“Yes, sir, uh… just helping out for the day.” I open the display cooler and reach into the bottom shelf, trying to get him out the door as quickly as possible so Nora can finish telling me whatever she was going to say. I don’t know what it is, but it feels really important.
I quickly bag up his order as he dips his card into the reader, then the two of them are out the door.
“Thanks,” Nora says, popping out of the back, her face dry. She comes in to grab the tray off the back counter like the last ten minutes never happened.
“Nora, was there something you were going to tell me?” I ask, but she shakes her head.
“Sorry about”—she motions to the spot on the floor where we both were—“that.” And then she disappears into the back. It feels… familiar.
Like for the first time she’s treating me the same way everyone else in my life is.
Like she’s hiding something.
July 15
Stevie,
Oh my God. I almost did it. I almost told you the truth. Why couldn’t I? What am I so scared of?
Telling you our love story and having you not remember was… awful… Stevie, but it was even worse hearing that Savannah and Rory have been lying to you, taking advantage of your injury to mess with you. But am I really any better? Hanging out like we’re just friends is lying to you too… it’s fucking killing me. All this time I’ve been waiting for you to find your way back to me, but the truth is… that might not ever happen. Especially if you’re still so determined to make it work with Ryan. Yeah, you’ll realize eventually that it won’t, but… when? A month from now? A year? No.
It’s time for me to come clean, to take a risk for you, for us.
The next time I see you… I’m going to tell you the truth about everything. About our relationship and California. About how you gave up on your friendship with Savannah and Rory a long time ago. I don’t know why they made up this lie that you like Ryan, but I’m going to put an end to it.
And hopefully… hopefully… you’ll believe me.
Please believe me.
Please forgive me for hiding this for so long.
Please. Please. Please.
All my love,
N.
CHAPTER 23
MOM,AGAIN?ARE YOU SERIOUS?” I ask the moment I step through my front door later that afternoon. I’m going to becomethatgirl whose house and clothes just always smell like spaghetti and meatballs. We’ve literally eaten itthreedays this week.
“I know, I know, I know, but it has to be perfect because Monsignor just called andguesshow many tickets have been sold for the dinner?” she asks as I round the corner into the kitchen.
“I don’t know. How many?” I ask.
“Guess!” She clasps her hands in front of her chest.
“Two hundred?”
“More!” Now she’s bouncing up and down on her toes.
“Three hundred?”
“Mo—”
“Oh my gosh, Mom, just tell me!”
“Six hundred tickets!” she screams. “Can you believe it? I went and invited a few other local churches and it really paid off! It’s going to be the biggest one yet! We can’t even fit that many at once in the hall, so we’re going to have to do it in two shifts. Which means I have a favor to ask. I know you weresupposed to help in the kitchen, but we really need more servers than anything. What do you think about asking some of your friends to do it with you, maybe Ryan, too?” she asks expectantly.
