Truly (New York 1)

That hadn’t been a t

yping delay. Was she talking to him? Thinking about whether she was okay or not?

She’d said Ben was in a bad mood, and Allie could just imagine May placating him. She was sweet like that, always trying to smooth over trouble, to keep people from fighting. May didn’t do well with excess emotion of any kind—too much anger, too much sadness, even too much excitement or elation, and she’d try to find a way to bring the level down.

They were so different. Allie was the small one, but otherwise she was all excess—an explosion of hair and language and big, dramatic feelings—while May was so much bigger but quieter in every way that counted. Her earth-toned clothes and her empathetic, emotion-dampening ways.

And yet here Allie was, about to get married to the kind, quiet boy next door, while May was in New York, possibly instigating a fling with a stern-featured, ticked-off man right after making national news for attacking Dan in front of an audience.

Allielooya: We’ve swapped lives.

XChfSardo: ?

XChfSardo: Did u stab Matty w a fork?

Allielooya: Never mind. Tell me again U R ok.

XChfSardo: I’m great.

Allielooya: U can’t bullshit me.

XChfSardo: Not. Past few days have been crazy.

Allielooya: What kind of crazy?

XChfSardo: Every kind. Difficult & confusing sometimes.

Allielooya: U hate difficult & confusing.

XChfSardo: I know. But it’s ok. Fun, too.

Allielooya: Does not compute.

XChfSardo: I know! Don’t worry. I’m having Life Experiences.

Allie snorted. Their mother was big on “life experiences,” at least in the abstract.

Allielooya: Life xperiences r scary. U need training wheels.

XChfSardo: Nope. Dived in deep end. It’s ok—I can swim!

Allielooya: But the sharks! The eels! Sharp coral! Aaaaaa!

XChfSardo: U sound like Mom.

Allielooya: Somebody has to. If not u …

XChfSardo: Ha. Very funny.

Allielooya: Seriously, ur safe w him?

XChfSardo: Definitely. Don’t worry.

XChfSardo: Has Dan called? Strange radio silence.

Allie’s fingers hovered over the keyboard. She typed Dan is here, then stared at the words.

If May knew, she’d feel guilty. Maybe she’d feel like she had to rush home even sooner, like Dan was a problem she had to solve. But she’d broken up with him. She wasn’t responsible for him anymore.