“What do you mean?”
I threaded our fingers together. “We kind of got into a fight last night. She was upset that I went dress shopping with Allison and not her. And it kind of spiraled into this same conversation. She was upset that I didn’t believe she had changed, and I told her that she had broken my trust so much after promising to not go back—only to go back again and again—that I’d believe it when I saw it.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. It felt good to get off my chest, but Mom hasn’t been okay since. And the worst is, I don’t even fully feel bad.”
“Because you’re numb to it.”
“I guess.”
He grinned. “What kind of dress shopping did you do?”
Time to drop the hints. “Graduation dress shopping. Though Allison ended up picking up her prom dress instead.”
“Has Mike asked her yet?”
“Not according to Allison.”
“Let me guess. He’s doing the whole ‘assuming they’re going together’ thing?”
I paused. “How did you know?”
“I’ve been talking to him about it. I’ve told him that formally asking her is what girls like. Assuming things is only going to upset her in the short term.”
I narrowed my eyes playfully. “What else have you and Michael been talking about?”
He winked. “Does it matter?”
“Yes, it matters. I didn’t even know the two of you talked outside of school.”
“I guess we’ve been getting along, yeah.”
“So are you wanting to go to prom?”
He smiled. “Are you asking me to go with you?”
“No. Just wondering if that’s your scene.”
“And if it is?”
Just ask me already. “I don’t know. Just wondering.”
“Uh huh. Just wondering? That’s all?”
“Yeah. Why?”
He shrugged. “No reason.”
“Now, you're just being frustrating.”
He chuckled. “And even when you’re frustrated, you’re gorgeous.”
33
Clinton
Rae still had three hours to go on her shift before she was done for the day. And I decided to stick around. I stayed at the coffee shop and did some writing in my notebook. I checked my bank account. Started on a budget. I wanted to have what finances I did have in line for my trip with Cecilia after school tomorrow. I wanted her to know exactly what I could contribute and what I wanted to take care of once we moved.