Training Harry by Meghan Namaste

Author:Meghan Namaste [Namaste, Meghan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2014-01-12T08:00:00+00:00

Erica

I stared through the thick pane of glass. The name of the café was etched onto it in bold, backward letters. I looked back down at the small plate in front of me. I wasn’t hungry, especially for what I’d ordered. I picked up a crouton that was soaking up ranch dressing and popped it in my mouth. The crunch echoed around in my head.

Jennifer was talking animatedly about something I couldn’t focus on. She was actually eating her salad. Such a good girl, I thought absurdly.

“Erica?” Jennifer looked at me, her face questioning. It was obvious I wasn’t participating in lunch. My body might’ve been here on the glossy, dark green vinyl of the booth, but my soul hadn’t traveled the thirty miles with it. And my body was here only by sheer mental force.

“I’m sorry,” I said lamely. I was, too. “My mind’s not all there right now,” I added superfluously.

“I kinda noticed.” Jennifer’s head went to the side. “Do you wanna talk about what’s going on?” She was curious, but not pushy. I appreciated Jennifer’s mellow, slightly dumb sweetness in times like this. Ashley would’ve been all over me like beetles on carrion.

“It’s just family stuff,” I lied easily. “I feel like no one trusts me to do my own thing. It’s really getting me down.” That should close the subject.

Jennifer’s eyes widened. “That’s…wow. I’m sorry to hear that.” She twisted her smooth, commercially attractive blonde hair, and looked down at the tabletop.

“So,” I said. “Distract me. What’s new with you?”

She perked up again. “Well, like I said, Mark’s been all flirty, and I know he wants to date again, but I’m just like, should I really go back down that road again? I don’t know if I should…but he is cute.” She sighed. “I’m so torn, you know?”

I winced. I hated that expression, especially in such a non-vital context. “You and Mark used to date?” I asked without enthusiasm.

“Oh, yeah, we’ve been on and off for a while now. It’s great when we’re together, but he always sees other girls while he’s supposed to be ‘taking some time just to be alone’.”

A glare settled onto my face. “Don’t waste any more of your time, Jen,” I barked. “He’s just a lying, self-indulgent little child.”

Jennifer stared at me with slight horror. “Wow…I had no idea you…didn’t like Mark that much.”

I stabbed my salad with a fork. “I’m not so fond of Mark DeWayne right now.”

“Okay then.” Jennifer looked nervous. “Sorry for bringing him up.”

“Don’t worry about it.” I smiled to try and put her at ease. “But seriously, Jen. Let him go already.”

“Okay.” She giggled a little. “It’s just so hard to resist him…”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s not even that hot,” I muttered.

Jennifer looked at me, her eyebrows all crooked. “Who do you consider hot?”

I froze. Oh no. Walked right into that one, didn’t I? “Umm…I dunno, really,” I mumbled lamely.

Jennifer’s eyes were pinched. “You’re acting really weird, Erica.”

If Jennifer’s noticing, and commenting, this is bad. Really, exceptionally bad.

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