Page 48 of The Riley Effect

Lola and Indy are sitting on my bed as I finish getting ready for my dinner with Jalen tonight. I’m swiping on the last bit of lip gloss when Lola sighs.

“Is something wrong?” Indy asks her.

“So, I, um… did something today.” Her dramatic pause causes me to become worried.

“So I decided to change majors. I just don’t think I can do another three years of school. I have enough credits from random high school courses, that if I change now, I’ll still graduate on time.”

Indy and I give her a second to continue, mostly because I think we are too stunned to say anything. Lola’s parents are both very well-respected doctors who didn’t like the idea of their daughter becoming a veterinarian. So, I can only imagine how they feel about this change.

The silence lasts for a beat too long. I ask the question I’m sure Indy has too, “What are you going to change it to?”

“I’m going to do business entrepreneurship and then culinary school. I found a program that I can complete in six months.”

I jump up from my vanity and smother Lola in a hug. “I’m going to miss seeing you in all my classes next semester, but you’ll be an amazing chef.” She really is, and if she wasn’t working with animals, the only other thing I can see her pursuing is cooking.

“Is this why we haven’t seen that much of you lately?” Indy asks.

“Uhh, yeah,” Lola answers.

Running my hands down my shirt, I turn to my roommates– like always–needing their reassurance on my outfit for tonight. I love my Charles Leclerc cropped graphic tee– who doesn’t love the Monegasque Formula 1 driver– but a little confidence boost never killed anybody.

“This is a good dinner and movie outfit, right?” I ask. I need an answer extremely quickly because Jalen should be here any minute to pick me up.

“You look good Vee. You don’t want to try too hard for a movie date.” Indy informs me. Which is rich coming from a girl that pisses rainbows and butterflies.

“I’m just nervous,” I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. “What if decides he doesn’t want to deal with my baggage after all?”

“Have you ever noticed how Jalen looks at you?” Lola asks from where she is perched on my bed, scrolling through her phone. I honestly didn’t think she was paying attention anymore.

I take a moment to think about it, and Indy must see my hesitancy because she interjects after a couple of seconds. “I’ve been around Jalen a lot over the last year and a half. I’ve been at the house when he’s brought random girls home.” I wince, hating the idea of Jalen being with other girls. “Don’t do that, Vee. You knew exactly who he was when you started this thing with him.”

“Fine, you’re right,” I concede.

“But he’s never looked at one of those girls the way he looks at you. When you walk into the room, Jalen’s face lights up, it’s like you added a new light to his life.”

I am about to tell Indy that she’s batshit crazy when the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it!” Indy hops off my bed and makes a mad dash for the front door before I even have a chance to protest. I sometimes think she and Marcus are more invested in where Jalen’s and my relationship is heading than we are.

“Indy isn’t wrong,” Lola contributes. “Trust him, you’ve told him everything, and there are no more secrets. Now you can focus on whatever kind of relationship you want without any barriers.”

I pounce on my bed and wrap Lola in my arms. “I know there is something you’re still not telling us, but I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk about it.”

I don’t want Lola to feel pressured to answer, so I get off my bed, grab my boots and head downstairs to meet Jalen.

When I make it to the mudroom, I’m confused to see it empty. I take a second to pull on my boots, and that’s when I hear laughing coming in through our open front door. I’m pulling on my beanie when I find Indy gripping Jalen’s arm to hold herself up.

It’s an unusually cold fall day in Western New York. I’m happy I decided to grab my fleece instead of the light jacket that’s hanging in the hallway closet. It takes Jalen and Indy a moment to notice that I’ve joined them outside. I wrap my arm around Jalen’s waist and place his arm over my shoulder so I can tuck myself into his side.

“What’s so funny?”

When Jalen’s eyes meet mine, I notice the intensity that Lola is so confident she sees. I’m so lost in Jalen’s gaze that I don’t realize we’ve walked off the front porch and are nearly to his car.

I think I hear Jalen say goodbye to Indy before he places his hand on my lower back and guides me the rest of the way to the car.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Jalen places his hand on my thigh. I watch his thumb slowly move over the light-wash denim.

“I’m just happy that we were able to do this tonight. We’re both so busy during the week that I feel like I never get to see you.” I pretend to tie my boot to hide the pink that is starting to flush my cheeks.

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