Page 25 of Faking it with my Off Limits Neighbor

Troy looks at the box carefully. “I didn’t take you for a Choco-Pops kind of gal.” He’s mocking me, and I know it, but there’s little I can do. We both know I’m lying, and at this moment, I just want to get out of this situation.

“Are you hiding from someone?” he asks quietly as we both stand and replace the boxes.

“No, I am not hiding from someone,” I retort. “Who on Earth would I be hiding from?”

Troy shrugs. “How would I know? I’m not the one playing hide and seek.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Says the woman sneaking around with her basket of groceries.”

“Charlie? Where are you?” Dad calls out across the store. “Are you done?”

“Oh, look. Just like old times. Daddy’s still relying on his little girl,” Troy says. He’s trying to be lighthearted, but I can see the strain in his face.

“I’ve got to go,” I say.

“Catch you later,” he replies. He lifts one of the cereal boxes and shakes it at me. “Have you forgotten something?”

He’s chuckling now, and I want to throw whatever I have in my basket at his head. Instead, I scowl at him and then hurry around the corner.

“There you are,” Dad says as I reach the counter. “I thought you’d gone to Walmart in the next town over.” He glances over my shoulder as though he expects to see someone else, and then he narrows his eyes. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, Dad. Let’s buy these groceries and get you home for lunch.”

* * *

Milly calls me after work. She wants to come over, but honestly, I’m too tired after dealing with Dad, and I tell her so.

“That’s okay,” Milly says with her usual understanding. She knows all about Dad and how he can be. “But we need to meet up soon. I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Milly. I’ve just been so busy.”

There is a moment where neither of us speaks, and my Spidey senses start to tingle. It’s rare that Milly doesn’t have something to say.

“What is it?” I ask, needing to know what’s going on.

“Oh, nothing really. I was just wondering how things are with you and Troy,” she says.

“Fine, Milly. Things are just fine,” I reply carefully.

“Oh, come on, Charlie. Don’t give me that. Two weeks ago, you nearly took my head off for not telling you that he was back. The other day, when I showed up, you looked utterly disappointed that he was leaving. Something is going on.”

I’ve never kept secrets from Milly, and yet, there is a part of me that is wary of telling her what I’m feeling. I quickly shake that feeling off. She’s my best friend. I should just tell her.

“All right,” I sigh. “You want the truth?”

“All of it,” Milly says excitedly.

“The truth is, I’m struggling to keep him out of my head.”

“I knew it,” she blurts.

“It’s not like that,” I defend.

“It’s exactly like that, and you know it,” Milly counters. “We both know you never got over him, Charlie.”

I nod, even though she can’t see it. It’s the truth, and there’s no point in denying it. “Yes, well. I didn’t think I would ever see him again.”

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