“She’s so precious, yes, she is,” Mom says. “How could you not want to live nearby so you can see her all the time?”
There’s a loud clatter as my spoon slaps the table, and Mom startles. I shove my chair back and leave my half-finished bowl where it sits. I walk out the back door in my sweatpants, oversized T-shirt, only stopping to step into some Nike slides first.
“Lily,” Mom calls, but I ignore it.
I didn’t think to grab my car keys when I stormed out, and I refuse to go back inside for them, so I cut through familiar backyards till I find myself outside the Greene family lake house.
From what I hear, Casey is the only one who still uses the house, and I know she’s not here, so I find the place blissfully empty. The screened-in porch isunlocked, and I see myself inside, and sag into a lounge chair, and soak in the peaceful silence.
It’s not even five minutes when my phone vibrates. I’m expecting it to be a text from my mom, and I’m grateful to see it’s not.
Casey:
What’s wrong?
I frown. Is this girl psychic?
Lily:
Nothing?
Casey:
I roll my eyes and set my phone down, not going to respond. Only, a moment later, Casey FaceTimes me. I debate ignoring it, but I know her well enough to know she’ll keep calling until I answer.
“Hey,” I say.
“Don’t lie to me, Liliana Marie Lewis.”
“Gah, what the fuck? Don’t full name me.”
“Emily texted last night that she was annoyed you skipped game night,” Casey steamrolls on through. “I assumed you bailed to hang out with Harlow, but then she told me this funny story that included Harlow, which—strange. So then I thought you were busy with your niece, but now you’re hanging out on my porch before eight in the morning in your pajamas, looking all unkempt and pitiful, so something’s up. Do not lie to me.”
“How the—?” I glance up and spot a security camera. I groan. “Fuck.”
“Yep, but don’t worry,” Casey says. “I’m the only onewho gets the alerts for the cameras. So, what’s going on? Did something happen with Harlow?”
“Things aren’t going to work out,” I confess.
Casey pauses and repositions the phone as she sits down on her sofa. Her tawny blonde hair falls in waves around her shoulders. She has her makeup on and is dressed for the day in a cute long-sleeve because, of course, her morning ass is.
Voice softer, she says, “Ah shit. I’m sorry, Lily.”
“It’s fine,” I lie.
“What happened?”
“We live on opposite sides of the country, Case. Things aren’t going to work out. We need to stop pretending they will.”
“That’s such bullshit.”
“Excuse me?” Heat flares across my skin.
“You both knew you lived in different states—and how important your respective careers are—when you first met, long before you got together.”
“Yeah, I know! That’s the whole point. I thought we were on the same page, but obviously things changed for her. She wants me to move back to Michigan.”
“Did she say that?” Casey asks skeptically.
