“It was fun, actually, trying the different recipes, serving people here. Mostly just getting to do it all with you, though,”I reply honestly. Hopefully it also softens the blow of me not wanting to hang with her tonight.
“For me, too.” She smiles and something finally loosens. “Maybe we can do it again next summer.”
“I’d like that.” I look at all the hustle and bustle around us. Basically everyone from our church is here either working or eating. All except one. “I’m sorry Dad didn’t come.”
“Oh no.” She shakes her head. “I knew he wasn’t going to be able to make it. Your dad’s working hard too… for all of us,” she tells me. But it still doesn’t add up. The Dad I remember would’ve managed to at least stop by to say hi, offer her some support on her big day.
She flicks her head toward the door, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Go on. Get out of here.”
“Are you sure? I could stick around and help clean up,” I offer, even though my mind is already racing with thoughts of Nora.
She shakes her head. “I’ve got plenty of help. Grab a to-go container on your way out if you want. But be home by eleven.”
“Midnight?” I try.
She narrows her eyes at me. “Eleven thirty.”
“Deal.” I grab my to-go container off the counter and head out the door. The wind blows at my ponytail as I head toward the parking lot, storm clouds looming in the distance.
I couldn’t care less what the weather does tonight, though, because, finally after these four long days… I get to see her again. An entire evening, just me and—
“Stevie! Hey, Stevie!” Rory and Savannah both shout from behind me. I take a deep breath as I stop and turn around to face them.
“Look, we swiped some!” Rory opens her giant purse to reveal three bottles of wine. “Come on. You want to ride with us to Jake’s?”
I shake my head. “No thanks.”
“Okay, well, when will you be there?” Rory asks, as if I haven’t been ghosting them for the last few weeks.
“I’m not going to the party,” I tell them.
“Stevie, comeon.Drink with us. We haven’t seen you in literallyweeksand we’re about to leave for college. You’re not turning back into old Stevie again, are you?” Savannah asks, making me clench my teeth.
“What Stevie is that? The one that has agiantcrush on Ryan?” I ask.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
My heart is pounding in my throat, but I have to say this to them. Stand up for myself for once.
“You guys… you fucking lied to me. Ineverliked him like that.”
“Oh my God. You remember?!” Rory asks, stepping toward me with a smile.
No, but that’s all the confirmation I needed that this whole thing was them toying with me.
“I’ve discovered enough to know that that wasn’t even remotely true. And people really got hurt because of it.”
Savannah just laughs like this is all so trivial to her. “People? Dramatic much? You don’t have to be a bitch about it. We just wanted you to have a little fun for once. Jesus. I remember when you used to know how to take a joke.”
“You know what I remember? I remember when you guysused to treat me like a real friend, like you actually cared about me. I remember when you would’ve stood up for what’s right when some drunk idiot is being a racist asshole.”
“Oh myGod. You’restillon this?” Rory shouts. “You don’t have to take everything so fucking serious, Stevie. We were all just havingfun.”
“Nothing about that situation wasfunfor me or for Ryan! You guys… you don’t get it. You don’t get what it’s like to live in this town and not be able to justblend inwith everyone else. To have some jerk you don’t even know point it out in that way. It was embarrassing,humiliating.”
Savannah puts on a baby voice.“Oh, poor me. I’m Stevie and I’m so different and everyone is out to get me.”She takes a step forward and drops back to her normal register. “Maybe we just want to enjoy our summer without having to worry about what’s going to offend you. Like I’msorryI have a boyfriend now and I’m sorry we’ve made other friends. What? Do you want me to apologize for growing up or something?”
I take a deep breath, and as hard as it is right now, I force myself to keep my voice calm. Collected.
