Page 18 of Undone

Dammit, things were going to be awkward with himagain. At least this time it was his fault.

“Hey, Zo, are you meditating or something?”

My eyes flew open at the sound of Shannon’s voice in the doorway. “Hey, no, just, uh…thinking.”

I refrained from saying about what. Or whom.

Shannon plopped down at the table across from me. “Woman, it’s Friday night at six. Why are you still working?”

I laughed. “You know how I operate.”

“I do, which is why I’m here to make you a better offer. Let’s head out and grab a drink or something. A girl’s night out.”

I shuddered at the phrase. My old roommates always used to squeal about “GNO” as I sat in my room working.

“No, I’m okay. I’ll pass.”

Shannon frowned at me. “Come on. We’ll hit up the Squeaky Wheel, just like the old days.”

“Gross, no thank you.” I pretended to gag. “I stick out like a sore thumb there.”

“You can borrow my boots again,” she singsonged. “Just change out of the death metal T-shirt and you’ll pass for a Poplar Springs lifer.”

“Do you remember what happened the last time I went there?” I demanded.

Shannon squinted at me. “Uh, you had a great time with me, just like you will tonight?”

“No, someone put that song “Awkward Girl” on repeat on the jukebox. They played it like ten times.”

“Oh yeah, now I remember,” she said with a scowl. “But who says that was about you? Maybe someone there just liked the song?”

“I guess you didn’t see the horse girl clique laughing at me the whole time?”

“Things are different now, Zo,” Shannon said. “We’re grown-ups.”

I shook my head. “People in this town don’t change.” I’d already witnessed that when we’d gone shopping.

“Fine,” Shannon finally said. “I get it. And you might enjoy hanging out with Josh more than me. He’s due back in an hour or so. Maybe you two can watch a movie or something?”

I tried to keep my face neutral as I processed the information. Alone with Josh? When I still couldn’t stop having tremor-inducing fantasies about him while he considered me nothing more than a sister? No thanks.

“You know what? I think Iwillgo out with you after all. Might be good to clear my head.”

“Yeah,” Shannon cheered, clapping. “This’ll be fun!”

I highly doubted that I could have anything close to fun at the ancient country-western bar, but I was willing to risk it to avoid having to face Josh on my own.

“Give me ten minutes to get ready.” I looked down at what I was wearing. “Make that twenty.”

“Have you seen that new series,Last to Know?” the girl asked, leaning forward and shouting to be heard above the old-school country music.

I couldn’t remember her name. It was Kayla, or Emma, or McKenzie. Shannon had introduced her friends in quick succession, and I’d been so focused on trying to keep my face arranged in a normal, happy expression that I didn’t connect the names to the faces. They all seemed friendly; it was just that we didn’t have any common ground.

I shook my head. “I don’t watch much TV.”

“Gotcha. It’s good, you should check it out,” the girl said agreeably, then looked around the room.

Shannon was deep in conversation with the other two women we’d connected with shortly after arriving at the Squeaky Wheel. One of them kept fluttering her left hand up near her face, showing off her new engagement ring. I wished I had something meaningful to contribute to the conversation, but the world of wedding planning was lost on me. I liked going to weddings, but I had no idea what went into them—nor did I have any real interest in finding out.

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