Page 50 of The One I Love
“Fine,” he grumbles. “I’m getting two orders of French toast to make up for this emotional damage.”
“Whatever you want, Simon. Whatever you want.”
Chapter 15
Amelia
Mariah: Is it okay if Luke and I drive to Franklin to go to the mall? I have points expiring and that’s like losing money if I don’t use them.
Luke: What my sister meant to say is, is it okay if I take her to the makeup store and I run to pick up a few things.
Mariah: For his new girlfriend.
Luke: Shut up, she’s not my girlfriend.
Amelia: We’ll talk about the girlfriend/not girlfriend later. Both of you can use the debit card. Luke — If you’re shopping for yourself, please get something that’s not a necessity. Live a little. Mariah — Only get the things you need. And if you could, pick me up a lipstick? One you think would look good on me but not too much, you know?
Mariah: ….
Mariah: You…want me…to get you…lipstick? I don’t even care about Luke’s girlfriend anymore. This is more interesting.
Luke: You want us to spend your money just for fun? Buy you lipstick? And we don’t have to get preapproved spending permission?
Amelia: You’re both being dramatic. I’ve worn lipstick before. And you’ve bought things before that weren’t necessities that weren’t cheap.
Mariah: Not on purpose.
Luke: And not when it wasn’t our birthdays.
Mariah: Since you’re at work, maybe have someone see if you have a fever? Or why you’ve been in such a good mood the last few days.
Luke: Mom, seriously, are you okay? My psychology class last semester talked about the warning signs for manic episodes. I think we could categorize this as one of them.
Amelia: On second thought, leave the debit card at home.
Mariah: I’LL PICK OUT THE BEST SHADE EVER FOR YOU! Love you to the moon and back!
Luke: Thanks, Mom. We’ll be back in a few hours. I’ll double-check that my location is on.
Amelia: Love you both.
I laughas I put my phone down on my desk at the nurse’s station.
“I’m seriously about to admit you.”
I look over to Kendra, who takes a seat next to me. “First my kids. Now you. I’m fine.”
“No, you aren’t, but it’s okay.” Her mouth forms into a knowing grin. “I knew you’d be a little different once you started getting laid, but I’m pretty sure if you keep that smile up for another day I might need to examine you to make sure it’s not permanently there.”
I shake my head, but my smile doesn’t go away. She’s right. I have been smiling all week. Most of the time I haven’t noticed it. But then I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, or Shane will text me something sweet—or flirty—or I’ll just think about him, and I feel my smile getting bigger.
I know I’m freaking people out. It’s not that I never smiled before, but I know it wasn’t like this. If we’re going to keep this quiet, I definitely need to work on my face, because I’m about to give everything away. Especially if we’re in the same room together, which we haven’t been since I snuck out of his window two days ago.
But we have talked. And texted. I know I said that I wanted to have that giggly, honeymoon type feeling, but I didn’t think it would actually feel like this. I know I’m a smiling loon right now, but I don’t care. I’m happy. And I’m not going to apologize for that.
“So how is it?” Kendra asks as she leans back in her chair. “Clearly it must be good if you’ve been wearing the shade ‘Orgasmic Glow’ on your cheeks for the past couple of days.”
“We haven’t. Yet.”
