Page 52 of The Friendly Fall

“Love you, Mom.”

I set the phone back down on my desk, staring at it in disbelief.She thinks Nick is my boyfriend.

And I mean, it makes sense. I didn’t post any kind of caption specifying otherwise…

Why didn’t I?

“So…” Granny looks at me with a weird expression. “I take it your mom called you about the holidays.”

I nod slowly, meeting her eyes. “Yeah, I guess they’re coming here this year.”

“And do you knowwhy? Hopefully, you set your parents straight about those pictures that you posted.”

I hesitate, which is all it takes for Granny to facepalm herself. “I meant to tell her,” I say quickly. “I just hated to break the news; she was literallysoexcited about it.”

“You need to call her back and tell her the truth.” Granny gestures to my phone on my desk.

“But then she’ll know that I’m forever alone, and then her and Dad will start worrying all over again, and pestering me about my love life…” I reason, guilt pummeling me in the chest. “I don’t want to upset them.”

“Okay, but then what are you going to do? Let them think that Nick is your boyfriend when he’s not? That’s not very fair, either.”

“But—”

“There are no ‘buts’ about it, Eliza Kate.” Her voice grows in sharpness. “You don’t want to start weaving a web of lies. Besides, beyond just your parents, what happens if this gets back to Nick? How do you think that would make him feel?”

I frown. “I’m … I’m not sure.”

In reality, I’m not sure that Nick wouldhatethe idea of the two of us being together. He’s starting to show clinical signs of a crush—ones that I’ve been ignoring.

Granny sighs. “I’m gonna let you work this one out on your own—you’re a grown woman—but I would think wisely about calling your poor mother back and telling her the truth.”

I raise a brow. “So, does that mean there’s a chance youdon’twant me to call her?”

She shakes her head. “Maybe you should think aboutwhyyou didn’t tell her the truth about you and Nickjustbeing friends in the first place.”

My mouth drops open in defense. “Um, obviously, it’s because I don’t want my parents to worry about me.”

“Mhmm.” Granny gives me a sly smile. “I still think there’ssomething—”

I hold up my hand and cut her off. “No, Granny. Even if therewassomething, I’m not looking for anything more than a friend. I don’t…” I pause, thinking of the way my stomach flips when Nick gets close. “I don’t think it’s right for me to date right now.”

“If you say so.”

“I do,” I mutter.

“Better call your mom back then. Better to make them worry about you being alone than to lie to them.”

“Okay, okay,” I mutter, letting out a sigh.

My granny taps the doorframe, giving me one last look before she leaves me alone in my room again. I pick up my phone, listening to her hums fade as she heads down the hallway.

Ugh.

I stare at the screen. What do I even say?

Sorry mom, I was just caught off guard by you thinking Nick is my boyfriend.

I run my fingers through my hair, my mind going back to the pictures. Why did I ever post those in the first place?

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