Page 90 of The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright

‘It’s not like that,’ I say quickly. ‘I’m friends with his grandad.’

‘You’re what?’

‘Long story, but I met this old man who needed some help, and then I met Shayne and turns out they’re Elaine’s father and son. But they don’t speak.’

‘Wait? Who doesn’t speak? The old man? Is he a patient?’

‘No. No. Not like he can’t speak. He can. A lot, and he can be pretty sarcastic actually.’

‘Riiiight. But you’re friends with him and his sarcasm.’

‘Yes.’

‘And the son? Are you friends with him too?’

‘The grandson,’ I correct. ‘Malcolm’s grandson. Elaine’s son.’

‘Okay, gotcha. So who doesn’t speak?’ she asks, excitedly invested. I imagine her lying on her couch with her feet up, enjoying hearing all about the new people in my life. I haven’t had new people to gossip about like this sense our college days and a warm wave of nostalgia washes over me.

‘Elaine and Malcolm. Something must have happened years ago, and they haven’t spoken since.’

‘Oh, that’s sad,’ she says. ‘And the son?’

‘He’s home from New York, bad breakup, so he’s taking care of Malcolm.’

‘So he’s single,’ she chirps.

‘Cora!’

‘What? It’s just an observation. Is he hot?’

‘Cora,’ I scold again, my voice finally above a whisper.

‘Ha ha, so he is.’

‘It’s not like that.’

She continues to giggle. ‘You said that already.’

‘Did I?’

‘Yes. Which means itistotallylike that. Oh my God, Bea. You like the hot grandson.’

I do. I really, really do.

‘He’s going back to New York soon,’ I say.

‘Well, then you need to hurry up. Does he know you like him?’

‘Declan and I just broke up,’ I say. ‘I’m not looking to date anyone right now. Shayne is just a friend. That’s all.’

‘Um.’ I hear Cora purse her lips and I can tell she doesn’t believe me. Of course she doesn’t. I am a terrible liar. But the truth is nothing can happen between Shayne and me, and not just because he’s leaving the country soon. Even if he stayed inIreland, I can’t date the guy. I’m already running out of excuses every time he offers to drop me home. I can tell he suspects something isn’t quite right. I cannot risk anyone, even Shayne or Malcolm, finding out the truth.

‘Cora, will you keep it down,’ I hear Finton’s voice in the distance. ‘I’ve work at sixa.m.’

It’s Cora’s turn to whisper as she says, ‘I gotta go. But text Shayne. Even if it’s just a simple good night. Let him know you’re thinking about him before you fall sleep. What’s the harm in that?’

‘Yeah. Maybe. Na’night,’ I say.

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