Page 23 of Pretend You're Mine
And then I was left looking at the white panel door that had closed for the final time and wondering what it meant that that look in her eyes had made me feel sad and hollow.
11
Naomi
“What you mean, you don’t know?”
Teren gaped at me as though I’d seriously suggested that Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion should have been an Oscar winner.
“I mean just that. Things with Xander got a bit messy, and….”
“Messy?” Teren demanded. “You slept with the man, and now admit you may be crushing on him – the guy you’re ‘just’ in a real/fake marriage arrangement with to fool his parents. And ours.”
“Shh.” I told Teren, leaning in.
A look around Fran’s found that the few other patrons, a couple who seemed to be more interested in their phones than each other, as well as a family of disgruntled children, hadn’t seemed to notice. Having my younger brother go at me about my life choices was one thing, having them aired out in a fast food restaurant was another.
“I told you, I’m figuring it out.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Teren took my hand and squeezed it. “I shouldn’t freak out like that. But I just worry about you. After Eric…”
“Can we not bring up Eric every five fucking minutes please?”
Teren was just trying to help, but he was stabbing the kitchen knife deeper into my open wound. “I don’t need to be reminded of my questionable choices any more than necessary, thank you very much.”
Teren nodded, saying nothing. Everyone knew how wonderfully Eric’s and my relationship began, and how spectacularly it had ended up crashing and burning.
“On a brighter note,” Teren said, “Mom and Dad snuck by ‘Eighteen’ the other day, and said it was packed. Congrats.”
I grinned, and not just for the congratulations.
As awful as it was to admit, I was glad my parents hadn’t stopped in. As well-meaning as they were, Mom and Dad often forgot that I was no longer their little girl with ample time to spare, and that I had to focus on my job. On one of their little stop-ins in the past, they’d hung around and distracted me so persistently that I’d had to give them a talk about it after. Although they meant well.
“I’ve been busting my ass,” I admitted. “Online, I had Groupons and coupons and ads galore. I even put up flyers around downtown.”
Teren chortled. “Remember that pet business we set up when we were kids: ‘Teren and Naomi’s Pet Sitting Service’?”
I twirled a fry in my ketchup, smiling reminiscently. “How could I forget? We got so many bookings after a week, that when Mom and Dad found the snake, two kittens, a dog, and four rabbits hidden in the basement they grounded us for a month.”
“Whatever.” Teren slurped up the last of his chocolate shake. “It was still worth it. I’m still friends with the owner of those bunnies.”
“You mean Randy,” I said with an eyebrow wiggle.
“In fact, I do.”
While discussing my many romantic exploits and failures was fair game, as far as Teren was concerned, he wasn’t so eager to discuss his own romantic mishaps.
Although the talk of pets had got me thinking on another track. Earlier today, on the way to work, passing by a pet store, I’d seen the most adorable booties. And while weather in LA typically didn’t get super cold, they were a nice luxury to have for the rainy days. I didn’t know if Walter had any, or even if it would be weird, me buying him some, but….
“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Teren said, interrupting my thoughts.
“Don’t you have a strawberry milkshake to start on?” I asked pointedly to the second shake he had ordered.
At this, Teren took both my hands. “Naomi, as your wise-beyond-his-years younger brother, it is my solemn duty to inform you that you need to be smart about this Xander business.”
“I am being smart.” I let out an exasperated huff. “Okay, so maybe I’m being a little stupid , but I’m trying my best here.”
As Teren released me and started slurping down his milkshake, I reached for mine, before realizing that I’d already drank it all in a stressed out rampage. “Maybe I should just tell Mom and Dad about the whole thing.”
Teren practically choked on his latest milkshake swallow. Clearing his throat with difficulty, he managed to wheeze out, “I wouldn’t recommend that.”
“Why not?”
He shook his head. “They’re in a bad mood as it is. The other day at the bazaar they practically blackmailed me into talking to Angela. And wondering out loud what was wrong me with me.” The color drained from his face, although he managed a weak smile. “Ever since the topic of you and Xander came up, they haven’t mentioned it. It took all their attention away from me. It’s been kind of nice.”
