Page 8 of Another Love, Another Time

Everyone has a plate and is seated, enjoying the food.

Aunt Connie gets up. Everyone knows what is coming.

She starts, “So I want to thank you all for coming today. We are so grateful that you are here,” she continues, but I tune her out.

Logan and I are currently sitting at a table with Ellie and my little brother, Brock.

Melissa is sitting next to Auggie at another table.

He keeps looking over at Logan and me, but I don’t care.

I’m still mad. Even though he is her partner, he is choosing to hang out with her.

I know it's probably because he feels guilty for not telling me, and he’s afraid to come over here.

I don’t care. He should be scared. I feel like he’s choosing her over me.

Logan bumps my shoulder, and I scowl at him. “Um, it’s your turn,” he says.

I look around to see that everyone is watching and waiting for me to answer.

I know this is the grateful portion of the day.

Aunt Connie and my mom are big on gratitude.

They are constantly shoving it down our throats.

I knew this was coming, so while I was changing my T-shirt, I was planning what I would say.

“This year, I’m grateful for my sense of humor. ”

My mom gives me a pointed look but doesn’t say anything.

I know I will have to answer to her later.

I know they wanted to hear how grateful I am for my house, parents, siblings, or even friends, but I was very childish today and didn’t want to play along.

Yes, I am very grateful for my sense of humor. I’ll need it to get through today.

~~

Shortly after everyone is finished eating, all the guys go outside. It is surprisingly nice today, so Uncle Eddie has started a bonfire in the backyard. I help my mom and Aunt Connie clean up. My mom starts, “Riv, what’s going on?”

“What are you talking about?” I ask her in an overly chipper yet sarcastic voice.

“Riv,” my mom scolds.

“What? I’m helping you and Aunt Connie clean up after everyone. I’m getting ready to take out the trash. What else could be going on?”

My Aunt Connie just shakes her head. “You’re not stupid, River. You know what your mom is asking. Usually, Auggie and you are attached at the hip.” She gives me a knowing look.

“Aunt Connie, you’re not stupid. You know the answer to your question.

” I give her a mocking look. “Besides, it’s really not even about that.

” I take a deep breath to get through this questioning.

“And thanks, I heard it was your doing. I don’t get much time with him, Aunt Con, and you push Melissa on him. Do you hate me?”

Aunt Connie grabs me and stops me from taking out the trash.

“First of all, I did not push Auggie to be her partner. All Eddie and I discussed with him was that sometimes, when Logan, you, and Auggie get together, you don’t let anyone else into your group.

We said that maybe he should include others.

You talk about not getting to spend time with him, but you have been avoiding him all day. ”

“I haven’t been avoiding.” I stomp my foot and cross my arms. “When was the last time you helped us clean up?” She tilts her head and raises her brows. I continue, “Well, you know what? It’s been fun, but the trash isn’t going to take itself out.” And with that, I grab the trash bags and storm out.

They both know how I feel about Melissa. I bet both knew this was going to happen. It’s not like she just asked Auggie to be her partner. Or maybe she did. But how did she already have shirts made?

Aunt Connie is right about avoiding Auggie. I’m just missing out on the short time I have with him. I don’t mind sharing him with Logan, but sharing him with Melissa? Ugh.

I put the trash bags in the trash can and walk out to the trampoline. I need to think.

Nobody is currently on it, so I lie down, look up at the sky, and watch the clouds drift by. I can hear all the other kids playing in the distance and the parents by the bonfire talking.

I feel a shift in the trampoline, and I know that it’s Auggie. I don’t look his way. I can’t look at him. He lies down next to me, and we lie in silence for a minute.

He latches on to my pinky and squeezes. “Riv, don’t be mad at me. Please?”

I look at him for a second, and then I resume looking at the sky. I think about what I want to say and start, “Auggie, I’m not mad at you. I’m hurt. When did she ask you? We talk every day, you kept that from me, and she shows up with matching T-shirts.”

“I didn’t know anything about the shirts.

I swear. And I know that I should have told you, but I also know how much you don’t like her.

My parents had just had a conversation about including more people when you are here, so when she asked, I just said ‘yes.’ For me, it didn’t really change anything because we were still going to hang out, except you have been avoiding me all day. ”

I turn my head again, and he is looking at me.

“Again, Auggie, I’m not mad. I’m just hurt.

We are supposed to be best friends. If you can’t tell me about Melissa asking you to be her partner, are we really that good of friends?

I don’t ever want to make you feel like you should be scared to tell me anything.

Okay?” He nods his head in response. “No more secrets.” He brings our pinkies up to our mouths, and we kiss them. “Pinkie promise?”

“Pinkie promise.” I smile at him. I promise right then, I will never allow Melissa's tactics to push me away again. Every time she does something like this, I play right into her hands. Not anymore.

Auggie pulls me up, and we jump for a little bit, challenging one another until the parents call that it’s time for the games. Auggie hops off and rests his back against the trampoline so he can give me a piggyback ride to the garage.

I lean up to whisper in his ear, “Just because we made up doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you and your partner.”

He grins. “I didn’t expect you to.” And just like that, all is right in the world again.