Page 66

Aimes’s expression is soft with sadness. “Yeah, I know. The truth is, I don’t have that many friends, and you know what’s funny, I never even realized it. I was living most of my life online, and online I’ve got a lot of followers and I considered them friends, but—ugh, I’m rambling. The other day, Vera got me to hang out with Sana and Julia—have you met Sana?”
Millie shakes her head.
“She’s really great. So’s Julia. I was spending time with them, and I realized that it’s been forever since I did that. Just hung out with other women and do nothing but chat. It was so nice. And, um, this is going to sound like we’re in kindergarten, but, um, I’d really like it if you and I could be friends too. We had fun at that influencer party, right?”
This is so far from what Millie has been expecting that for a moment, she can only sit there in stunned silence. Then Aimes’s words sink in, and a lovely warm glow spreads from Millie’s belly. A platonic friendship, pure and sweet. This, she realizes. This is exactly what she needs. A smile takes over her face and she nods. “Yes. I’d love that.”
“Awesome.”
Just at this moment, Vera bustles back down the stairs. Her timing is so impeccable that Millie has no doubt that Vera’s been listening the entire time, waiting for the right moment to come back down.
“Ah,” Vera calls out, “now we have kimchi cheese croissants.”
Millie accepts a warm croissant and takes a small bite, watching Vera and Aimes dig in, chatting and laughing easily with each other. It’s almost like watching a family sitcom, except somehow, Millie is in it. This is what a real family feels like. And she could be in it, as well. But only if she stops being Millie.
My name is Millie, her brain whispers.My name is Millie.
She grits her teeth so hard they clack. She’s so tired of being Millie. The need to be part of Vera’s family is so strong, so overwhelming.It’s impossible, her mind whispers.You can’t. You don’t belong. Go home. GO. HOME.
The conversation stops abruptly, and Millie realizes she’s just stood up so fast that her chair clatters to the floor. “I’m so sorry!” she says, bending over to pick up the chair. “Um. I have to go.” Without waiting for a reply, Millie rushes out of the shop and runs all the way to the bus stop.
Her heart thunders at her and her blood roars in her ears. Why is life so unfair? Why couldn’t she have a mother like Vera instead of the one she has now?
No. No use thinking like that. It won’t change anything. She needs to go back and forget everything, leave Vera and that entire mess with Oliver behind. Yes. That is what she will do. That is the right choice. These are good people, and she needs to stay far, far away from them.
“My name is Millie,” she whispers repeatedly, all the wayback, and each time she does, the name settles more firmly in her mind.
When she gets back, she creeps as quietly as she can into the building. The walls are thin here, and she does not want to alert Mother—
“You’re home.”
Millie jumps and turns around guiltily. Mother stands there next to Father. Oh god. She’s told him. Of course she has. They’re the perfect married couple. No secrets between them.
“Yes,” she says meekly.
“How did it go?” Father says, his eyes glinting with eagerness.
It takes Millie a while to be able to swallow the knot in her throat so she can actually speak. “He’s not right for me.”
Displeasure tightens Mother’s face. “How so?”
“Well. He’s not interested in me.” There. Simple as that. The truth.
“Impossible,” Mother spits. “Why wouldn’t he be interested in you? Look at you, you’re beautiful.”
Father nods, scratching his chin. “Did you do something wrong?”
“No! I did everything like you taught me.” Only she doesn’t know if she did; she had been so infatuated by Oliver that it had blinded her. She licks her dry lips. Please, please let them believe her.
“If you did everything I taught you, you would be in his bed by now,” Mother says.
“We’re disappointed in you, Millie,” Father says.
Millie bows her head. “I’m sorry.”
“We’re disappointed in you because you lied to us.”
Her head snaps up, horror dancing in her eyes. “I didn’t—”