Page 39 of Better Than Gelato
“No. That’s a terrible idea.”
“It can’t be that bad,” Maggie says. “Spill it.”
I cough. “Um. That’s what I said to him. ‘No. That’s a terrible idea.’”
Maggie gasps. “You didn't!”
“Oh geez. It sounds worse now that I’m repeating it to you.”
“Well…” I can tell she’s trying to put a positive spin on this but coming up empty.
“I will point out that I didn’t tell him I worked for the CIA,” I say. “Or that I was a vampire.”
“Why would you tell him those things?” She sounds truly puzzled.
“You know, as good reasons for him not to fall in love with me.”
“I see,” Maggie says. But she says it slowly, in a way that makes it clear she does not see.
“Maaaargh! This is the worst,” I say.
“Why is this the worst?” she asks.
“Because! He’s always taking me to cool places and feeding me delicious food.”
“That monster,” she says drily.
“I’m serious. He’s wonderful, and I like him, and now I have to break up with him.” I can tell I’m slipping into a whiny voice, and I hate it.
“I know you’re scared of the ‘L’ word,” Maggie says, “but you don’t always have to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Freak out and bail when things get serious.”
“I don’talwaysdo that,” I protest.
“You broke up with Adam Jensen the day after he told you he loved you,” she points out.
“He showed up at my house drunk and was only saying that to get me to sleep with him. Gross.”
“How about Curly-Haired Tom that you dated for three months last year and refused to call your boyfriend. You referred to him as ‘That guy I hang out with sometimes.’”
“Things with Tom were not that serious,” I explain.
“Because you wouldn’t let them get serious.”
“Because serious is the worst!”
“Juls, you’re overthinking this. Which is a thing you do.”
“It’s not a thing I do,” I start to say as she interrupts me by saying loudly, “It’s totally a thing you do!”
“Listen,” she continues, “maybe this feels uncomfortable at first, but give it a chance. You’re trying a lot of new things over there. Try out being a girlfriend. You might like it.”
I make a grumbling sound, but Maggie can tell I’m agreeing and lets out a tiny whoop of triumph.
“Fine,” I say. “I’ll give this a try. Maybe it’ll be great. Maybe I’ll be the best girlfriend ever.”
