Page 144 of Girls Will Be Girls
I grab his hand. “What do we do?” I whisper.
“What do you want to do?” He says.
“Have the earth suck me into the ground so I don’t have to deal with this.”
He laughs. “I’ll get working on it.”
“I’m sorry I ditched you,” I say. “I panicked.
He looks around the tiny broom closet we’re smushed into. “I can see that.” He strokes my jaw with his thumb. “You want to tell them the truth?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
“Do you guys actually know any of the people here?” Frida interjects.
“It’s mostly my parents’ friends,” Lou says.
“What’s up with that, by the way?” I say. “Where are allyourfriends?” I ask Lou.
“I’ve never introduced any of my friends to my parents. I’ve never even told them about any of them, and they never ask.” He says.
“That’s so sad,” Dylan says.
“Saves them from shit like this.” Lou chuckles.
“You two are so similar.” Frida smiles.
“Yes, yes, we’re adorable with mommy and daddy issues,” I say impatiently. “What do we do though?”
“Do you like any of these people?” Frida asks.
“Apart from us, obviously,” Dylan adds on.
We look at each other. “No.” We both say in unison.
Frida looks at us as if it’s obvious. “Then play along, get through this awful party, and by the time you get to having to see either of your parents again, you’ll probably be engaged anyway.” She waves us off.
“She has a point.” Lou shrugs.
I shake my head. “Why are you all so sure we’re getting engaged, like, tomorrow?” I point at Lou. “And why are you encouraging this?”
He grins sheepishly. “It doesn’t matter if it’s today or five years from now, the end result’s the same.”
“You’ve known me for like three weeks,” I say.
“I was pretty sure you were it after day one.” He smirks. “Three weeks, I’m certain.”
Dylan awws in the background.
I look up into Lou’s adorable face, that adorable smile, his adorable everything.
The wordshe’s minebounce through my head.I’m his.
“Louisa, will you stay fake engaged to me until I finally get down on one knee and do it properly?” He smiles. “I promise the next time will be real.”
“Okay.” I fight a smile. “But you have to wait at least a year.” I poke his chest. “We’re not rushing this.”
“Okay.” He chuckles. “I promise.”
