Page 112 of Everything's Coming Up Rosie

When he pulls back, I see he’s frowning.

“What?”

“You’re in your head,” he says, and I’m struck by how strange it is that he knows things about me already. Things nobody else has bothered to pay attention to. “What are you thinking about?”

I shake my head, not wanting to admit it because I know how pathetic it sounds. Because I knew this going in. I said it out loud. Told myself over and over what a bad idea this was. But I ignored my own warnings.

“Rosie?”

“I was just thinking”—I step back—“I’m only here for a few more weeks.”

The frown deepens. “So, in your head, you’re already saying goodbye?”

“No, I’m just...” But Iamalready saying goodbye. I’m already thinking aboutlastswhen I should be thinking aboutfirsts.

“We still have a few weeks,” he says. “Don’t get sad yet. Live in the moment, remember?”

Right. In the moment. You miss out on so much if you dwell on the past or try to predict the future. I draw in a breath, as if to cement the reminder in my mind, and then because I can’t think of anything else to say, I smile. “I told my friends about you.”

He inches back. “Ooh. This is a big moment. What did they say?”

“That you’re a beautiful specimen of a man.” I pump my eyebrows.

“So you’re telling me they’re smart women,” he jokes. He grins, then leans down and kisses me again, then moves back toward Cinderella’s house. “Are they coming to the show?”

I’m caught off guard. “Oh. Uh, I don’t think so.” I white-knuckle the strap of my bag. “I don’t think they can make it.”

He watches me. He’s reading me. That’s what he does. He can see straight through me, past all the things I’m not saying.

“You didn’t tell them.”

I heave a big sigh. “I told them about you,” I offer.

“Rosie.”

“And they know I’m directing a show,” I say lamely. I find his eyes. “They just don’t knowwhere. I think it would be... hard to explain.”

“Why? Are you embarrassed by us?” asks a voice from behind me.

I turn and find Evelyn, Sadie, and Ginny all standing in the doorway that leads to the dressing rooms downstairs.

“No! Of course not!” I protest, though I’m not sure it’s true. “I’m proud of you all. Impressed, even.”

“But not enough to invite anyone out to see it?” Ginny practically grunts. “My transformation dress alone is worth the price of the ticket.”

“Itisa beautiful dress,” I say, and I mean it. The costumesarebeautiful. The set is beautiful. And the acting and the music are all really impressive, especially considering where we started.

But this is not what my friends think I’m doing up here. It’s not what I’ve led them to believe.

“Why haven’t you invited anyone, Rosie?” Sadie asks. “You know our ticket sales are low.”

“And you know how important it is that we have a successful run,” Evelyn pipes in. “We should all be inviting everyone we know!”

“Do you not want people to come see the show?” Sadie asks as all three of the women stare at me.

“I—” I shrug. What do I say? Deep down, maybe I do know why I still haven’t told my friends and family how to get tickets when they’ve all asked. Because I’m still too proud? Because I still care too much what people think? Because I’m still a jerk?

And here I thought I was growing up this summer.

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