The Weight of Love

Chapter 2

The next day, all the high school seniors, Lila included, went to the high school for yearbook collection and slush. Most of them showed up in their pajamas.

Around ten, Lila, Emily, and Victoria walked to the square, where they headed into their favorite coffee shop and took their usual table by the window. Emily went up to the counter to place their order. Lila sat staring out at the street, her yearbook lying on the table in front of her.

Underneath the table, Victoria kicked at her foot.

"You're quiet today, kiddo."

She blinked, jerking back around.

"Yeah, I guess."

"You guess?" Victoria's blue eyes rolled to heaven. "Jesus, what am I supposed to do with friends like you. Something's up with you, girl. We've got to get it out of you. Come on, Lila! Spit it out."

"Spit what out? What have I missed?"

Emily was back, sliding onto the empty spot beside Victoria on the bench.

Victoria snickered under her breath.

"Your best friend's got a secret. Unless she's told you already?"

"Secret?" Emily's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about? What's she talking about, Lila?"

"I just -- " Lila shook her head, her fingers digging into her temples in consternation. This was far from how she'd intended to seek her friends' advice, but damn Victoria's uncanny ability to read minds. She slapped her phone down on the table. "I need to ask your opinions on something, that's all. It kind of happened last night."

"Oh, you mean last night when you totally couldn't go out with us because of family dinner," Emily said, her voice low.

"Listen, I've already said I'm sorry about that. My stepfather invited his coworker to dinner. Actually, this guy has been coming around a lot, several weeks in a row." She could feel her cheeks reddening. "Anyway, last night he -- "

"Oh, my God." Victoria's blue eyes were fixed on Lila's face. "Are you seeing this, Em? Our little ice queen has a crush on her stepdad's coworker. How precious is that?"

"Christ, Victoria, can't you let her finish?" Emily nudged Lila's shoulder. "Go on. What happened?"

"He took me out driving," Lila blurted out, her face burning. "I mean, to teach me how to drive. He asked my parents and everything, they were fine with it. I mean, I think it made my mom nervous, but it was fine. And then we went to that burger place on Main and -- "

Victoria's mouth had fallen open.

"You mean he took you out?" she asked. "Like on a date?"

"No, it wasn't like a date! I mean..." Lila wrapped her arms around herself, mortified. It hadn't been a date, had it? "No, not a date, he only took me because he thought I looked hungry."

"Well, he's got that right," said Victoria. "You always look hungry."

"The side comments aren't helping here," said Emily, glaring sideways at the blue-eyed blonde.

Their coffee arrived. Lila wrapped her fingers around her cup, letting the warmth of the liquid inside seep into her hands.

"You know, you clearly think something's up with this guy, or you wouldn't have such a hard time telling us all of this," Victoria said.

Lila swallowed. It was the first helpful comment that had been made.

"Well, he gave me his number," she said in a small voice. "And he wants to get coffee with me this weekend."