“You’re not. Never.”
“Good.”
Both of us settle into silence only to eat. After getting back into town and subsequently skipping dinner, both of us are starving. It’s only when I’ve finished my food and my coffee that I feel like I can talk again.
“Quinn’s party. Youaregoing, right?”
“Of course I am. It’ll be ...fun.”
“It’ll be something,” I admit. “I want it to go well, and considering how things went with Rob, I’m worried.”
“Did you mention anything about him just now?”
“In passing. She was asking if we were back together after his little surprise. I said we weren’t.”
“I bet it’ll be a big deal when we tell her about us.” He laughs as he finishes off his coffee.
I pause at the thought. He’s right. This will definitelybe big news.
“Berry?” he asks. “Please don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts.”
“No!” I say immediately. “Not about us. Just about the party.”
“We could skip it.”
“I want to see her,” I reply with a shake of my head. “But it’s her birthday. And it’s already drama filled because I dumped her brother. I just don’t want anything else to happen. Either with us or her family.”
“So, what do you want to do?”
“What if we kept the news about us quiet until after the party? Not because I’m ashamed or anything,” I rush to say, “but because of how her family might act, and the fact that it’s her day.”
“I can see the reasoning, but I’m not very excited about even pretending to only be your friend.”
“Me either,” I say. “But she’s put a lot of work into this. And I’ve already done enough to her by dumping Rob.”
“Technically, Rob did enough toyou.”
“Fair, but I don’t wanna add anything.”
He considers it before sighing. “Fine. But you have to get me more coffee.”
“Gladly.”
“And we tell her right after?”
“Right after,” I agree. “Be right back with coffee.”
I get him his drink and refill my own before I sit back down. He accepts it gratefully and gets through half of it before he speaks again.
“We also have to tell your parents.” He says it quietly, and I tilt my head at him.
“Why do you sound worried? You get along with them just fine.”
“Yeah, when I’m your friend. Judy’ll be shocked, but I’m not worried about her. Jeff, on the other hand ...” He trails off and shudders.
“My dad isn’t going todo anything.”
“You weren’t there when hegrilledRob.”
