I let out a yelp as she grabbed me by the ankle and dragged me off the bed. With no other choice, I threw my hands up and relented, “Okay, fine. I’ll get in the shower.”
Georgia offered me a kind smile. “Great. We’ll be downstairs when you’re finished.”
To which, Monica added, “Do not get back in that bed,” as she jabbed her finger at the food-stained sheets.
* * *
It tooktwo washes to get my hair clean, and I’d had to scour my teeth with my electric toothbrush until they felt smooth, but by the time I stepped out of the bathroom, I felt a little more human. I just wasn’t sure that was necessarily a good thing.
I followed the scent of freshly brewed coffee to my kitchen where almost everyone I loved sat gathered around my island.
“This feels like an intervention,” I muttered as I moved to the coffee maker and poured myself a cup.
“Luna?”
At Evan’s soft, uncertain tone, I turned around and joined the little group at the island, standing directly across from the beautiful girl with the worried blue eyes. “Yeah, honey?”
She chewed on her bottom lip, a nervous habit I’d noticed, and asked, “Are you okay?”
I wasn’t, not even close, but I also wasn’t going to dump my problems on her. After all, I had no one but myself to blame. “Yeah,” I said with a strained smile. “I’m okay. Just a little sad.”
“Are you sad because you and my dad broke up?”
My eyes went wide and shot over to Monica. “Are you kidding me? You told?”
“Don’t look at me,” she cried defensively. “I didn’t say a word!”
“Wait, you told her and not me?” Cheyanne pointed a finger in Monica’s direction while looking at me, then whipped around on Monica. “She told you and you didn’t tell me?”
“All right,” Georgia started in a firm, no-nonsense tone. “That’s quite enough of that. You ladies are about to do my head in.” She heaved out a sigh and shook her head. “Cheyanne, get over it. You know how it goes with secrets between friends. You keep them no matter what. Luna, you stop your blaming. No one told anyone anything. You and my boy aren’t nearly as good at hiding things as you think you are.”
I flushed and lowered my head to hide my embarrassment.
“Grandma’s right. You two were always smiling at each other, and you’ve both been in way better moods. Plus, every time I came by the office, either he was sitting on your desk really close or you were sitting on his really close. Either way, it was gross. No fourteen-year-old girl should see her dad mooning over a woman, no matter how much I like you.”
Monica laughed outright while Cheyanne at least had the decency to try and hide it behind her hand.
“So is that why you’re sad? Because you broke up? Because Dad’s been in the worst mood all week long.”
“Really?” I wasn’t sure it was healthy that I got a little thrill at that news, but I did. He’d just been so cool all week that he wasn’t giving a damn thing away.
“Yeah. He’s been moping around the apartment and staring into space. And he’s snapping at every little thing. He got onto me yesterday for breathing too loud.” She leaned in, her face a mask of seriousness as she repeated, “Breathing. I can’t control that! Who can control that?”
“All right, sweetie.” Georgia gave her granddaughter’s hand a pat to calm her down. “We all understand.”
Evan pulled in a couple of deep breaths, and when she’d calmed down, she started again. “What happened?” she asked, her face awash with sadness and concern. “Did he do something? I’m sure if you tell him what he did, he’ll fix it. He’s a really great guy. I don’t understand why you don’t like him anymore.”
Oh God, this girl was killing me. I blinked furiously to keep the tears at bay. “Oh, honey, it’s not that.”
“Then what?” she demanded to know. “I know I’m just a kid, but I’m not stupid. I know you made my dad really happy. Like, happier than he ever was with my mom. He deserves that. And I know he made you happy too, because if he didn’t you wouldn’t have been moping around in your bed for days, stinking the place up.”
I had to curl my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing, because from the fierce determination on her face, she wasn’t joking, and the last thing I wanted to do was insult her.
“He didn’t do anything, Evan. In fact, he was perfect. It was me. I’m the one who messed it all up. Some people aren’t built for relationships. I really, really liked your dad, but I’ve just got too much baggage.”
“You mean your mom?”
“Oh babe,” Cheyanne whispered with gentle sympathy. She was the only one who knew the full story of my mother. Aside from the small bit I’d given to Evan, I’d never said anything about her. She was my shameful secret I hadn’t wanted getting out.