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Lola was usually good about keeping her parents in the loop of her life. She flushed as she realized she hadn’t even talked to them after Aly’s article came out.

“I have a lot to tell you,” she said.

“Well then, you better start,” Jeanette laughed.

They’d read the article, of course. Jeanette gasped as Lola detailed the aftermath, how her team had dropped her. She made little noises of empathetic support as Lola described her breakup with Justin, how he demanded marriage and then walked out on her. She murmured appreciatively at how Ryan had taken care of her, and she laughed as Lola described the luxury and beauty of the place she was staying for the summer.

“Let’s get to the fun stuff,” Jeanette said. “Who’s the new guy?”

Lola’s eyes filled with tears again. She had not imagined this sort of conversation. Not a coming out conversation but notnotthat either. It wasn’t that she expected her parents to shun her; they were her role models for acceptance. It was just that it was always hard to tell your parents something new about yourself when you’ve spent a lifetime as one kind of person.

“It’s a girl,” she whispered.

“Oh!” Jeanette didn’t miss a beat. “You know, I dated a girl once.”

Lola sat up, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Youwhat?”

Jeanette laughed. “After college. Before I met your father, obviously. She was this superhot, really butch babe. I was powerless against her charms. Powerless!”

“So what happened?”

“Oh, you know. We had a lot of fun for a few weeks. But as it turns out, I’m not gay.”

Lola slapped her knee. “See, that’s exactly it! Why do you have tobe gayto have a relationship with another woman?”

“Is that not the definition of the word?”

Lola groaned. “Mom, not helpful.”

“Sorry, honey. I know your generation is a lot more fluid than mine was. It’s different for you. You’re not as caught up with labels as we were.”

“Well,someof us aren’t caught up with labels,” Lola said. “I think that’s why she’s not speaking to me. Because her friends wanted me to say I was bisexual, and I wouldn’t, and I think she got in her head about it.”

“Well, who cares what her friends say? She should just trust her feelings for you and your feelings for her. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

“Thankyou,” Lola replied, finally vindicated.

“So what do you want? What’s your ideal situation?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, do you want tobe with her? Or is it just a fling?”

“I don’t know,” Lola said. Yes, she’d considered a future with Aly, but she hadn’t exactly landed on anything definitive.

Her mom laughed warmly. “Oh, honey. My sweet girl. Being in the moment is one of your great strengths. But when other people are involved, you do have to think about the future. It’s not nice to be with someone you don’t see a future with. It’s a waste of their time,you know?”

Lola cocked her head to the side. That was exactly what she’d done to Justin.

She imagined her and Aly in bed together, holding hands on a date, making dinner in Aly’s kitchen. There was nothing better.

It didn’t feel like just a fling. It felt like something she could sink into. For a long time, at least—maybe forever? She considered it, and it didn’t freak her out. Which had to mean something.

Shedidwant to be with her.

She grinned into the phone, relieved to finally feel sure.

“Just be yourself,” her mom added. “Everyone who knows you loves you. I think if you just start prioritizing Lola and the thingsyouwant to be doing, you’ll attract the right sort of energy.”