I took a breath. “No…. maybe.”
“Don’t let me stop you.”
“Maybe you could go into the living room?”
“Sure. And greet Haven in a towel.” He nodded. I could see the wheels turning in his head. “What should I tell her happened?”
My expression darkened. “The truth.”
He tsked and looked up at the ceiling to think. “That’s no fun.”
“She’d believe nothing else,” I said, even though that might not be the case.
I’d been in this dare battle with David since our sophomore year. Haven and the rest of my friends became more curious about it with each passing semester. I couldn’t blame them. If one of them swore they hated a guy since middle school, but spent copious amounts of time with him, I’d be a skeptic too.
But my dare battle with David was about principle. Something my friends didn’t understand. And I couldn’t blame them because I wasn’t the best at explaining it just yet.
“Promise you’ll be quiet?” I said when my phone buzzed with a few worried texts.
“I don’t like making promises, Yara. I’ve accepted a long time ago that I am regrettably human and thus, will most likely break them.”
“David, come on. Work with me. You owe me that much,” I insisted when I grabbed my phone. I needed to take this call, especially since it was Logan. Ignoring even a text from her triggered a spiral of shame I’d spend days trying to shake off.
“Fine. I will do everything I can to speak only if necessary.” His grin didn’t sit well with me. “In case of fire or flood.”
“I think I’d smell a fire or see a flood coming.”
He shrugged. “You never know.”
“But you do know…” I let out an exasperated sigh when my phone vibrated again. “Fine. But I swear to God I’ll ruin you if you make the slightest noise. Swallow your sneezes and coughs. Sip your water without gulping. And scroll on your phone with the volume off.”
David nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
I gave him one last look before pressing the call-back button.
“Everything okay?” It required focus to ensure my voice didn’t quiver with anxiety about the answer potentially being ‘no.’
“God, I was thinking I’d have to drive up there in the morning.” Logan breathed out a sigh of relief. Some of the tightness in my back uncoiled.
“I was busy with something, sorry.” David’s gaze weighed heavily on me. My cheeks burned, so I turned to face the window.
God, I should have said, screw any misunderstanding that might have happened with Haven. Having David hear my “younger sister voice” was potentially ten times more embarrassing.
“Mom wanted to make sure you remembered we got a table at Winsor’s, so wear something nice,” Logan said. “And preferably white and flowy. She wants photos with the dogwood trees.”
“Got it.” I pulled up my calendar and added a note to the already penciled dinner with Mom and my sisters.
“Minimal jewelry, no heels. Hair done or tucked away in a nice, neutral scarf.” Logan spoke in a monotone as if she were reading off a script. Knowing our mother, it was wise to take notes on whatever she said. Mom remembered everything and didn’t have the time or patience to expect anything less from others.
“The topic of discussion?” I dared to ask.
“Governors’ Ball, of course. Which means she’s going to run through everything. And everything in your case means graduation updates. I think it’s time you told her you didn’tget that internship in DC. Or New York. Or…well, you get my point. Honesty.”
I winced. My hand went to the back of my head immediately. I picked at a few strands of hair, waiting for Logan to continue. The springs of my bed creaked. I’d nearly forgotten about David’s presence until his hand nudged my wrist. I yanked my fingers away from my hair, ashamed at being caught for the second time tonight.
“Do you think my clothes are done?” he asked at a normal volume. I muted myself, but not fast enough.
“Who’s that?” Logan asked.
