Page 62 of The Lookback

“Give me a blueberry.” I hold out my hand until Amanda gives me one.

“Now pay up,” Emery says. “We’re wasting time. What happened your senior year?”

“I already told you.” I sit down again, this time, eyeing the blueberry muffin. “His dad died, and he moved to live with his uncle.”

They all light on seats all around me, reminding me of birds in a flock, settling in on electric wires to chatter.

“Come on,” Emery asks. “That photo I saw—with both of them looking at you. When was that taken?”

I sigh.

“Just tell us,” Amanda says. “We may as well know it all before we meet him and pretend that you aren’t in love with him and that you didn’t lie about traveling the world andmarryingJed.”

“Wait, she lied about marrying Jed?” Maren asks. “I thought she just lied about—oh, wait. I guess I did hear that. It’s hard to keep all the nonsense straight.”

Amanda laughs. “It is. Speaking of, how did you keep it all straight when you went to stay with him?”

“It was easy,” I say. “We didn’t talk about when I was supposedly married. We didn’t talk about my traveling much either. We just. . .watched television. We went to dinner. We laughed about the old days.” I shrug. “No big deal.”

“But every single person in town knows you never married Jed,” Emery says. “Aren’t you worried he’ll find out?”

“I am,” I admit. “A little, but he hasn’t been here in sixty years. No one will even recognize him, and if they do, it’s unlikely they’ll say anything that would set off red flags. My biggest liabilities are the three of you, and you know the lie.” I take a bite and chew it. “But that’s why I want him to sign his papers and go right back home.”

“Wait,” Amanda asks. “What papers?”

“He’s not here for a visit,” I say, “even if Emery invited him. He came out to sell me his family property. Once he does that, there will be no reason for Thomas Collins to ever return.”

“That’s so depressing,” Maren says.

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s exactly as it should be. That piece of my past will stay where it belongs.”

“Tell us the end, and we’ll decide whether we agree with you,” Amanda says. “Stop delaying already.” She looks at the clock. “Don’t think we don’t know what you’re doing, putting us off.”

“Our senior year was just like any other year. I did two plays with Tommy, and like I said, he didn’t act with me. He directed.”

“Okay, but what about homecoming?” Maren asks. “It seems like the dances are when things really start to happen.”

“I had a big horse show,” I say. “I didn’t go.”

“Prom, then,” Maren says. “What about prom?”

I sigh. And then I dive in.

* * *

Pep rallies when your school’s as small as Manila High School are kind of a joke. I mean, I shouldn’t really be thinking that, since I’m a fill-in cheerleader. But I’m only doing it because Mrs. Lyons begged and Simone sprained her ankle. Once we’re done with the obligatory cheers to get us going, Principal Lyons stands up and claps himself. “Thank you, ladies. Appreciate the enthusiasm.” He smiles.

So do we, because his mustache has a piece of corn stuck in it.

Tommy elbows me. “What’s strange is that it’s ten in the morning. Did he have corn for breakfast?”

I don’t even try to suppress my grin. Clearly the principal is clueless. “Or has that corn been in there since last night?”

“Isn’t he married?” Tommy asks. “Why didn’t his wife notice?”

“Ooh, maybe they’re fighting,” I say. “Maybe he was on the couch.”

“Hush,” Denise hisses. “You’re being rude.”

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