Page 95 of Dear Pink

“I don’t think he saw me,” I say.

June turns my face toward hers. “Why didn’t you want him to see you? He’s a fine piece of—”

“Hannah, come out from behind the tree,” Maude demands.

I roll my bike beside them and chew my lip.

“That was fancy pants, wasn’t it?” Maude asks.

“Maybe?”

June has her hand on her hip. “What happened with Gabe?” I’m in trouble now. June never gets an attitude.

“What makes you assume something happened?” I attempt to make my voice nonchalant. “You ready to ride? Vroom, vroom, vroom.” Holy shit, did I just make car sounds? Yep, I’ve lost it.

Maude narrows her eyes at me until I break.

“Fine. I told him I wanted to keep our relationship casual, and I left him this mean note.”

“Mean note?” June says.

“It was more rude than mean, I guess.”

“What are you talking about?” Maude asks.

“I thought you liked Gabe.” June raises her eyebrows.

“I do like him. A lot. Too much. And there’s the problem.”

“When is liking a person a problem?” June says.

“What, are you a crazy stalker?” Maude puts her hands on her hips.

They are police interrogators, and I’m the lunatic suspect.

I lean my bike against the tree and sit on the ground. “It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t like me.”

“Did he say those words?” June asks.

“I’m living Libby’s life, not mine. Gabe wants Libby, not me.”

“I’m confused, honey. Didn’t you say your friend who died was Libby?” June plops next to me. “Did Gabe know her? Oh, wait. Is Gabe Libby’s ex-boyfriend?”

“Hmm, that complicates matters.” Maude places her bike on the ground and joins us.

“No, it isn’t like that. Libby and Gabe never met.” I drop my head into my hands.

“Well, now I’m completely lost,” June says.

“Now you understand how I feel.” I lift my head and drop it.

“There must be more to the story, Hannah.” June drapes her arm around my shoulders. “Tell us. We want to help.”

“Maybe she’s having a nervous breakdown.” Maude’s face turns dead serious, but the sparkle in her eyes tells me she’s joking.

I poke her with my foot. “Ha. Ha.” I gather a deep breath.

Maude throws her hands in the air. “For the love of editing, spit it out, Hannah.”

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