Page 48 of If You Want Me

Not sure there will be a date two.

My mom responds first.

Mom

That’s too bad, honey. The right someone is out there. You’ll find them when they’re ready for you!

I shift to my private messages with Rix.

Aurora

20-year-olds don’t do it for me.

My group message goes off first:

Rix

Does he push food onto his fork with his fingers instead of his knife?

Hemi

Did he order liver and onions? You know secretly he’s a grandpa inside if he does.

Dred

Can he even grow facial hair yet?

Tally

Why is liver and onions on the menu at the diner?

Maybe he’s nervous.

My private messages with Rix buzz.

Rix

I don’t know if it’s fair to compare him to a professional hockey player.

Aurora

*Side eye* He’s applied to grad school all over the country.

I move down to my messages with Hollis:

Aurora

WTF was that bullshit?

The bell above the door dings, and I glance up, then slide over in the booth until I’m practically eating the wall. This can’t be happening.

CHAPTER 15

HAMMER

“Peggy? I thought you were going for coffee.” Dad approaches the table. “Where’s your friend? Did he leave already?”

Hollis lags behind, his phone in his hand. He frowns and slips it back in his pocket without responding to my message. My stomach flip flops with fresh guilt over the secrets I’m keeping from him, but my anger overrides it.