They didn’t air her and London talking about torturing Jeffrey, but as expected, they did air when Tanner yelled at her. Dahlia winced.
“What a jerk,” her mom said with a scowl.
Dahlia allowed herself a small smile.
And then the camera shifted to London.
Dahlia didn’t remember seeing London’s reaction in that moment. She’d been too busy getting back to work, trying to act serious.
She had missed that London openly glared at Tavish. Flushed cheeks, that clenched jaw, eyes like knives. Like London wanted to punch him. For her.
Dahlia paused the episode, heart hammering.
She opened her mouth, feeling slightly wild. Maybe her mom had inspired her. Dahlia could speak surprising truths into the air, too.
“That person there? London?” Dahlia said, her chest squeezing when she said their name out loud. “I’m in love with them.”
Her mom released a small gasp, brought a hand to her mouth.
“Oh,” she said. “Oh.” And then, after a beat, “And they’re . . . oh.”
“Yeah.” Dahlia inferred her meaning. “I’m queer. I guess I never told you that.”
“No,” her mom said. “No, you didn’t. But thank you for telling me now.”
Dahlia laughed suddenly, a funny croaking sound, like it came from deep in her gut.
“And Hank said I never tell you things! Take that, Hank.”
Her mom released a small, nervous giggle of her own but sobered quickly, her hand now resting on her chest.
“Thank you, Dahlia,” she said again, “for telling me.”
Dahlia picked up the remote, but her mom quickly snaked her hand out to cover hers, telling her to wait. Dahlia glanced over. Her mom’s face looked puzzled, like she was working something out.
“Dahlia,” she said. “You’ve barely touched your phone since I’ve been here. You haven’t called or even texted anyone.”
“Way to rub my thrilling social life in my face, Mom.”
“No, no.” Her mom waved a hand at her in irritation. “Dahlia. I am honored and a little shocked that you just told me this, but . . . have you toldLondonthat you’re in love with them?”
Dahlia stared down at her toes.
The excuses she had made to herself back in LA seemed to wither. She knew none of them would make sense if she said them out loud to her mother.
“No.”
Dahlia’s mom crossed her arms over her chest.
“Well. Dahlia Grace Woodson, if you don’t take that whole speech I just gave you and put it to some good use here, Iwillbe disappointed in you.”
And then Dahlia actually laughed.
You’ve always known what you wanted.
And even more than that, you follow through on getting it.
Dahlia chewed her lip.
