pretend anything. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. I grew up here.”
“You obviously didn’t miss it much.”
“That’s the thing. I really did.” Dallas hadn’t made it a
habit to cry easily, but at the moment, the moisture sneaking
up in her eyes made it seem like tears were going to be a
reality in short order. She was afraid to look at Quinn so she
kept on walking. Quinn didn’t turn around either. She’d
obviously waited a long time for this.
“If you missed us, why didn’t you call?” That was less
harsh. Quinn’s voice was less certain. Slightly shaky. Maybe
her eyes were getting misty too.
“I couldn’t,” Dallas said. She finally turned, but Quinn was
still walking, and walking quickly, thanks to the flat shoes
she’d worn. “I couldn’t call. I- there was a lot you didn’t
know. There’s still a lot.”
Quinn stopped so abruptly that it was Dallas who just
about tripped over a crack trying to slam on the brakes.
“That’s fine for you to say! You can just make up whatever
you want. It’s already done and you’ve already moved on.”
“Are you telling me that you haven’t?” Dallas wanted to
reach out. She wanted to take Quinn’s hand. Touch her
shoulder. Do something to anchor them together. Quinn’s face
was still firm, her voice still flat, but her large eyes and the
slight tilt to her lips betrayed her emotion.
“No! Of course I have,” Quinn quickly backtracked.
“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just saying that it was
probably a lot easier for you than it was for me.”
“What if it wasn’t?”
“I wouldn’t believe you.”
Dallas hated that the prickle in her nose was getting worse.