The Secrets We Keep

“Are you ready?” Courtney asks with a series of knocks. “They’ll be here any minute.”

  “Huh?” I say as the pieces slowly fit together. The where and why I’m here starts to come to me, and it reminds me of the first few nights I spent in the apartment. In the morning, I would look up at a yellowed popcorn ceiling and wonder what happened to the whirring fan of my former bedroom—the one I’d had since I was six.

  “Hello…anyone there?”

  “Yeah, yeah.” I flip the covers to the side. “I’m just getting up.”

  “Seriously!”

  “Don’t worry.” I grab the yellow sundress off a pile of clothes. “It only takes me a few minutes to get ready.”

  “It better.”

  “Whatever,” I mumble as I reach the bathroom.

  I shower quickly and slip into the sundress. I grab my make-up bag and pull out moisturizer, mascara, and bright pink lip gloss. Next, I start on my hair and sweep it into a clip.

  Courtney pounds on the door. “They’re here. Hurry up!”

  “Just a minute!”

  I remove the clip and let it hang around my face again. I swivel in front of the mirror, checking out my look. Normally, I wouldn’t be that concerned, but Ryan might be here in this house right now, or maybe he plans to meet us at the party. Either way, I want to look my best. I grab the clip off the bathroom counter, wondering if he would prefer my hair up or down. As soon as my hand touches the door knob, she knocks again. I put a snarl on my face and open the door. “Seriously!” I begin, but as I look up, I see Ian instead.

  “Um, I was, uh…” he stammers as he leans against the door frame.

  “Sorry, I thought you were…”

  “Yeah, I know.” He smiles warmly. “I was just comin’ to tell you to take your time. After all, you’re the guest-of-honor.”

  “I’m done anyway.” I step forward, and he slides deftly out of the way.

  He follows behind me, but before we reach the bedroom door, he offers a soft “You look very nice.”

  I turn my head, slightly. “Thanks, Ian.”

  We enter the hall and find a folded-arm Courtney next to Muted Mark. I guess Ryan will drive himself then. I step toward her. “What?”

  “You took long enough.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  She heaves a sigh. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

  “No, you look like a spoiled little princess. Is that the look you’re going for tonight?”

  Ian and Mark stifle a laugh as Courtney heads out the front door.

  *****