Page 26 of An Uphill Battle

“Yeah, he did.” I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, remembering the way he looked at me when he asked—like I was the reason the sun rose every morning. But surely that was my eyes playing tricks on me.Right?

“And...?” Seraphine impatiently demands, tapping her foot against the leg of mychair.

“And at first, I said ‘no.’ But then he asked again, and I asked if he meant as friends, and he said ‘no,’ and I’m soconfused.”

“I’m sorry, but what exactly are you confused about, sister-girl?” I smile at the frustration in my best friend’svoice.

“Well, Myla Rose, I’m confused about what it means.” Magnolia stays silent, shaking her head from side to side. But Seraphine? Sheexplodes.

“You big idiot! That man loves you, and if you keep giving him the runaround, he’s gonna moveon.”

“No. No way. Drake sees me as a friend. That’sit.”

“Sweetie,” Myla’s voice comes through, eerily calm. “I’m gonna say something, and I’m not saying it to be mean. I’m saying it because I love you like a sister.” I grip the arms of the chair I’m sitting in so hard that my knuckles are white. “Seraphine is right. Drake loves you. He adores you. That man thinks you walk on water. The tension between the two of you is so thick and suffocating that everyone around y’all can feel it.” I start to talk over her, but she keeps on going. “No, you listen to me, you stubborn girl! I know all about y’all’s past, and I know he hurt you, and don’t forget you told me what happened when y’all were planning my shower. Stop deluding yourself, and stop letting your fear rule you. I put myself out there, and it was fucking terrifying, but, Az, I’m living proof that the risk issoworth thereward.”

“Ugh. I hate when you’re right,” I tell her, hanging my head indefeat.

“HA!” Seraphine exclaims at the same time Myla Rose says, “Bye, Az, trust your gut!” The bell on the door dings, and Seraphine stands, dropping both of the pillows I threw at her into my lap before retreating to the front desk to greet the client that just walkedin.

“Hey, Azalea?” Magnolia says, and I look her way. “Drake seems like a good man, and I know good from bad firsthand.” I want so badly to ask her more about that statement, but Seraphine interruptsus.

“Mags, Simon is here for hishaircut.”

Wagging my brows at her, I sing, “Speaking of a good man...” But she just ignores me and walks with him to herchair.

* * *

Later that night,I’m lying in bed, still thinking about the Drake thing when my phone rings. I scramble to answer it, thinking it may be him. I deflate slightly when I see my mom’s name flashing across the screen, which makes me feel like crap. My momrocks.

“Hey, Mom, what’sup?”

“Oh, nothing, dear. I just wanted to make sure you were still going to bring those yeast rolls I love so much to lunch onThursday?”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s not Thanksgiving without Sister Schubert in attendance,” I say, and we both laugh. “But I won’t be able to stick around to watchIt’s a WonderfulLife.”

“Why on earth not?” sheasks.

“Um, well, I’m eating dinner with Drake and his family,” I tell her, preparing for an outburst, only to be met with silence. Stunned, stark silence. “Mom? Youthere?”

“Yeah, baby, I’m here. You just surprised me, that’s all. So, you and the Collins boy finally pulled your heads out ofyour—”

“MOM!” I yell. “It’s just dinner. As friends. Ithink.”

“You think? Hmph. You think wrong, Azalea Josephine. That boy is your lostsock.”

“He’s mywhat?”

“Oh, you know what Imean.”

“No, Mom, I reallydon’t.”

“You will, baby girl, you will. We’ll see you around noon onThursday?”

“Yes, ma’am. Loveyou.”

We disconnect the call, and I drift off to sleep with thoughts of turkey and Drake and socks swirling around in mybrain.

13

---