“You like him?” I think it was Kat’s question.
“I do.” I shrug. “Or I did. But I know he’s out of my league.”
“Oh,” Susanna coos. “That’s not true. You have such a pretty face.”
Now, here’s the thing. I know she means that as a compliment, but it’s not. Sure, she said I had a pretty face, but what I heard was “It’s too bad the rest of you is hideous.”
“Thanks.” Looking over at Susanna, I tell her, “I’ve got Bryant’s number if you want to give it to her.”
“Oh, um, sure.” She smiles weakly.
“Also, I really like you guys. I’ve enjoyed hanging out with you at Cy’s and here, but if you go out and Kara’s going to be there, please let me know so I can bow out gracefully.”
“Not over a guy.” Robbi sounds indignant. “Hoes before bros, Quinn.”
Shaking my head, I say, “She’s not nice. To me, anyway. I don’t need that in my life.” I had to deal with that enough with my family and the bullies in middle and high school. I’m not doing that again.
Patsy nods. “Sure. We’ll tell you if she’s going out with us.”
“But…,” Susanna starts but then hesitates.
I arch my brow, waiting for it. I know what’s coming. Susanna is going to tell me, “Kara’s not so bad.”
“Kara means well.”
Close enough.
Susanna feels compelled to continue, I guess. “She had a rough childhood.”
I stand in silence, waiting for Kara’s sob story. No matter what it is, there’s nothing so terrible that should make her into such a vile human being.
“Her sister died when she was a baby.”
“Sorry to hear that.” I really am. “It’s sad.”
Robbi scoffs, “It’s still no excuse for being the world’s biggest bitch.”
“Robbi…” Susanna whispers.
“Welp,” I say with my happiest voice, “I’m going to make some ramen, and then I’ve got studying to do.”
“You know….”
Holy shit. Is today going to be the world’s biggest fucking cliché day or what? When it rains, it pours, as they say. I look over at Patsy. “Yes. I know ramen is bad for me. If I didn’t eat it, I’d probably lose weight.”
Patsy nods.
Shrugging, I say, “But, it’s cheap and I’m broke, so that’s just the way it is.”
“I could help you.”
I’m doing my utmost tonotroll my eyes hard. I smile instead. “Yeah?”
“You could start running with me.”
She’s right. I could. I could also win the Nobel Prize in math.Definitely not.“I’d have to walk. I’m going to start working out at the rec center as soon as I save up enough money for the membership.” Save up? How am I going to do that? I don’t have a job.
“Good.” She smiles. “I just care—”
