Page 140 of Girls Will Be Girls
“Although I do appreciate the lack of online presence,” Walden says.
“Yes,” Deb says dramatically. “Everyone is sharing everything these days.”
Walden swallows a mouthful of scotch. “All about this TikTok and thegram.”
“Always something new.” Deb tuts. “It’s never-ending.”
“Louisa’s an amazing writer.” Lou butts in clearly trying to save me and stop his parents talking.
“Yes, we read a few of your older pieces,” Deb says.
“You write about economics,” Walden says. “Same as your father, correct?”
“Oh, um.” My breath hitches, and my mouth feels like Nevada. I take a sip of my drink, but I swear the tonic just makes it worse. I try not to grimace at the taste.
“I used to be.” I finally say with as big a smile as I can muster, deciding not to panic about them knowing so much about me. “I write under a different name now.”
“Oh, interesting,” Deb says.
“What field did you move to?” Walden adds.
“Um,” I say, buying time as if it’ll save me. As if I won’t need to tell them. But then I think of what Lou said, how I should never feel embarrassed by what I do, no matter who makes me feel like I should. I square my shoulders and decide to feel the pride for my work that I genuinely feel inside. “I work for a magazine.Lure.”
“She does these incredible travel pieces,” Lou adds on with a full smile.
I smile up at him, so grateful for him.
“They’re usually travel and wellbeing. Like, finding hidden exercise gems in different places. ” I say. “That kind of thing.”
Now Lou’s parents look like the deers, and my revelation was the headlights hitting them straight on. I swallow loudly, trying not to let their reaction make me self-conscious, let it make me feel any less than the great writer I am.
“She’s amazing,” Lou says. “No one writes like her.” He smiles down at me.
His warm words and warmer smile make me glow inside, forcing another smile out of me.
“I bet,” Deb says dryly.
My smile drops straight back into fake territory.
Lou’s parents share a look, and before what I think was about to be Lou bigging me up even more, his father claps Lou on the back.
“Son, I have someone I need you to meet.” He says.
Lou goes to bring me with him, our hands still intertwined, until his mom links her arm in mine, pulling me back out of his touch.
“Don’t worry, us girls will stay here.” She says.
Lou turns back. “Oh, I-”
“Lou, you can be away from her for one minute.” His mom scoffs with a laugh. “I’ll take good care of her.”
I look up at Lou, trying my best not to let the anxiety in my mind bleed through to my face. I smile at him and nod.
He hesitates but finally goes off with his dad.
“So…” Deb starts, taking us to stand at the edge of the bar. “I assume you’ll be leaving your little magazine once you two have kids, yes?”
“Oh.” I choke a little on my gin at the direct question. “I- I hadn’t thought about it.”
