Page 47 of How We Fooled

“Eli, I don’t want to get in the way of your sports career. Don’t think that I’m trying to stop you from playing anything or going anywhere. I’ll support you in whatever you choose.”

He nods. “I knew you would. That’s why I wasn’t worried about it. I knew what we had going here was strong enough to withstand wherever I was or whatever I was doing.”

“Okay, so what is it?”

He takes a deep breath. “Liza, I’m a student at Leighton River High School. I’m going to be a senior this year.”

I feel all the blood leave my face as I let what he just said compute in my brain.

“You’re a what?”

“I’m a senior in high school.”

I stand, needing space for a second. I think about the past month and what’s gone on. How would I not know he’s a senior in high school? How would I not know he’s that young?

I shake my head, not believing what he’s saying. “That’s not possible.”

He stands and grabs my hands with a sense of desperation.

“I asked if you were still in school,” I state, trying to understand.

“Yes, and I told you I was.”

“You didn’t say high school!” I yell out.

“You asked about school, and I answered. I didn’t think right then that it mattered which school I went to.”

“Eli! It matters!”

“No, it doesn’t. Well, it didn’t. Until now. You didn’t tell me you were looking to teach high school. I thought you wanted to be an elementary school teacher.”

I step away from him, then have a moment of panic. “How old are you? Oh my God. Are you even legal for me to date?”

“Liza, please. Don’t go there. I’m eighteen. I turned eighteen the week before we met.”

My chest tightens.

One week. He was only one week legal. If I’d met him a week before …

I think back to the times we talked about school or age. I don’t know anything about sports, be it high school or college, so I guess I just assumed he was in college. I remember ordering a drink at the restaurant and he didn’t.

I cover my mouth as the thought crashes into me. It’s because he legally couldn’t.

Memories of Matthew telling the kids he’s a senior pop in my head, and I start to panic. I thought he meant senior in college, but that means …

“Matthew knew you were a senior in high school …” I say under my breath.

“Yes, of course he knew.”

I start to pace, needing space to think. “Oh my God, he must think I’m disgusting. He knows my age. He knows your age.”

“Stop.” He grabs my hands. “Just stop whatever is going on in your head. I’m still me, and you’re still you.” He places his hand on my cheek. “And he didn’t care one bit either.”

I pull my hands away from him. “Oh, he cared. I must have been the talk of the night between him and his wife. I’m sure they were like, Can you believe she’s dating someone still in high school? How much older is she than him? Oh God!” I sit down, not sure if I should throw up or have a full-blown panic attack right here in my bedroom.

Eli kneels in front of me. “Don’t go there. I guarantee they weren’t talking about you or us like that.”

I nod my head overdramatically. “Oh, yes, they were! Why wouldn’t they?” I do the quick math in my head, then instantly regret it. “I’m five years older than you!” I say a little too loud.

---