Page 46 of Pretend You're Mine
“It’s fine.”
“Are you sure,” she persisted, “Really, I wouldn’t mind.”
“I said I’m sure.”
The last bit I said more forcefully than I’d intended. Now Naomi was quiet.
It was odd, as we continued walking along. On my walks with Walter, with the path pleasantly empty, and the indifferent moon shining down, I used to think that nothing could beat those.
And now…
My fingers enlaced through Naomi’s. She smiled a little. Didn’t have to say it. That, since she had only twenty-five minutes left, best thing would be to make the most of them.
—
After Naomi left, Walter and I lazed around on the couch while I caught up on some mail I should’ve gone through weeks ago. Someone called but I didn’t check.
Only the next day, at work, did I see Papa’s text. It was about the dinner that night that I’d forgotten all about and hadn’t even invited Naomi to.
But after only a few seconds, it occurred to me. I didn’t want to invite Naomi. I was tired of pretending with her and how it made everything more messed up between us when were alone.
The best thing would be for me to just get out of the dinner entirely and do something with Naomi instead, but I knew better than trying to get out of two family excursions in a row.
I would just have to bite the bullet and go to the dinner solo. Although that didn’t mean that I couldn’t make plans with Naomi before that.
I called her up.
“After work,” I said. “I want to see you.”
This did not provoke the reaction I expected. “I would, just … I have plans.”
“With me?” I teased.
“No.” Now she just sounded annoyed. “We could tomorrow though.”
“Because tonight you have plans,” I repeated, not liking it any better even when I said it.
There was something about the tone of her voice that I didn’t like. She was bothered and hiding something. Alarm bells were going off in my head.
“I have to go, Xander, okay? I have a client.”
“Okay, just…”
“Bye,” she cut me off, hanging up.
I stared at the phone in my hand. What the hell was going on?
Going over to her work would be over the top, although I was seriously tempted. Instead, though, I sat my ass down and got to work. That night, I’d be seeing my family at least. I hadn’t planned on inviting Naomi – she’d been to enough lately. But at least, for tonight, it would be a distraction. A distraction I suddenly desperately needed to keep me from doing something really stupid.
What was Naomi keeping from me?
25
Naomi
Was it bad feeling this excited?
I rotated my phone slightly left and right, smiling at the message there: we still good for tonight? It was Xander, of course. Which was a pleasant surprise, since yesterday’s conversation hadn’t exactly gone well. I’d been abrupt and dismissive, which wasn’t typically like me. But I’d been distracted.
Inside the closet-sized area I’d designated as my break room, complete with a straight-backed chair, mini fridge, and my dream board, I chomped on a baby carrot. I could hear the chatter of my eagerly waiting yet understanding clients from outside.
Now wasn’t exactly the time to go soul-searching, but I couldn’t help it after the meeting I’d had last night.
Would Xander understand? All I could do was hope so.
At the trill of my timer, I got up and walked back into the salon where I would lose myself in the next few hours. No matter what happened, at least I would still have my work after this was all over.
The only question was what place would Xander take in my life when our charade was up? And what place did I want him to have?
Later that day, just as I was stepping out of Eighteen, Xander called me up.
“Hey, I’ve been staring at my phone all day waiting for you to answer my text,” he said, sounding uncharacteristically insecure.
“Sorry,” I said. “I was in a rush earlier, and super busy with clients all day.”
“You weren’t sure if you want to see me?”
“No – I don’t know….”
“Pity.” All the affection had gone out of Xander’s voice. “Because I have two tickets to a roller derby match and the only girl I want to invite I’m talking to on the phone.”
I bit my lip. A roller derby? I’ve never been to one before and honestly, it sounded pretty cool.
“You thinking about saying yes or saying no?”
“I’m thinking of saying maybe?” I said, joking.
“Hilarious,” Xander deadpanned. “Although you should know that there’s a surprise after.”
“A good surprise or bad surprise?” I said.
“You’ll have to go to find out,” he said.
“Fine, I agreed, my curiosity piqued. “I’ll go.”
“Excellent,” he said, “I’ll pick you up in two hours.”
And that was that. I slipped my phone into my purse with something of a smile. It looked like I was off to a roller derby that night.
