Page 95 of Romeo

Ma Belle: You make it sound magical

Me: I’m told there’s usually terrible punch.

Ma Belle: See? Nothing worth attending.

There was humor in that one, but not much.

Me: You don’t sound convinced.

Ma Belle: I am.

Me: Fiona.

Ma Belle: What?

Me: You use shorter answers when you’re pretending something doesn’t bother you.

The dots appeared and disappeared as I waited for her to respond.

Ma Belle: I don’t care about prom.

I stared at the words. Maybe she believed that or maybe she wanted to.

Me: Then you won’t mind spending Saturday at home.

Ma Belle: I said I might work.

Me: Don’t.

Ma Belle: Why?

Me: Because you work too much.

Ma Belle: You say that about everything.

She wasn’t wrong. The girl was entirely too serious, too focused on the future.

Me: Stay home. Let Granny feed you. Watch a terrible movie.

Ma Belle: That’s your advice?

I smiled faintly. Not even close.

Me: Prom is one night, Cher. It doesn’t decide whether anyone wants you.

Ma Belle: I know that.

Me: Do you?

Ma Belle: I’m trying to.

That one hit me somewhere deep. The rest of the conversation disappeared for a second while I stared at those three words.

I’m trying to.

Fiona had spent too much of her life learning lessons nobody should’ve taught her. People left. People changed their minds. Being wanted today didn’t guarantee being wanted tomorrow.

I couldn’t erase that with a text message.