Page 42 of Hypothetical Heart
“Can we address the elephant in the room?” Genevieve asks, throwing down her backpack as she and Eloise take seats in the booth of Taylor’s Diner.
It’s an average Friday night, and the diner has been packed to the brim all evening, but that hasn’t stopped us from taking over our favorite table.
“More like the elephant of our lives,” Eloise adds.
“Sure…” I trail off, not sure what they are referring to. “What is it?”
“We want to know why you haven’t ever dated anyone,” Eloise blurts out. “Specifically Logan.” Genevieve elbows her in the ribs, which makes her topple over.
“What?”
Genevieve sighs. “All of us always thought you never dated anyone because you were so head-over-heels for Logan, and it was him you wanted in the end. We’ve all been waiting for the Winnie and Logan shoe to drop, but we’re starting to wonder how long this is going to go on.”
Out of all the people in our friend group, I alwaysthought Genevieve was the one who thought Logan and I would never get together, so her admission made my stomach sink.
It hasn’t even been a week since Luke’s birthday dinner and all I’ve been thinking about has been Logan and I’s conversation in the car. Genevieve and Eloise bringing it up only puts more emphasis on it.
I can feel my face turn beet red at her accusation. “I mean, it’s not like I’m waiting around for Logan.”
“We know that,” Eloise says. “But there was always a looming feeling that the two of you would get together eventually. I think everyone thought that.”
“Why does it feel like you no longer believe that? Did Logan say something?” I ask, already feeling a panic in my chest.
“No, no, of course not,” Genevieve assures me. “Logan would never say anything like that.” I believe her.
“Can I tell you guys something?” Something in my gut tells me it’s time to come clean. The two of them have no idea about what happened between Logan and me when we were fifteen.
“Of course,” Genevieve says as they both nod.
I take a deep breath.Just rip the Band-Aid off.
“We’ve already tried being together, and it didn’t work,” I say it like my tongue is on fire, and I’m trying to spit it out of my mouth.
“What?” they both say together, their voices rising.
"When I went on that date our freshman year, Logan came over to my house afterward. We both confessed our feelings for one another, but then…”
“Your mom died,” Eloise finishes like it’s all making sense.
“Yeah. A couple of days after, I walked into his houseand told him I wasn’t ready, and that was that. We’ve briefly talked about it since, and we’ve agreed to try again when we’re both ready.”
They’re both staring at me in complete shock, like it’s the craziest thing I’ve ever told them. “But… you’re not ready?” Genevieve asks. I shake my head.
“In all honesty, me and Luke have been betting when you and Logan would get together since eighth grade, and we’re shocked every year that it doesn’t happen.”
“You weren’t a part of this bet?” I ask Genevieve.
“No.” She shrugs. “I always assumed the two of you were too worried about your friendship being ruined if your relationship went any further.”That’s what I thought.
“So, why haven’t you tried dating someone else?” Eloise asks.
“No one has ever seemed interested in me like that.” Genevieve gives me a look, one that says,are you crazy?“What?”
“Winnie, there is no way you think no guy in our school has ever liked you.”
Eloise nods in agreement. “Do you know how many guys have come up to me asking if you’re single?”
“Seriously?”
