Page 93 of Don't Think

“Ana, Nora, Allie,” I start, gesturing to each of them as I say their names. “This is Taylor. We met at Overcast last year.”

“Oh, that’s awesome!” Nora practically gushes.

Taylor gives her a friendly smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Then his eyes flick to me while he shoves his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, man, it’s been a while. I always wondered what the missus looked like,”—he gestures to Allie—“so I figured I’d come over and say hi.”

Allie’s face goes white.

I shake my head quickly, a nervous laugh escaping. “Oh, no, no—we just met a few weeks ago,” I say, hoping he’ll take the hint and shut the fuck up.

His face twists with confusion. “Oh, shit. Sorry, dude. I just assumed—”

“So, a man and a woman can’t be just friends?” Nora chuckles, stepping in.

Fucking hell.

Taylor’s eyes flick from me to Nora.

I shake my head, silently pleading for him to just walk away.

He snickers awkwardly before his eyes return to Nora. “Of course they can,” he says, shifting his weight uncomfortably. “But usually when they kiss, they’re not just hanging out. I guess you just never know nowadays, right?”

Fuck.Me.

Everyone goes quiet. Not a single sound is heard aside from my heart pounding in my ears.

Nora laughs, still oblivious. “What do you mean?”

She looks between Allie and me, scanning our faces like she’s waiting for some punchline.

“I’ll… uh… catch you guys another time,” Taylor says, raising a thumb over his shoulder. He backs away, clearly wanting to get out before he digs himself deeper.

If only it had been three minutes ago.

Nora’s smile fades, and her head snaps toward Allie. “What did he mean, Allie?”

Allie reaches for Nora’s hand, but Nora yanks it away, her eyes widening as if the pieces are finally starting to fall into place.

Nora takes a few steps back, her gaze darting between Allie and me. “How long?”

“Come on, Nor. Let’s talk at the house,” Allie urges, reaching for her hand again.

But Nora holds both hands up, out of Allie’s reach. “How. Long?” she demands, her voice rising with each word.

Allie stammers, her chest rising and falling with her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. And I’m completely helpless. Unable to doanythingbut watch this all unfold.

Allie closes her eyes for a moment, pinching the bridge of her nose. Then, with a deep breath, she presses her lips together and blurts out, “Four weeks.”

Nora’s eyes go wide in disbelief, and she scoffs. “Fourweeks?” She shouts it so loudly that Allie actually flinches.

I take a step forward, ready to step in, but Allie’s eyes snap to mine while she slowly shakes her head.

“It’s been almost an entire month, practically the whole vacation, but you didn’t bother to tell us? Yourtwo closest friends?” Nora throws air quotes around the words, and I watch Allie’s face crumble.

Nora grabs Gareth’s hand, yanking him toward her as she turns on her heel.

Ana throws up her hands in frustration. “Where are you going?”