Page 37 of The Accidental Text

I felt heavy tonight when I sat down to watch my shows and eat my junk food. But now I feel lighter. Interesting.

Maggie:Happy to help, and thanks for the tips.

Chase:Have a good night

Chapter 12

“I’m sorry, Maggie, but Halmoni wants me to tell you that you look too tan and that too much sun is bad for your skin.”

Hannah turns toward me, giving the back of her head to her grandma, and mouths “sorry” while rolling her eyes.

“It’s self-tanner,” I say, nodding my head at the both of them.

Hannah tells her grandma this in Korean.

Halmoni says something back and then looks at me and shakes her head slowly, disappointment on her face.

“She doesn’t believe you. She thinks you’re going to tanning beds.”

“I’m not! I promise.”

Hannah closes her eyes and puffs air out of her cheeks. She says something to her grandma, her voice elevated, and Halmoni raises her voice back. They are basically now fighting over my fake tan.

This doesn’t happen every time I’m here, but it happens often enough that I’m used to it and don’t worry about it. I appreciate Halmoni’s lecturing through Hannah. It’s nice to know she cares. If Hannah’s mom were here, she’d probably break it up, but I see her so rarely nowadays. She’s always working. Hannah too. It sometimes worries me, seeing Hannah work so much.

I get back to thejjajangmyeonHannah’s grandma made usfor dinner, while the two of them hash it out. I’m on my second bowl of the noodle dish; it’s one of my favorite things that Halmoni makes, even if Hannah doesn’t appreciate it as much. She says it’s like a Korean version of mac and cheese. Which makes me wonder, who doesn’t like mac and cheese? I’ll even eat the boxed version,on purpose.

I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket and pull it out to see I have a text from Chase.

Chase:I listened to sad country music today.

Maggie:Rookie mistake. I should have warned you.

Chase:It was more painful than I thought it would be.

Maggie:I can say that part does get better. I don’t cry over any old song now. They have to be ones that mean something.

Chase:She loved country music

Maggie:My mom did too

Chase:What are you up to?

Maggie:Eating dinner at my friend’s mom’s house.

Chase:Is this the one with the grandma who lectures you?

How does he know that? I do a search in my messaging app for Hannah’s name and see this one I sent to my mom:

Maggie:We went to dinner at Hannah’s tonight and her grandma made us those noodles you loved. I think she’s made it her job to see that I’m fed. She also lectured me—through Hannah—about how my shirts are too old and I look like a slob. I just threw on an old T-shirt and some sweats to go over there. I probably did look like a slob. At least you can rest easy knowing I’m still being mommed. Miss you.

I go back to Chase’s messages.

Maggie:You’re not forgetting my texts, and you promised you would.

Chase:Right. Sorry. Will work harder.

Chase:How about I tell you something so we’re even?

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