Page 81 of Rebound With Me
Nina
“It sounds like a French movie.One I’d actually want to watch.”
“Well, it wasn’t like that at all. It was more like an indie horror film.”
“Did Russell show you his tattoo?!”
Marnie is entirely too obsessed with this, and I really shouldn’t have told her, but who else can I talk to about it, and also we’re out for a morning jog and she said we could stop for gelato if I tell her what I so clearly didn’t want to tell her about the weekend getaway.
“Of course not.”
“Oh my God, we have to listen to every Amy Winehouse song and figure out what line it is.”
“Marn. Promise me you won’t tell anyone at school about any of this.”
“Please. Have you ever heard me gossip about anything with anyone other than you?”
“No. Oh my God it’s so humid. Can we take a break?”
“Yeah, one minute.”
We slow down to pace around and replenish fluids at an intersection.
“What does Sadie look like, though? Because now I’m picturing like, a young blonde Angelina Jolie.”
I love Marnie, but I glare at her.
“Sorry. I’m sure you’re way more beautiful.”
“She’s like the shark inJaws.At first, she was just this scary unknown thing lurking beneath the surface, and now she’s bigger and scarier than I’d ever imagined.”
“Ugh. You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
“Exactly.”
“Aww, honey, but you guys are in love. That’s the biggest boat there is.”
“I don’t know if he is.”
“You are.”
“I’m so in love with him,” I whisper, like I’m admitting defeat. “I’m a basketcase.”
I shake my head, and glance across the street, and suddenly I can’t breathe.
“What?” Marnie follows my gaze.
I bolt over behind the entrance to the store on our corner, already drowning in adrenaline and cortisol. I wave Marnie over, in a panic.
“What is happening?”
Vince is unlocking the door to an empty restaurant space across the street, and Sadie is standing next to him. I can’t speak.
“Oh fuck—is that Vince? Oh shit—is that Jaws?”
I cover my mouth. I may throw up. I peek around and see Vince go into the restaurant. Sadie follows him.
Marnie steps out, hand on her hips, and stares across the street. “Honey, honey. Come on. This doesn’t mean anything. She probably just showed up and he can’t get rid of her.”
