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But our relationship is still a secret, as of now at least. It’s relatively new, so the secrecy doesn’t bother me, but it does mean that we don’t go out much. Instead, our dates are all at his house, but I don’t mind. I love spending time with my man, even if I haven’t seen that much of my friends lately.
But today, I’m finally catching up with my good friend Susie. She knows me all too well and has been suspicious as of late. After all, I’ve been floating on Cloud Nine and I have no reason for it. Hell, if anything, the stress of applying to college, not to mention standardized tests and whatnot, should have me pulling out my hair, but instead, I’ve been enviably calm.
At the moment, we’re sprawled out on my bed listening to the radio and chatting about everything that’s been going on at school. Susie’s relaying a scandalous incident that happened with her crush. It has something to do with him fingering her in the women’s restroom at school, but I can’t focus. I’ve been kind of zoning out for the past few minutes thinking about my upcoming date with Morgan, and while I’m excited for her, a quick fingering session in the restroom doesn’t even compare to what Morgan does to me in bed.
“You’re not even listening to me, are you?” Susie pouts, interrupting my daydreams.
“I’m sorry girl,” I apologize immediately. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me.” Susie merely gives me a knowing look.
“Uh-huh, right. You’ve been doing that a lot lately, lady. And not only that, but you’re always smiling and giggling to yourself. So what’s the big secret?” she asks.
When I smile but don’t answer, she pretends to look shocked and smacks me playfully with a pillow.
“Come on, out with it,” Susie coaxes. “I know you’re up to no good.”
“Maybe I have a secret boyfriend,” I tease playfully. “Someone that you know, even.”
But instead of being overcome by my good fortune, Susie leans forward and her eyes are wide in disbelief.
“Natalie Sherwood, are you shitting me? Are you saying that the rumors are actually true? Ugh, isn’t he kind of … old?”
I’m shocked. Wait a minute, does everyone know about me and Morgan already? I thought we were being discreet, but maybe the entire town’s already guessed.
“He’s not that old,” I say after a stunned pause. “I mean, he’s older yes, but it’s not like he’s got one foot in the grave or anything.”
Susie shakes her head, her brown curls bouncing.
“No, but he does, right? With that recent heart attack and everything?”
I stare at her.
“What heart attack? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Susie lets out a long exhale and fixes me with a look.
“Nat, everyone says that you’re dating Fred Walsh. You know, that super old guy that you read to who lives in the mansion on the edge of town? That dude?”
I start laughing in disbelief. “OMG, are you serious? Mr. Walsh? He’s practically eighty! Ugh, that’s so gross!” I can’t believe that my best friend, the person who knows me better than anyone else, actually believes such a ridiculous rumor.
But Susie doesn’t think it’s funny at all. She leans forward and grabs my hand before looking me dead in the eyes. “I’m serious Nat. Everyone has seen you walking around town with stars in your eyes and blushing for no reason. You’re always super giddy now, and just the other day you were holding a huge bouquet and practically skipping down the street! Trust me, people saw and everyone knows you’ve been spending a lot of time with Fred Walsh. It’s the logical conclusion.”
I wrinkle my nose.
“No, it’s not! I’m just reading to him through that program at school.”
But Susie fixes me with a look.
“So there’s nothing else going on? Who were the flowers from then?”
I stop dead in my tracks and stare at my buddy with indignation.
“Seriously? A few flowers and now everyone thinks I’m sleeping with a guy that’s older than my grandfather? Those flowers could be from anyone! Heck, maybe I bought them for myself! Why in the world would anyone just assume?”
I’m starting to get angry now that I realize people have been gossiping about me and Fred. I don’t deserve this, and Fred Walsh definitely doesn’t deserve this. I whirl around to confront Susie.
“I’m definitely not seeing Mr. Walsh, okay? That’s just disgusting, full stop, because he’s almost eighty and I’m eighteen, which would mean we’re sixty years apart in age. Ew!” I’m getting physically ill from the thought as nausea churns in my stomach.
Susie shrugs.
“I hear you girlfriend, and honestly, I didn’t believe the chatter. But I’m just telling you what’s being said around town. You’ve got to admit that there’s a possibility, even if it’s improbable, Nat. He’s super rich and you’ve been going to his house multiple times a week for months now. Maybe he’s your sugar daddy or something?”
