Page 66 of Now That We Don't Talk

I blink. “Oh—okay. I will.”

My head nods in agreement, but my mom isn’t satisfied just yet. “Perfect. How about tonight?”

I chuckle. I should’ve known she’d say this. “I’ll ask her if she’s available.”

Kyle still hasn’t responded to my text, but that’s okay. I shift gears and type out a new message.

Hey you. Good morning.

Less than ten seconds pass before my phone buzzes. At least some people are talking to me.

Hi. Good morning to you. I missed a call from Katie this morning. About to call her back. Wish me luck.

I cringe. After my difficult conversation with her brother, I don’t know what to expect.

Good luck.I pause before typing the next part.Also, do you have plans tonight? My mom would like you to come to dinner.

I hit send before I give it a second thought. And now Vivian knows—knows I told my parents about her, orus, or at least enough for them to extend an invitation.

I stare at my phone, waiting for her answer. I hope she says yes.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

VIVIAN

Inearly drop my phone when I read Mac’s text. His mother has invited me to dinner. I guess this means he told her about me. Or at least that we’ve been spending time together.

I stare at the message, my heart beating a little faster than I’d like to admit. While I don’t know Mrs. Evans personally, I know she’s close friends with Katie’s mom. She’s always been friendly, but an invitation to dinner at their home is unexpected.

I don’t respond right away, my mind spinning with thoughts. It’s possible I’m overthinking this. I’m curious what Mac’s shared with her. After a few seconds my phone buzzes again with another message from Mac.

No pressure.

I exhale, realizing I’ve left him hanging long enough to make him notice. He must think my silence means I’m unsure—which, okay, maybe Iam—but I don’t want him to think I’m hesitating because I don’twantto go.

I throw caution to the wind and quickly type my reply.

That sounds nice. I’ll be there.

There it is. No more overanalyzing. I’m having dinner with Mac’s family.

After I hit send, I remember there’s one more person Ineedto talk to before tonight.

Katie called me this morning while I was in my Pilates class, and I still haven’t called her back. Other than a few texts checking in, we haven’t really talked since she was sick. And if anyone can help me make sense of this, it’s her—assuming she doesn’t have a similar reaction to Kyle’s.

I tap her name and wait, chewing my lip as the phone rings.

“Hey, Vivi,” she answers, sounding a thousand times better than the last time we talked.

“Oh, you sound so much better,” I say. “How are you feeling?”

“Finally feeling alive again,” she exclaims.

“Good,” I say, smiling.

“Now tell me what’s going on,” she demands. “It sounds like everything has completely fallen apart since I’ve been out of commission.”

I laugh, nervously. “Well…what have you heard?”

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