She has a boyfriend. Bring me a Diet Coke!
Noah
What is for dinner tonight? If it’s salmon again, I want fries too.
Beck
Whatever it is, it’ll be saltless and tasteless.
Van
It’ll be healthy and full of good fats which are vital for Dad’s heart.
I click out of the group text and pull up my best friend’s name.
Me
Beck is asking for your number again. I told him you have a boyfriend, so if anyone asks…you’re unavailable.
I grab my keys and head out the door, my phone still in hand. Quinn messages back immediately.
Quinn
Is my invisible boyfriend at least decent looking?
I snort.
Me
Obviously.
Another text from the group chat pops up as I go to close my phone.
Noah
Bring me fries just in case.
It’s a short drive to my parents’ house. They live ten minutes away, but the difference in our neighborhoods is unmistakable. Where their house sits high atop a luscious green golf course, the neighborhood hidden behind fancy gates and a security guard, mine has windows that allow the Las Vegas dust to slip through and neighbors that fight every single day only to make up each night.
I know that because of thinwindows and walls.
My phone connects with my car’s Bluetooth as I make a right turn. The womanly robot voice cuts through the click of my blinker to say, “Van, in the group chat titled ‘Four Bros and a Mistake dash Tessa’ says, do not bring fries or a Diet Coke.”
My jaw drops in disbelief.
“Would you like to reply?” my car asks.
I grip the steering wheel tightly. “Yes!”
“What would you like to say?”
“Which one of you changed the group chat name again? Jerks!”
After my car repeats my text, I saysendand work on unfurrowing my brow during the drive.
My bet is Beck.
He may be older than me, but he’s the most immature of us all. Not to mention, he’s been calling me a mistakefor as long as I can remember.
