Page 47 of You Again

Twenty-Three

Fran: Callum and I are having a Fourth of July party. Can you come?

Me: As in, the three of us? Just you, me, and Cal?

Fran: It’s a party, Rose.

Me: So, Grammy, too?

Fran: And friends we’d like to introduce you to.

Me: Friends like?

Fran: Friends like Stella.

Me: Thanks. But I have plans.

Fran: ROSE.

Me: I do. While meeting people who I don’t know that already know me sounds like a recipe for disaster, I really do have plans. My café buddy asked me to do something, and I said okay.

It’s a lie. I actually said, No thanks. But apparently, this honest girl is getting in all her white lies this year. Besides, it’s a lie with a good cause. So, I don’t think it counts.

Me: Also… you need to come over. I saw Robert again. While I was with the redhead.

Fran: WAIT. WHAT?

Me: Grammy is waiting. I’m only telling the story once.

Fran: On my way.

My left leg is falling asleep. I have been cross-legged on my living room floor, in the depths of telling Fran and Grammy about my day. About seeing Zev—who I’ve explained to Fran is the redhead—and then Robert.

They are a very attentive audience.

I know that look Fran is giving me. I haven’t mentioned Zev by name until this very minute and I’m certain she’s annoyed with me. I’ve called him my café buddy and the redhead, and I think she assumed I meant Carlos or some elderly tea-drinking woman I met there. I let her assume away. So, I might as well get out all my truth and get in all her wrath at once.

“There’s one more thing,” I say, refusing to give life to my dead leg until I have everything out.

“There’s more?” Grammy says with a chuckle. “What an exciting life you’re leading, Rosalie.”

“Yeah.” I swallow, my eyes skirting to Fran. “When Robert came over, I grabbed Zev’s hand, I dragged him over, and I told Robert he was my boyfriend.”

Nonsensical sounds leave Fran’s mouth, and she slaps a hand over her lips.

“I blame you!” I say, my heart racing.

“Me?” She drops her hand, her brows knitting. “I wasn’t even there!”

“Yes! But you made me watch all those romcoms with you. It was the first thing that came to my mind. I never would have thought of that on my own.” I rub my hands together and finally decide it’s time to stand. My left leg no longer has any feeling in it whatsoever. And Fran won’t stop staring at me with those wide, deer-in-the-headlight eyes.

I get to my feet, only that first step doesn’t actually agree with me. The rest of my body moves, but my leg is legit dead—it doesn’t come along for the ride, and I topple right over.

I’m on the ground, rolling to my back, looking up at the ceiling. Grammy and Fran step over and peer down at me.

“Rosalie.” Grammy giggles. “I think you’ve really fallen for that redhead.”

Fran snorts out a laugh. She tucks a strand of brown hair behind one ear, the rest of her hair falling around her face, pointing down at me.