Page 57 of Outcast
“I’m sorry. That sounds tough.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “But I’m not letting you change the subject. Tell mesomethingabout your date night with Gray.”
“It wasn’t a date,” I murmured.
A little girl came into the tent. Allison waved her off. “Emory’s taking a break. Come back in twenty minutes, okay?”
“Okay!”
“Chasing off children to drool over my sex life. That’s just sad, Ally.”
She grinned. “You need to eat, anyway.”
She wasn’t wrong there. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until she’d brought me a plate. I forked up some potato salad. Allison waited me out while I took a few more bites. Finally, I caved to her unwavering stare.
“Okay, we hooked up.”
“Yes!” She wiggled. “Tell me everything.”
“No way.”
“Tell me it was good, at least.”
“It was good. Really good.” I reached for the bottle of water next to my painting supplies and took a swig.
“I’m so happy for you. When are you seeing him again?”
“Uh, well?—”
My mom stepped into the tent, carrying a bowl full of cherry cobbler. Grandpa was right behind her.
“Seeing who again?” Mom asked.
“Just a work thing,” I said quickly.
At the same time, Allison blurted, “Marty.”
“About the reunion planning,” I said. “We want the bank to sponsor our parade float.”
“Right,” Allison said. “That Marty. He loves a good float!”
Grandpa’s bushy eyebrows rose higher and higher. It was pretty clear he wasn’t buying our rambling.
Mom just smiled brightly. “It’s so lovely to see you two spending time together.”
Allison stood up. “I just popped by to talk reunion plans. I’m off to bouncy house duty!”
“Oh, you don’t have to go—” Mom started, but Grandpa had already taken Allison’s seat.
“I call dibs on the next face-painting,” he said.
“Not until Emory has his cherry cobbler,” Mom insisted, pushing the bowl at me. “It’s his favorite.”
I glanced at the cherry cobbler—mybrother’sfavorite, not mine—and didn’t have the heart to turn it down.
“Thanks, Mom. I’m really stuffed, though. I just ate two hot dogs.”
“Oh. Well. I’ll just sit it here, and you can eat it when you’re ready.” She beamed at me. “I know how much you love it. I made it just for you.”
