Page 112 of Dial L for Lawyer
"Does she want kids?"
"OK," I interrupt, "don't you have a race to get ready for?"
"The butterfly isn't for twenty minutes." She turns back to Bennett. "Well? Does she?"
Bennett looks mildly panicked. "We haven't discussed?—"
"You should. Communication is important. Otherwise people just leave and never tell you why." She pivots to Logan. "What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?"
Logan turns red. "Not exactly."
"What does that mean?"
"It's complicated."
"Adults always say that when they're being chickens." She looks at Dominic. "You?"
"I'm allergic to commitment."
"That's not a real allergy."
"How do you know?"
"My grandma's a doctor." She crosses her arms. "You just haven't met the right person yet."
"Or I've met too many right people."
She rolls her eyes—definitely learned that from me—then turns back to me. "Where's Serena?"
"With her friends."
"Why isn't she here?"
"She had plans."
"More important than me?"
"Different plans. Not more important."
Michaela considers this. "Did you decide if you're marrying her yet?"
"It hasn’t even been a full day since you asked, so I’m still thinking about it," I say. "But you'll be the first to know."
"I hope so." She fixes me with a look that could make grown men confess to crimes. "It takes time to find the perfect dress. And I need to write a speech."
"Of course." I glance at my friends, expecting mockery, but they're just grinning at Michaela's intensity.
"Good luck on your race, kid," I say. "We'll be in the stands, cheering so loud it’s embarrassing."
"You can't embarrass me," she says. "I'm immune." She waves and runs off, leaving damp footprints and the smell of chlorine.
Dominic immediately scoffs. “Oh, so she can be immune to embarrassment but I can’t be allergic to commitment. That kid has double standards.”
"You’re just pouting because you got destroyed by a seven-year-old," Bennett says.
"Seven and three-quarters," Logan corrects, and we all stare at him. "What? She was very specific."
We climb the bleachers to where David's set up camp with enough supplies for a weekend camping trip.
