Wow. She talks.
“What do you mean?” I try to shrug Donovan off me.
“How long have you been together?” She says the words slowly, like I’m stupid.
And maybe Iam, because I still don’t get what she’s trying to say. In my defense, she hasn’t spoken to us since we got here. You could say I’m a little thrown off.
I glance at Don, narrowing my eyes. He puffs his cheeks out and tightens his arm around my neck. I drop my knife on my plate, slip my hand down to his thigh, and pinch him as hard as I can.Did the asshole tell them I’m his girlfriend?
“It’s early days, but super intense.” He looks at me affectionately.
Say what?
Why would he lie to them? What’s the point?
“Don…”
“It was like a thunderbolt. A light bulb moment.”
Don’t bullshit a bullshitter, dude.I’m not about to expose him in front of his whole family, but if he thinks I’m just going to play along and act the perfect girlfriend, he’s got the wrong girl.
“Yeah, it was one hell of a thunderbolt, all right. It happened yesterday.”
My nails are still digging into his leg. He covers my hand with his and starts slapping it.
“It sure doesfeellike it was only yesterday, doesn’t it?”
“It’s crazy how time flies.” I nod energetically. “I hope things never change.”
He drops his arm from around my neck and slings it over the back of my chair, leaning into me, his thigh pressing into mine.
“Are you a senior, too?” his dad asks me.
“I’m a junior.”
“And you’re going to be okay with our little champion moving out of town this summer?” Amelia chimes in.
“Why would that be a problem?”
I know Don will be done at SHU in just a few months, but we’ve never talked about the future. In my head, our relationship was never made to last, anyway.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “You’re okay with long distance?”
“We’ve got time to talk things through.” Don sounds pissed. “I haven’t been signed anywhere yet—there’s no point thinking too far ahead.”
“That’s all Mom can talk about,” his sister says dryly.
Eric shakes his head. “Oh, Ellen! Youknowit’s bad luck to preempt that kind of thing!”
“Hey, don’t involve me in your mumbo jumbo stuff,” Ellen warns. “I’m hoping the Knicks pick him up!”
His dad shrugs. “I’m holding out for the Heat.”
“My baby isnotgoing to Miami!” His mom gasps.
They argue back and forth good-naturedly, and my mind is blown. At home, this would’ve escalated to nuclear levels. This whole situation would normally plunge me back into my spiral of replaying my parents’ fights. I keep my eyes on my plate. Hearing Donovan’s plans for leaving town shouldn’t upset me—I always knew he was aiming for the NBA. It’s just I never took the time to think it through. I mean, why would I?And why is that exactly what I’m doing now?
“Carrie?” Ellen is staring at me.
