“I just asked you if you want to go out with me, Harrison, and his friend next Friday. Laney and Brad might join us too.”
“Um.” I ball up my sandwich wrapper.
“Rae, I don’t think Angie wants—” Laney starts.
“Sure, I’ll go.”
Laney raises one of her black eyebrows. “Why?”
“Because it’s never gonna happen with him.” I tip my head toward the track so I don’t have to utter his name.
“Why not?” Laney asks.
“Because…” I squeeze my water bottle, and the plastic crinkles. “It’s complicated.”
“I don’t get it,” she says.
I bite my lower lip. “Like I said, it’s complicated.”
Laney narrows her blue eyes. “You like him; he likes you. Seems pretty simple to me.”
“But it’s not, okay? It’s not simple.” I say this too harshly, but I can’t discuss Ten with them. It’s not like I can tell Laney and Rae whose son he is.
Laney presses her lips together and stands, balling up her napkin and sandwich wrapper.
“Laney—” Rae starts.
“I promised Brad I’d call him.” She heads down the metal stairs, heeled boots clunking.
For a while, Rae doesn’t say anything. She lets me wallow.
“I should apologize,” I say.
Rae still doesn’t say anything. Just studies her shoelaces, which are plain and white—really nothing to look at.
I drink some water, then cap the bottle.
Rae finally lifts her gaze from her laces. “You’ll tell me at some point, right?”
“Yeah.” Once Ten leaves Reedwood, I’ll tell her. I probably shouldn’t, but it’s Rae. Rae can keep secrets. “I really wish I could tell you now.”
She pats my hand. “I know, hon. I know.” And then she drowns out my inside voice with talk of Harrison’s friend.
I’m not real excited for this date, but if it can help get my mind off the boy who’s leaving soon, I’m game.
B-Side Nev
26
Nevada in Nashville
The following day, I try to find Laney to apologize, but she’s out sick with a stomach flu, so my apology has to wait until Friday. But she’s still not in school on Friday, and Ten isn’t either, but I don’t think it’s because of any bug. I assume he left early for his college visits.
After school I bike to Lynn and Steffi’s. I don’t practice my song today. I don’t want to think of Mona Stone, because she inevitably makes me think of Ten, and spending the weekend with his little sister will be reminder enough. I almost ask Lynn if she knows who Nev’s mother is, if that’s the reason she flipped out the day I spied on their lesson.
Lungs aching from my singing exercises, I head down to the dance studio and attempt to sweat out my stress, but stress, sadly, is thicker than perspiration.
When I get home, the house smells like melted cheese and cilantro, which automatically makes my stomach grumble. I walk into the kitchen and freeze when I spot Mom and Nev rolling up soft tortillas.
