Page 9 of A Very Snowed In New Year
“What’s it called?”
“It’s by Judy Blume.”
“What’s it called?”
“It’s fine. Aren’t you going to meet up withSiennatonight?” She says my girlfriend’s name with such disdain.
“Yeah, eventually.”
“I don’t see why you’re bothering,” she says grimly, without looking up from her Judy Blume secret book that she probably shouldn’t be reading.
“Bothering with what?”
“Acting like you aren’t going to break up with her in, like, two weeks.”
“I’m not planning to.”
“I know. But you will. She’s not your girl and she’s definitely not your HEA and you know it, and you think you’re being a good guy by not breaking up with her before you go on location for a big movie, but you’re really just putting it off and hoping she’ll dump you because you’ll be so busy.”
That is freakishly insightful and accurate, and I hate it when she does this.
“I actually don’t think I’m being a good guy by not breaking up with her now, but I do think it’ll be easier for both of us if we just drift apart while I’m on location.”
She looks up at me, widening her eyes. “Wow. I can’t believe you just said that out loud.”
“Well, don’t tell Mum, because she likes Sienna.”
“She doesn’t. She thinks she’s narcissistic in a nonclinical pretty-girl way.”
“She does?”
“She hasn’t really liked any of the girls you’ve dated.”
“Well, that’s…not surprising.”
“Anyway, you don’t like Sienna very much either, otherwise you’d be at her place right now instead of asking your brilliantlittle sister for advice on how to deal with something you didn’t really need to deal with.”
“Excuse me—I did the honorable thing.”
“Yup. Be the hero to some girl you’ve never met who leaves her diary in a cab instead of showing up for your so-called girlfriend.” She glances up at me for effect. “Sohonorable.”
Well, shit. She’s right. “Okay, this wholeprecocious little sisterthing is very off-putting, in case you thought it was charming.”
“Good thing I’m your favorite person in the whole world.”
“Not for me it isn’t.”
My phone vibrates in a really nonclinically, narcissistic way.
“That will be your future ex-girlfriend,” Rory mutters.
“That’s enough outta you.” I check my phone. I recall a time, several months ago, when I was actually excited to receive texts from this particular future ex-girlfriend. I just don’t remember why I thought I liked anything about her besides her looks.
SIENNA:Heyyyyy, can you pick up a bag of white cheddar p-corn on your way over? IDK why but I am so craving that right now.
See, what she really wants to know is why I haven’t texted her that I’m on my way over yet, but she doesn’t want to come right out and ask me because she thinks she’ll sound desperate and clingy. Also, why not just type out the wordpopcorn? Sienna is hot, but stuff like this is a hugenofor me.
ME:Sure, no problem.
