Page 98 of Is This for Real?
As I search my email for his address, I see an email from an agent—from the batch of queries sent out a month ago.
To: Penelope
From: Angela
Re: Midnight Masquerade
I really enjoyed your first ten pages. I’d like to request the full manuscript.
I received another request for a full manuscript! I shriek. And then Rory and I celebrate in a more physical manner.
Chapter thirty-seven
Bensonischasingsquirrelsin Central Park when Rory calls to say he’s at my apartment and he’ll come join me. His voice sounds strained.
I’ve missed having Benson around. He’s just staying for three days. Rory is sleeping over at my place, so I’m not abandoning Benson.
The afternoon sunlight hitting the tree illuminates its bright orange and yellow leaves.
Less than a block away, I see Rory, wearing a gray scarf. I call Benson back and gently tug on his leash. Rory’s face looks pale and strained. He doesn’t smile when he sees me. A sinking feeling fills my stomach.Is he breaking up with me?
Then he hugs me, clinging to me.
Whatever it is, it isn’t us.
He starts walking south, down the path next to the roadway with runners, walkers, and bicyclists all getting in their end-of-day exercise. He doesn’t look at me. “You know how my mom is taking that month-long retreat in Italy to do a painting course?”
“Yes,” I say.
“She’s not coming back at the end. She’s rented a villa in Italy to continue painting for another month. She’s hired a private tutor.”
“That’s good, isn’t it? She’s really going for it.” Benson is tugging to sniff and pee on a pole. I stop so he can. Rory is a few steps ahead. The fallen orange, yellow, and brown leaves pepper the walk, adding splashes of color.
“She’s leaving my dad.” His voice is anguished. He turns back to face me.
He feels far away.
“What do you mean? Your parents are happily married,” I say.
“That’s what I thought. But my mom said she needs a break. That my dad needs to figure out his priorities. That he thinks he’s there for her but it’s all meaningless gestures.” Rory sits on a bench. “I really thought that they had it figured out.” He shakes his head. “Maybe you’re right and love doesn’t last forever.”
I brush orange leaves off the green bench and sit next to him. “I don’t think I said there was no such thing as everlasting love.” Benson puts his head in my lap, and I pet him.
“You said you weren’t looking for magical, that magical is dangerous.”
“I was wrong. It’s worth it. What we’ve got is magical.”Idiot. Don’t tie this to us.I hold his hand.
“And my parents thought what they had was magical. And my father . . . I mean . . . my father thought hewasbeing there for my mom.”
“Well, how did your mom say that he wasn’t there for her? Can’t he just change and do that?”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Isn’t it?” I wouldn’t give up my dreams for Rory, but I want to be there for him, too.
“I don’t know. I’m just confused. And I feel silly for being confused because I’m a grown-up. It’s not like I’m a kid whose parents are getting a divorce, but I don’t understand.”
“They’re not getting a divorce.”
