Page 16 of When We Were Young

I’m trying to figure out how to respond to that when, after several long seconds, she glances over at me and asks, “Are you planning to go to the Oktoberfest next week?”

Well, I guess we’re all done talking about our families. It’s probably a good thing since I don’t want to upset her.

“Yes, for an hour or so. Are you?”

A sarcastic laugh escapes her. “Um, that would be a no.”

“Can I ask you something that might be none of my business, but I’m really kind of dying to know?” My heart pounds.

“Um, I guess. But is it something that’s gonna offend me or hurt my feelings?”

“No. I would never hurt your feelings on purpose,” I say with confidence. I reach for her hand and give it a light squeeze, but before I pull away, she wraps hers around mine. It confuses me, but I’m not about to end it.

“Your ex-boyfriend... is he... do you still have feelings for him?”

“Ew, no!” Her expression changes from serene to sour.

“Okay, good. I really⁠—”

“Why would you even ask that?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. It’s just that when you talked about him, there was something in your voice. I wondered if maybe you had lingering feelings.”

“No, absolutely not. That’s been definitively over for more than a year. He’s not my boyfriend, and neither is anyone else.”

That she’s single now pleases me, and I can’t help but grin.

“What are you so happy about? My lack of a love life?”

She pulls her hand from mine and playfully pushes me in the arm.

“Nice friend you are.”

I snatch her hand back and can’t stop smiling.

I wink at her.

“Sorry, not sorry.”

She rolls her eyes but doesn’t let go of my hand.

Chapter Seven

Lizzie

“Oh. My. God. Tell me again. Describe every detail, no matter how minor you think it is,” Sylvia demands.

My best friend leans forward with her elbows on the cafe tabletop and her head resting in her hands, giving me her undivided attention. Sylvia is so enthralled that I wouldn’t be surprised if cartoon hearts started floating above her.

We’re at a table near the counter, and Anita is busy washing dishes less than ten feet away. Her graceful laughter makes me smile, and Sylvia glances in her direction.

“Are you hearing this, Anita? This library boy is swoony as fu—” Sylvia stops herself before her F-bomb escapes her. “I mean, he’s super romantic.”

“I hear it, honey.” A wistful smile forms at her mouth as she dries a coffee mug and hangs it on its hook, then returns to the counter and leans against it. “He sounds a lot like my Jefferson was. Not many men are that thoughtful.”

“Right? I mean, Tyler has never set me up a picnic in the library⁠—”

“Whoa, Sylvs. You’re my best friend, and I’ll always take your side… almost always. But Tyler worships the ground you walk on, and you know it.”