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“When do you go out? Do you have any girlfriends?” Nina said.
“I go out. To the movies and Do Si Do all the time.” She ignored the question about girlfriends. “I also drove to the vegan baking exhibition with Mom and Dad six months ago,” she lied.
Her father had gone for tests and ended up having surgery, but he had wanted no one to know. He said if people talked about it the universe would accept his cancer, so they’d kept it quiet.
“With your mom and dad,” Cill drawled. “Hardly an adventure, Birdie.”
“I like my life,” Birdie said. She did, really. It was boring, but for now, it had to be.
“You sure about that?” Nina asked. “We’ve asked you out, and you’ve never come. I thought it was me—”
“No!” Birdie shook her head. “I like you both. J.D. too. I just…” The words fell away. “I’m a homebody,” she added lamely.And saving my money.She was also a coward, because she could go out and have a soda that wouldn’t break the bank.
“Yeah, well, you’re not getting any younger. It’s good you and Sawyer are going to the wedding. He’s not who I would have picked for you, but if he’s making you break out of your shell, I support the match,” Cill said.
“It’s not a match. He’d had enough of everyone asking him who his plus one was, so I offered.”
Birdie was starting to sweat. This conversation was uncomfortable. It was never nice to have your faults slap you in the face. When had she stopped living? When had she started lying to the people she cared about?
She knew the answer to the first questions. After Steve dumped her, she’d lost even more confidence, and now she used her father’s debt to tell herself she couldn’t go out and live the life she should be.
A thud was followed by a loud meow.
“Woodrow, we’re in here,” Birdie called, eager to change the conversation.
Her big, fluffy ginger cat padded into the room.
“Holy cow, that’s a big cat,” Cill said.
“He’s a Maine Coon,” Birdie said. “Hey, buddy.” She bent to pick him up.
“He’s the size of a small dog,” Nina said, stroking Woodrow’s head.
“His nature is like a dog.”
The cat started purring loudly.
“Okay, so we’ve talked at you enough about getting moving. Me and Nina are going to be making sure that happens when you return from Ryker Falls and mixing with all those really hot guys,” Cill said. “It’s time, Birdie. We just didn’t realize that until your mom told us why. Steve the shithead is not worth giving up on living.”
“I didn’t realize I was until now,” Birdie said. “And I’m not unhappy with my life, just so we’re clear.”
“But you’re not happy with it either,” Nina said. “But enough on that for now. Let’s talk about clothes,” Nina said.
“I have things I can wear. I do.” Cill and Nina looked doubtful.
“Okay, let’s see what you think you’re going to wear,” Cill said. “Go, put on your outfit.”
Birdie didn’t move.
“Now.” Nina waved her hands. “Give me that cat. We have to be friends because I already love him, so I need him to reciprocate.”
Birdie handed over Woodrow, who was happy being in anyone’s lap. She then went to her room and stripped off her clothes. Throwing them onto the bed covered in the patchwork quilt her mother had made, she opened her wardrobe.
Birdie pulled out a purple velvet skirt her mother had given her that stopped midcalf. She then buttoned herself into the only white shirt she had that Nina had said was too big.
Studying her reflection, she thought it didn’t look too bad. With a necklace and some heels, it could work. She didn’t have heels, but maybe she could get some tomorrow? Or wear her boots?
“Let’s see then,” Cill called.
