Page 34 of A Storybook Wedding

“I was your professor!”

“For one workshop, like, months ago. It’s not like you’re my mentor or anything.”

“Yes, CJ, I know. I wasn’t up to your standards for mentorship. Please, kick a man while he’s down.”

“What? Did you want to be my mentor?”

I sigh. So much for my blood pressure. “I wouldn’t have been against it,” I reply.

“Oh,” she says. “Well, I didn’t know that.”

“I told you I thought your work was good.”

“Yeah, but you were sick when you said it. I thought you were just being nice.”

“For the record, I’m never nice.”

“Okay, Scrooge McDuck. Calm yourself. You’re extremely nice. Anyway, mentor stuff aside, it was one night. One kiss. Onstage with Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson, so obviously for dramatic effect, right? Dillon Norway is a good and rational human. He will understand. I’ll talk to him.”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll just wait until the Zoom thing on Monday.”

“Pen, it’s fine. I’ll shoot him an email and explain what happened. We talk all the time. It’s really no sweat.”

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea.” My stomach turns a little. I look up; I’m at Rahway. Two stops left.

“Don’t try and fight me. He likes me. I mean, at least I think he does. He always reads my extra pages.”

“Listen, I’ve got to run. My train is pulling in momentarily, and my dad is picking me up at the station. Bad enough they’ve got the Fallon bit on DVR. Can we please discuss this tomorrow?”

“Sure thing,” she says. “I really am sorry. I can tell you’re mad.”

“I’m not mad.”

“You’re worked up.”

“A little, but not mad. It’s fine.”

“I hope this doesn’t ruin your Thanksgiving.”

“It won’t. Don’t worry. I’m good.”

“Okay. You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“It wasn’t even a big deal.”

“I know.”

“But I’m still sorry.”

“Stop. We’re fine. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Happy Thanksgiving, CJ.”

“You too, Pen.”

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