Page 121 of Overtime
I freeze, the burger in my hand hovering in midair before my open mouth. My older sister’s smile is a bit sad.
“I’m just saying, if you try to keep everyone else at a safe distance, you also close yourself off to that possibility.”
“Dude, you’re a PT, not a psychologist,” our little sister says with her mouth full. Luz preens a little.
Fully grouchy now, I set my burger back down. “Whatever. Stop psychoanalyzing me. What do I do now?”
Liv opens her eyes wide. “Um, have you not considered just telling her? Communication is so sexy.”
“Shut up. You’re too young to think anything’s sexy at all.”
“Youshut up. I’m almost eighteen now.”
I roll my eyes. “As if that still didn’t make you a baby in diapers.”
“That is absolutely gross, but you’re too far away for me to kick you under the table.”
“You are both babies in diapers,” Luz chimes in instead.
Our sister tells her, “No, you’re just old now.”
“Wow, the disrespect.”
“Mujeres.” I bark the word, and it silences them long enough so I can speak. “What in the hell should I do so that a) Maddie forgives me for acting like a tool, and b) goes out with me, or at least becomes my friend again?”
“Hmm.”
“That’s a tough one.”
“Yeah.”
They look at each other and start giggling. At me, obviously.
Grunting, I go back to my burger.
Liv takes a sip of her soda and then says, “I’m still a fan of communication. In fact, it’s super annoying in romance books when the couple’s apart only because of some silly miscommunication.”
I sigh. “Did I mention Maddie’s a romance book writer?”
My little sister gasps. “You’re kidding me! I must meet her for real now.”
“Why are you reading romance books?” Luz cocks an eyebrow at her. “I thought you hated romance.”
“Real-life couples are yuck. Chief of them, you and Max. But in books, they’re cool.”
I can’t believe I’m about to say this but… “Can we focus back on me?”
And whaddaya know, it works. It’s so abnormal to have their combined attention on me that I, “the Iceberg,” squirm a little. It’s totally the alcohol, right?
“Okay, okay.” Luz motions for the three of us to huddle, and Olivia and I lean closer. “Here’s the game plan, big guy. First, you have to choose which option you’re really going for. If you truly want to just be her friend, you can’t give her weird signals again.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m done with that. What I really want is her.”
“Aww.”
“Focus, woman.”
Luz grins. “Okay, so we’re going straight for the a and b combo. If your girl is into romance books, the best thing you can do is show her what she means to you.”
