Page 27 of The Luck of Finding You
I run my hand through my hair before responding. I know exactly what she means. I wish she’d tell me what she thinks she’s messing up so that I could help her. Or at least be here to listen.
MoReads:All the time. But I don’t think any of us have any clue what we’re doing, so we’re all just doing our best.
TheNoraReview:I really keep saying the wrong thing to people in my life. I know what I want to be saying, but I’m holding back.
MoReads:Why do you think that is?
TheNoraReview:IDK. Maybe I’m scared.
MoReads:You’re not scared of me, right?
Want to practice saying what you’d say to the people in your life?
TheNoraReview:Definitely not scared of you. But maybe I will practice with someone. (It’s not that I’m scared to tell you or anything, it just feels weird. To talk about stuff that isn’t book related.)
MoReads:We talk about more than books.
TheNoraReview:I know. SEE? This is what I mean. I can’t even say the right thing over a DM.
MoReads:You haven’t said anything wrong.
TheNoraReview: I know. I’m tired. I can’t think straight. Maybe I really just need sleep and all of this will blow over.
MoReads:Sleep makes everything better.
I never let myself make any big decisions at night. Sleep will help. I promise.
TheNoraReview:Night, then. Because I need all the help I can get.
MoReads:Goodnight, Nora.
12
TALLY
I smooth my gray sweater one more time before heading upstairs. Gran is at the kitchen counter, eating a bowl of cereal.
“You have your big date tonight?” She eyes me closely, knowing me well enough to know the real reason I set up this date.
“Yup.” After telling Noah on Tuesday that I had a date tonight, I downloaded three dating apps, which I deleted the next day. I ended up scouring Facebook and reached out to a high school friend after he posted that he’d moved back to Utah. Luke was Peter’s best friend in high school, so we were in the same friend group, but I was never interested in him back then. He was always the player of the group. I haven’t seen him since graduation.
I have a tiny sliver of hope that he’s changed somewhat since then. It has been over five years, after all. I’m not the same person I was in high school.
I’m going on this date because I feel like I need to follow through on the lie I told Noah. But it also feels like I’m somehow betraying Mo, even though I’m not committed to him in any way. We’ve only agreed to meet.
My stomach rolls with nerves as Gran stares at me. It’s been a long time since I went out on a date.
“It’s with that boy from high school?” Gran asks, her eyes narrowed.
“Yes,” I tell her.
“And you’re wearing those?” She means my heels.
“Yup. Always.” I need all the confidence I can get tonight, and these cheetah-print heels are my favorite.
“What about that man from the bookshop?” Gran changes the subject from my shoe choice and I groan. I shouldn’t have told her that the Noah I kissed all those years ago is the same Noah that I now see almost every single day.
Everything about this plan to go on a date tonight is see-through. A guy from my past shows up, and for the first time in over three years I’m going on a date? Yeah, no one would believe me if I said it was a coincidence.
