I search my brain for something she’d like. Okay, I’ll tell you something, but you cannot ever mention it to anyone.
She claps her gloved hands together. Oooh, this sounds good. What is it?
I hold out my pinkie. Promise first.
She links our fingers. I promise. Although you know I suck at secret keeping, right?
In that case, forget it, I reply sternly.
Noooo. I can do it. For you, I can do anything. She scrunches her face like a little girl, and I grin.
Please? she begs.
Fine. What do you think Roy is short for?
Roy? It’s not just Roy? Oh, wait, is it Leroy? Hey, Leeeeroy. She starts giggling uncontrollably, so I wait until she’s done.
Still, I can’t keep the disgust out of my voice. It’s short for Royal.
What? That’s crazy. Although you are kind of a Prince Charming.
It’s my mother. She has delusions of grandeur. Maybe she figured it would help me marry a princess or something.
Cleo squeals. Oh, I have good news for you, then.
You’re secretly a princess?
Even better. A fucking queen. Because my name is short for Cleopatra.
I squint at her. Are you serious?
She grits her teeth and nods, then we both collapse into laughter.
Whose idea was Cleopatra? Someone into ancient history?
My father, of course. He’s a big romantic. And a dreamer, she confesses. I think that’s why my mother eventually got fed up.
I finally shift the car into drive and take off.
With our names, maybe we were meant for each other, Cleo muses.
15
BECKS’S REVENGE
CLEO
I THINK I’M GOING OUT WITH MATS, I CONFESS TO BECKS IN THE SANCTITY OF HER BEDROOM.
You think? Like in your dreams? she scoffs.
We’re not putting a name on what’s happening. But it’s not like anything I’ve ever done before. I stretch out on her beanbag chair. Becks has the bedroom of a twelve-year-old boy, yet it’s still better-decorated than mine.
She stops pretending to do homework and flops onto her bed. Spill.
Well, we’re both really busy, but we try to see each other every day. So, we meet up for a coffee or eat our lunches together. Sometimes we just walk around.
I like walking with Mats, not just for the privacy, but because we both like being active outdoors. I’d like to work out with him, but he prefers to work out with his teammates—in their dedicated gym.
