But I know better, so I wait.
“I just don’t understand it.” Jenna turns her body so she’s shifted in her seat, facing me. “Why is he doing this? I thought you had this all locked up. Instead, he’s being a douche, just like a typical guy.”
I tap on the steering wheel and nod. “Well…I guess it just wasn’t enough.” My words come out just barely above a whisper, sort of raspy.
“Okay, whatever, Molly. He can’t be one way when you’re alone then act like a total dick when he’s in public. F that shit.” The wind whips around us, and Jenna watches me for a few seconds before adding. “So…what are you going to do if he calls?”
I laugh almost bitterly. “He won’t call. He’s never called.”
“Okay, what are you going to do if he texts.”
Good question. “I have no idea.”
“Well you better figure it out, because if I know guys—and I do know guys—he is totally going to come crawling back, Molly, and when he does, I want you to be prepared.” She flops back in the passenger seat with a loud sigh. “Ugh. This sucks. You didn’t even get laid.”
A short burst of nervous laughter comes out of my mouth in response to her outrageous comment. “Like that was my whole objective. You are such a pig!”
Uh, yeah, like the sex thing didn’t totally cross my mind.
“I’m serious, Molly, you totally got robbed.”
“I wasn’t…with him so I could get a piece of him, Jenna. I was with him because I genuinely like him, and I thought he liked me.” I say this so quietly I’m not sure she hears me.
She reaches over to pat the hand that’s resting on the gearshift, and I know she understands.
The rest of the afternoon drags on. I’m sitting at the counter in the kitchen with my algebra book when my mom bustles in, a brown paper bag of groceries under each of her arms. She gives me a sideways glance, sets the bags down, and turns around with a “Hey.”
“Hey back,” I say with a forced smile. Mom looks at me for a minute, studying me closely as only a mom will do. I can tell she’s trying to figure me out. Am I crabby? Am I sad? Am I just busy with homework?
“Hmm….” she mutters, slightly narrowing her eyes and tilting her head. I swear, if she were an animal, she’d be a predator with the way she’s eyeballing me. Finally, she slaps her hands on the counter in front of me. “Okay, what’s wrong? Tell your mother. And don’t bother saying nothing, because we both know it’s a lie.”
What is she, a mind reader? Sheesh.
I bite my lip and debate, avoiding eye contact.
“It’s that McGrath boy, isn’t it?” My mom leans in close. “What did he do?”
My head snaps up. “Nothing!” I practically shout, a little too enthusiastically to be believable. Great. If there’s one thing that’s irresistible to a parent, it’s denial, so I dial it down a notch. “Technically he didn’t do anything.”
“So, it’s more a case of what he didn’t do?” Now she’s leaning across the counter on her elbows, the groceries behind her already forgotten.
Gee, I hope nothing in those bags is frozen.
Again, I debate about how much to tell my mom, knowing that she’s going to tell my dad, and then he’ll probably say something to Matthew, because honestly, those two are the worst when it comes to gossip, and what girl needs her whole family knowing the details of her love life going up in flames? I hesitate. “Um…”
My mom waits patiently, not saying a word, which is the worst, because now I know she’s committed to finding out what’s going on.
Silent but deadly.
In an attempt to ignore her and avoid any discussion, I click the button on the side of my phone to check for messages, even though I know there isn’t one; the indicator light isn’t flashing. Heaving out the longest, loudest sigh ever, I set it back down on the counter and push it back and forth on the granite while my mom stares me down.
“All right. It’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it,” she finally relents, turning slowly toward the twin paper bags and taking out the first few items. Are her shoulders slumped, or is that just my imagination?
Ugh, I want to scream! Why does she do this?
Now I feel terrible, guilty even.
I sigh again and blow a few stray hairs out of my eyes. “Fine, I’ll tell you, but you cannot say anything to Dad.” My mom flies around and her elbows are immediately back on the counter as she enthusiastically nods and promises her lips are sealed. I’ll believe that one when I see it.
Finally taking a deep breath, I let it all out, starting from the very beginning.