Page 61 of Bloom

I can barely speak. “Really?”

In my peripheral, I see him shaking his head. “I came up here to apologize. Not to banish you. You’re always welcome here.”

I close my eyes. I really can’t speak now.

Always welcome.

God, what a feeling.

18

“It’s very, very sad,” the new mom who’s had a little too much to drink slurs. “That you can’t admit you like her.”

It's probably a really,really bad thing that my friends from high school being in town fills me with so much dread.

I managed to avoid them at the wedding—the very reason they’re in town, thanks again,Marcy. Although, that wasn’t too hard a feat; it’s not like they were actively seeking me out, what with so many other people around to entertain them. But maybe successfully getting through the night an interaction was the wrong move. Maybe I should’ve sucked it up and found them. Maybe then, I wouldn’t be sitting in Bishop’s, facing two people I very quickly realize I have nothing in common with anymore.

They got out. They went to college far, far away. They're living their lives to the fullest extent while I'm stuck here doing the exact same thing every day. My life looks freaking pathetic in comparison to theirs. I'm embarrassed and insecure, and when Rochelle whips out her left hand, I fight the urge to scream.

“It’s beautiful,” I gush obediently over the extravagant diamond decorating her ring finger, willing my smile not to morph into a grimace. Is this my life now? Watching everyone around me get engaged, get married, get their dream life? We’re twenty-two, for God’s sake. What the hell is the rush?

“I know.” Rochelle beams, proud and smug. “And he picked it out all by himself, did I tell you that?”

She did.

Twice.

Beside Rochelle, Carly sighs. “Joe would never pick out something as nice as that.”

“Don’t worry.” Rochelle pats our friend’s arm, seemingly oblivious to the jealousy thickening the air between them. “I’ll steer him in the right direction.”

Yes,she all but confirms to me.This is, in fact, your life now.Engagements and weddings, and babies too, probably. College graduations and burgeoning careers and experiencing life outside the claustrophobic boundaries of Haven Ridge, experiencingpeopleoutside of those I’ve known my whole life.

“What about you, Line?”

I fight a cringe as I shrug, picking at the burger I ordered thirty minutes ago, but have yet to touch. Considering the topic of conversation has ranged from Rochelle’s perfect life to Carly’s perfect life before landing on mine—or my lack thereof, more accurately—I haven’t had much of an appetite.

Apparently, it's too much to wish that if I just stay quiet and avoid eye contact, they'll move on.

“Come on,” Rochelle whines. “It's been, what, five years since Jackson?”

Scrunching my nose, I drag a salty fry through the puddle of Sriracha on my plate, taking my time chewing to delay having to answer. “Something like that.”

“That's a really long time.”

No way, Carly. Is it?

I roll back my shoulders, defensiveness straightening my spine. “You know what it's like here. Not exactly a big dating pool.”

“Are you even trying?”

No. “Yes.”

It's obvious that they don't believe me, and even more obvious that the prying is about to amp up a notch, and I panic. I just want to move on from this, which is why I blurt out, “Tommy asked me out.”

It's almost comical, how instantly the pair perk up, like dogs being taunted with a bone. “Tommy?” They squeal in unison, in sync as they lean across the table towards me too. “As in, Tommy Fields from high school?”

Regret punches me in the gut. God, why didn't I just make someone up? Or why didn't I use Aldo's cousin as a decoy? They don't know Aldo, they certainly don't know Roberto, and a hot Italian would definitely succeed in getting them off my back. “Uh-huh.”

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