Page 159 of Between the Lines

“Yes,” I say instead. “I have met someone. But it’s still very new.”

Mom beams a wide smile and leans in, nearly pushing Dad off the screen. “Really? Tell me more, honey.”

“Is he a big, famous actor?” Dad asks out of view. “Is he in any of the movies I know?”

“No, but I did meet Logan Edwards the other day.”

Mom draws in a breath. “You did?”

“Who’s that?” Dad asks.

She nudges him. “The young boy who was so good in that space movie we saw after Christmas.”

“Oh. Right.” It’s clear Dad has no clue who she’s talking about.

“Anyway, honey. Who’s the man?”

“He works here in Los Angeles,” I say and pick at the hem of my T-shirt off-screen.

“In the entertainment industry?” Mom’s face is equal part hopeful and equal part cautious.

I know what they want to hear.

“Not really. More on the corporate side of it.” I shrug. “Anyway, it’s still very, very new.”

“LA is far, but it’s not that bad,” Dad says. “Have you asked your boyfriend if he’d be willing to move to Elmhurst?”

I laugh. “No, and I’m not planning to.”

“Shoot.”

We all know that I’m not comfortable in that town anymore. Not with everyone knowing what happened. The community is small, and my parents have been living with my shame there for nearly a decade.

But we like to pretend as if it never happened.

We’ve become good at it, the three of us. We had to.

“Do you think you’d want to come home? After your deadline?” Mom asks in a gentle voice. “It’s Grandma’s birthday, and we’re inviting all your cousins, too.”

“You don’t have to answer now,” Dad says. “Think about it.”

“Maybe. Will you text me the date of the party?” I ask.

Mom smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Like she already suspects I’m only asking to humor her, certain I won’t come. It feels like a knife wound, that look. To know that I’mstilldisappointing them.

“Absolutely.”

“Honey,” Dad says. “We still don’t know the name of the person you’re writing the book about!”

“You know I’ve signed NDAs.”

“Yes, but come on. We’ll find out in a few months anyway, and we won’t tell anyone,” Dad says. “Is it someone I know?”

“Dad, you don’tknowanyone.”

“That’s not true. I know the guy who played Rocky. And the one who played Han Solo!”

“What are their names?”

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