“You said ‘secret love child’!” she cried. “How could I avoid laughing?”
“Okay. Fine.” My lips twitched, but I didn’t back down. “Do you think it’s possible?”
“Sweetie. No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. If it makes you feel better, I’m a carrier for Gaucher because of O’pa.”
I’d never been so glad for Ashkenazi genetic mutations in my life. I let out a huge sigh of relief. “Phew.”
She leaned closer to the screen. “Does this mean you like Noah?”
“Mom!”
“Okay! Forget I asked.” Her lips wobbled, and then her mouth broke into a smile and more laughter poured out. “I can’t believe you thought I was a millionaire’s secret love child.”
I spent a moment in fake indignation, but then I joined her.
Phew.
The next night, two hours into watching Vikings try to take over England,my phone buzzed. A call, not a text. I glanced down, expecting it to be Niko or one of the other girls from home.
Instead, it was Noah.
I picked up immediately. “Hello?”
“Hi.” He sounded tired. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing really. You?”
“Not much.”
He didn’t add anything. I stared at my reflection in the window, my face overlaid on the darkening night. Ellie Mae curled against my side on the bed, her golden fur shimmering in the lamplight as my fingers cleaved a path through her fur. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” An odd note tinged his voice.
I waited him out.
Noah sighed into the phone. “My dad and I got into a fight.”
“What happened?”
“It doesn’t matter. He fought with Grandpa, it trickled down to me... Are you free? Do you want to... hang out?”
“Yes. Of course. Where should we meet?” I looked down at my pajama shorts, considering. I felt like I was on a precipice, daring and scared and about to force myself to jump. “Actually... Jane and Mrs. Henderson are out for the evening if you want to come over?”
I held my breath.
“Are you sure? Yeah, I’d like to.”
Exultation rushed through me. “Of course.”
It took twenty minutes for Noah to arrive, and I spent every last one of them cleaning. Why? Did I think Noah would turn around and leave if the drain stopper and faucet in my bathroom sink weren’t polished? Would he deride me if my pillows weren’t plumped? Why was I so nervous?
Because I was so, so nervous.
My phone buzzed.Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your long hair.
