9781250209153

“Hi, Scottie,” she says brightly. “How’s my favorite girlfriend-in-law?”
I blink. “What?”
“Oh come on,” she says, cheesing hard. “Irene’s my best friend, and
now you’re her girlfriend, which makes us in-laws.”
If I didn’t know any better, I would think she was messing with me, but
she seems entirely earnest.
“Hi, Honey-Belle,” Gunther says in a high-pitched voice. His cheeks
redden. “You look nice today.”
She cocks her head at him. “Thanks, Grover.”
Kevin snorts under his breath. Gunther glares at him.
“I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you,” Honey-Belle continues,
touching my arm. “You’re just what Irene needs, even if I didn’t see it
before. I mean, the sexual tension was obvious, but I never sensed the true
affection underneath.”
I stare at her, at a loss for words.
“You and Irene had that much sexual tension, huh?” Kevin asks,
elbowing me.
“Oh, it was overflowing,” Honey-Belle says seriously. “So thick you
could spread it like peanut butter.”
“I think maybe you’re misinterpreting—” I begin.
“But it’s really cute to see you together now,” Honey-Belle plows on.
“When I asked Irene about it, she could barely look me in the eye. She only
gets like that when she’s shy.”
“Right,” I say.
“Anyway, I’ll see you later, Scottie. Bye, Kevin. Bye, Grover.”
She skips away, leaving Kevin to laugh at Gunther and me.
Later that morning, I receive a single text that validates this whole damn
thing.
Tally Gibson: You’re really dating her?
I feel so smug in that moment, it’s a wonder I can tolerate myself. I’m
smirking when I text her back.