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“So,” Mom says as she sets down a giant bowl of potato salad, “what were you talking about?”
“Nothing,” I jump in.
“Alli’s new love interest.” Cass and her big mouth.
“Oh!” Mom squeals beside Dad’s ear, and he cringes. “Who is it?”
“Shhhh!” I hiss. The last thing I need is Terence coming out to find us all talking about my ‘love interest’ when, darn it, it’s him.
“She’s keeping it from Terence for now,” Cass not-so-whispers.
“Ohhhh,” Mom and Dad both say at once.
“It’s no big deal.” I wave my hand and hope that conveys let it go. “Just a thing.”
“Just a thing,” Mom and Dad repeat and look at each other.
I hate when they do that. “What? Why are you guys looking at each other like that?”
“Alli, dear,” Mom starts.
“You haven’t changed,” Dad picks up.
“The more you underplay it, the more serious it is.”
My jaw drops. “What? Not me. That’s not it at all.”
Cass raises an eyebrow. “The lady doth protest too much.”
“It must be someone very special.” Mom giggles. Actually giggles.
The glass door slides open.
“Did I hear special?” Terence announces. “The only thing special around here are these steaks!”
“HA! THAT’S FUNNY!” Okay, that was louder than I intended, but the tension of my family revealing they know me better than I know myself was too much.
Everyone looks at me like I’m a weirdo, and then Cass’s face changes.
She knows.
She looks at Mom, who covers her mouth in realization. I open my eyes wide at Mom, who gets my drift.
Dad appears oblivious to it all. “Turn down the volume, Alli girl. It wasn’t that funny. No offense, Terence.”
“None taken. Now, how about that potato salad? My parents should be here any minute.” Terence strolls past me to the barbeque. “You all right, Alli-bear?”
“Fine, fine.” Smile at him. Not like that, like a normal person.
Cass takes a deep breath and bites her lip.
I have a lot of explaining to do.
Terence – Monday
I wake up Monday morning to the sound of panting in my ear. I’m not feeling rested, but maybe that’s because the image of Alli squirming under my hold in the corner of the kitchen kept me awake all night.
When I turn my head, there’s a big wet nose that nuzzles mine.
