I’d seen in awhile. “I kept waiting for him to take the lead. I grew tired of waiting and took control of the situation. Back then he didn’t seem to mind.”
Neither of my parents seemed happy with their marriage lately. Maybe my filter was off because I hadn’t slept much last night because I said, “Are you guys getting divorced?”
“What? No. Why would you ask that?”
“It sounds like you used to be happy and now you’re not.”
“It’s not as simple as being happy or unhappy. Everything isn’t as black and white when you’re a grown-up. You’ll find that out one day. Speaking of which, I ran into Lena’s mother at the party. She said you two aren’t seeing each other anymore. Why is that?”
No way could I tell my mother that Lena’s controlling ways, which seemed to be the same way my mother treated my father, made me feel trapped and claustrophobic. “We wanted different things.”
“Are you seeing someone else?”
“I’ve gone on a few dates. Nothing serious.”
“A girl like Lena would be an asset to your life. Remember that. There will be a window of time where you can get her back. If you wait too long it will be over.”
Later that night, my dad felt well enough to sit in the living room. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked older than he had the day before.
He caught me studying him. “Go ahead and say it.”
“Say what?”
“I’m sure your mother told you about how I let the EpiPen in my car expire and how I should have known better than to try something without first asking if it was nut free.”
“You made a mistake. No big deal.” I tried to sound like I meant it, but wasn’t sure if I succeeded. “Mom’s not blaming you.”
“Right.” He settled back into his chair. “Assigning blame is one of her specialties.”
Now my dad sounded like a jerk. I didn’t know how to respond, so I turned the volume up on the television. Maybe zombie aliens would improve my mood.
…
Zoe
Delia and I practiced our cake baking skills Wednesday night after school. Our book cake came out a little lopsided.
“What’s that supposed to be?” Jack asked.
“It’s supposed to be an open book.” We’d made a nine by thirteen rectangular cake and then added two square cakes on top to represent the pages.
“Looks like a Lego,” my brother offered.
He wasn’t wrong. “I think we need to see if we can find any cake pans shaped like books.”
“In the meantime,” Delia grabbed the bowl of frosting off the counter and dropped a glop of it onto the cake, “we can ice this and eat it while we cruise Google for a cake-shaped pan.”
Jack grabbed a hunk of cake and took a bite. “It might look weird, but it tastes good.”
“Thanks.” I took a bite and realized he was right. “Maybe we need another plan for the fundraiser. I don’t want to spend money on a pan.”
“Maybe we just make it a closed book and use the rectangular pan. That would be easier.” Delia shoved a spoonful of icing in her mouth.
I doubted a plain rectangular cake would bring the highest donation. “I want something with more flair.”
Jack cut another hunk of cake. “You keep working on it, and I’ll help get rid of the rejects.”
“Gee thanks,” Delia said.
“Happy to help.” Jack wolfed down his cake and exited the kitchen leaving his dirty plate on the counter.
I would have yelled at him, but I was grateful he was relocating so Delia and I could talk.
“Is it me,” I asked, “or does it seem like Grant is flirting with me?” He’d been oddly attentive before school and he’d sat with us several days at lunch.
“It’s not just you. He seems to be making a move again. Maybe he figures if Aiden ever asks me out then he should ask you out.”
“That’s flattering. Dating by convenience.”
Delia laughed. “Hey, if you like him, does it matter why he asks you out?”
“Yes.” I put the dirty dishes into the sink and rinsed them off. “I want someone to choose me
Neither of my parents seemed happy with their marriage lately. Maybe my filter was off because I hadn’t slept much last night because I said, “Are you guys getting divorced?”
“What? No. Why would you ask that?”
“It sounds like you used to be happy and now you’re not.”
“It’s not as simple as being happy or unhappy. Everything isn’t as black and white when you’re a grown-up. You’ll find that out one day. Speaking of which, I ran into Lena’s mother at the party. She said you two aren’t seeing each other anymore. Why is that?”
No way could I tell my mother that Lena’s controlling ways, which seemed to be the same way my mother treated my father, made me feel trapped and claustrophobic. “We wanted different things.”
“Are you seeing someone else?”
“I’ve gone on a few dates. Nothing serious.”
“A girl like Lena would be an asset to your life. Remember that. There will be a window of time where you can get her back. If you wait too long it will be over.”
Later that night, my dad felt well enough to sit in the living room. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked older than he had the day before.
He caught me studying him. “Go ahead and say it.”
“Say what?”
“I’m sure your mother told you about how I let the EpiPen in my car expire and how I should have known better than to try something without first asking if it was nut free.”
“You made a mistake. No big deal.” I tried to sound like I meant it, but wasn’t sure if I succeeded. “Mom’s not blaming you.”
“Right.” He settled back into his chair. “Assigning blame is one of her specialties.”
Now my dad sounded like a jerk. I didn’t know how to respond, so I turned the volume up on the television. Maybe zombie aliens would improve my mood.
…
Zoe
Delia and I practiced our cake baking skills Wednesday night after school. Our book cake came out a little lopsided.
“What’s that supposed to be?” Jack asked.
“It’s supposed to be an open book.” We’d made a nine by thirteen rectangular cake and then added two square cakes on top to represent the pages.
“Looks like a Lego,” my brother offered.
He wasn’t wrong. “I think we need to see if we can find any cake pans shaped like books.”
“In the meantime,” Delia grabbed the bowl of frosting off the counter and dropped a glop of it onto the cake, “we can ice this and eat it while we cruise Google for a cake-shaped pan.”
Jack grabbed a hunk of cake and took a bite. “It might look weird, but it tastes good.”
“Thanks.” I took a bite and realized he was right. “Maybe we need another plan for the fundraiser. I don’t want to spend money on a pan.”
“Maybe we just make it a closed book and use the rectangular pan. That would be easier.” Delia shoved a spoonful of icing in her mouth.
I doubted a plain rectangular cake would bring the highest donation. “I want something with more flair.”
Jack cut another hunk of cake. “You keep working on it, and I’ll help get rid of the rejects.”
“Gee thanks,” Delia said.
“Happy to help.” Jack wolfed down his cake and exited the kitchen leaving his dirty plate on the counter.
I would have yelled at him, but I was grateful he was relocating so Delia and I could talk.
“Is it me,” I asked, “or does it seem like Grant is flirting with me?” He’d been oddly attentive before school and he’d sat with us several days at lunch.
“It’s not just you. He seems to be making a move again. Maybe he figures if Aiden ever asks me out then he should ask you out.”
“That’s flattering. Dating by convenience.”
Delia laughed. “Hey, if you like him, does it matter why he asks you out?”
“Yes.” I put the dirty dishes into the sink and rinsed them off. “I want someone to choose me
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