Page 48 of Two-Step
Sally’s mouth presses together in an unhappy line. She takes a sip of her beer.
“What,” I press.
She looks back at me. “I’m saying it’s none of your business.”
Wow.
I feel like I’ve been hit with one of Raven Blackwell’s stunning spells. It’s a shock that lingers in my arms, my legs, my face. Definitely my face, which goes hot and prickly.
When I can move, I get off the swing.
“Wait. Where are you going?” Sally asks, a note of alarm in her voice.
I turn to face her, wounded and embarrassed. “I think I’m going inside.”
“I-ris.”She says my name the way she would when we would fight over the rules of Monopoly when we were kids. “We have to talk about this.”
“Fine.” I cross the porch and sink into one of the wicker rockers. I start rocking with record speed. “Let’s talk.”
She tilts her head to the side, clearly miffed. “Oh, so you can’t sit next to me now?”
In truth, I can’t. I feel like I have to face her instead of sitting beside her. It feels safer this way. I cross my arms over my chest.
“It’s easier to talk like this.”
“I think you’re angry with me.”
“Well, I think you’re angrywith me,”I return, wincing internally because I sound like a ten-year-old.
I wouldn’t say Sally and I never fight, but it’s rare, even after two weeks on the AT. And our fights are so few and far between, in part, because I hate conflict in the first place. Besides, most preschool teachers just aren’t the fighting type.
Which should clue me in to the fact that this issue must matter to her, but in the moment, that doesn’t sink in.
“You know what, Iris,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest in imitation of me. “Iamkind of angry.”
I roll my eyes. “Why? Because I’m telling you what you don’t want to hear?”
“No,” she says, her eyes bugging in frustration. “Because you don’t want to hearme.”
“What?” I throw up my hands. “What do you want me to hear?”
She clenches her jaw. When she speaks, it’s low and through gritted teeth. “Ilikehim.”
I scoff. “Yeah, I know, Sal. That’s obvious. And I’m trying to look out for you. You’re going to get yourself—
“I WANT HIM!”
She’s so loud Mica jolts up and the dog across the street starts barking. I, on the other hand, am stunned silent. The outburst is so out of character for Sally, I’m waiting for her to shout “April Fools!” Except it’s June, and this isn’t the kind of prank Sally would ever play.
As the echo of her declaration hangs in the air, Sally’s eyes widen, and she looks at me with horror.
“Do you think he heard me?” she rasps.
I nod.
Oh yeah. The whole neighborhood heard her. Unless Ramon is in the shower with his Bluetooth speaker blasting at full volume, he heard her.
“Shit.” She covers her face, hanging her head, and I forget all about my frustration. I stand to go to her, but she puts out a hand. “No. You’re right.”
