Page 41 of Hunt for the Roses
I give an unsure smile as I look over at Chris. “Well, good luck with that.” Then I peel myself off the counter and make my way to the sliding door in the kitchen that leads to the patio. “I’m going to start grilling.”
“I’ll bring out the cheese and other toppings!” my mom calls out as I walk onto the patio and start gassing up the grill.
With one hand on the handle of the grill lid, I feel a vibration in my jeans pocket and fish out my cell phone with my free hand.
Aria: This was me the whole day.
There’s a GIF of a disheveled looking cat under Aria’s text, and I laugh out loud.
Me: Next time, I’m just going to refill an empty hard seltzer can with water. You’ll never notice.
Aria: [neutral face emoji].
Me: [thumbs up emoji] Did the coffee at least help a little?
Aria: For a hot minute. Thanks again.
Me: I guess I should’ve gone with my first instinct and got a doughnut too.
Aria: There’s only one instinct to follow on that [unamused emoji]. I’m disappointed.
I’m grinning from ear to ear when my mom walks through the patio door. “What are you smiling about?”
I place my phone back in my pocket and open the lid to the grill. “Nothing, just texting.”
“Who were you texting? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile so big,” my mom questions.
I give her a deadpan expression as she comes beside me. “Calm down, it’s not a girl. Aria and I were just having a good laugh.”
“Really?” my mom says with a surprised expression.
I start putting the hamburger patties on the grill as I respond. “I take offense with your surprised tone. As boring as you may find me to be, I can actually be very entertaining from time to time.”
“You know that’s not what I meant,” my mom says as she lets out an exhausted breath.
I smirk as I put the last of the burger patties on the grill and close the lid. When I turn to face my mom, I say, “I know. But I also know you’re about to overanalyze the situation, so maybe just save us the time and skip that part.”
My mom shrugs as if she has no idea what I’m talking about. “I wasn’t overanalyzing anything. I just commented on how big your smile was.”
I let out a laugh as I turn my head forward, but as I feel my mom’s eyes still on me, I run a hand through my hair as I let out an exhausted sigh. “She makes me laugh. It’s no big deal.”
My mom holds her palms up in defense. “Again, I didn’t say anything.”
I look at my mom with a bored expression, knowing exactly where her mind is going, but I decide to change the subject for not only her sake, but for mine as well. Apparently, my sanity these days is slipping little by little, and this conversation is helping none.
“You want cheese on your burger?” I ask.
My mom chuckles. “Yes.”
I smile as I turn to open the lid and continue grilling, but the whole time my hands are moving, my mind is somewhere else.
And there’s probably a thousand other places my mind should be.
Thursday, July 7, 2022
It turns out Kate and Trent are both busy tonight, and it’s just Aria and I going to Duke’s for the “Dance Party” themed night. I put together a white three-quarter sleeve henley, gray jeans, high-top black Converse, and my hair is gelled just enough to tame my waves.
When Aria opens her door, she’s all decked out. Her long beach waves are tucked loosely back in a half up half down hairdo, with loose strands framing her face. She’s wearing a black crop tank top, and a black floral maxi skirt with a thigh high slit. To complete the outfit, she has silver hoops dangling from her ears, and she’s wearing black wedge sandals.
