Page 21 of Even After This
“Your future looks bright in mascot wear.” I let out a puff of laughter, knowing full well I’m about to make a terrible joke. “You do look a littlesheepishright now.”
After a beat, Harlan throws his head back and laughs.
My face flushes as my shoulders shake, and I peek up at him from under my lashes.
He aims a dazzling smile my way. “Did you just make the world’s worst joke?”
I grin proudly, then glimpse over to Sally.
Her head is cocked, her gaze equal parts amused and observant.
What does she think she sees?
Spencer reaches across the booth, picking off rejected pepperonis from Toby’s plate. “Meredith, I didn’t ask you where you met Harlan. Have you guys known each other long?”
“Oh yeah,” Sally says. “You didn’t mention it this morning.”
“Why would I have mentioned it this morning?” I ask.
“I assumed you saw the movie crew and knew I was with them.” She takes a baby spoon and scoops up a bite for Layla.
“No, if I had known you were connected to anything Hollywood, I would have panicked, run away, and never spoken to you again.”
Sally tilts her head. “So if you didn’t know, how did the two of you meet?”
I take a sip of my water and, without thinking, answer her question. “Well, I ate dinner at the Penrose Room last night.”
“I thought the room was cast and crew only,” Spencer says out of the side of his mouth while chewing. “Wait, a woman showed who lost her—” He clears his throat.
Awareness burns through me like fire catching a newspaper.
Molly’s memo is going to be the death of me.
The banana-filled spoon in Sally’s hand stops midway to Layla’s mouth. Her pained eyes find mine. “That was you? But you said ... you said—”
Her whispered words of shock cause a fracture straight from the top of my heart to the bottom.
She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head. “Doesn’t matter. That was you?”
Layla’s little hands bounce in protest of the paused dinner.
Sally’s emotion spills from her eyes, and she touches a hand to her cheek. She breathes her declaration, “That was you.”
Holding my breath, all I can do is nod.
“I just—I just need a moment. Excuse me.” She sets the spoon down and pushes on Spencer’s shoulder, prompting him to move out of her way.
“Sally...” I’m frozen as I watch her scurry from the table.
Harlan grabs Toby and moves out of the booth. “Meredith.” He calls me out of my stupor and nods in Sally’s direction. “We’ve got the kids. Do you wanna go...?”
“Yes.” Scooting out from behind our table, I lower my head, hoping my hair covers my flushed face. “Thank you.”
When I reach the bathroom, I crouch down to check under the stall doors. Her black boots contrast with the checkered red and white tile, confirming she’s the source of the sniffling. “Sally? Sally, I am so sorry.”
“Meredith, don’t apologize.” Her thick, soft voice floats over the room. “Please. Can you give me a minute?”
“No.” I take a few steps in, pressing my hand on the black metal door. “I’m afraid if I leave, it will only give you more time to decide why we shouldn’t be friends. And I would hate that, Sally.”
