just made her whole day and this very thing is what kept her from telling Moose in the first place.

“I’ll tell him tomorrow,” she says with newfound determination.