Chapter 10
Virginia: A Perfect Lie
I stared at the toaster, my eyes blurry after my long night of chatting with Beau. I watched the heating elements burn red hot. My phone dinged.
"Open up," the text read.
I opened the door and Quinn came in. It was already 10:00 a.m. She was carrying coffee.
"Got your favorite," she said.
"Oh, yes," I said, taking the mocha cappuccino. "Did you ask my friend Brent to mix it? He makes the absolute best cappuccino."
"I did. He lit up like a Christmas tree when I mentioned your name. I think he's crushing on you."
"Oh, no, he's gay."
"He is?"
"Yeah, his boyfriend works there too. Colin, I think."
"Oh, I didn't know."
"They're cute. Brent's a little in the closet, but he's adorable and sweet."
"Are you gay for Brent too?"
"A little! All the cute guys are gay."
"At least they make good coffee," Quinn said, taking a sip. "And for you, lover," she said, handing Sergio his coffee as he came out of the bedroom.
"Ah, perfecto," he said, taking it and heading to the couch.
My bagel popped, and I started to spread cream cheese on it.
"So," Quinn said, whispering low while sports news played on the TV. "Did you talk to him again?"
"I told you, I called him one time. That's it. No more. It's done."
"You said your goodbyes?"
"Yes."
"No more calls?"
"Would you stop?"
"You're not going to meet him, right?"
"I already promised not to," I said. "And he was rude on the phone, so I'm over it."
"Really? What did he say?"
"Doesn't matter. I want to drop him as a subject, permanently. I mean it."
"Okay, good. I'm glad. I was freaking out so much, you know?"
"I know, but it's done now."
"Okay," she said, picking up one half of my bagel and taking a bite.
"Hey," I complained.
"So, plans today? You should really reschedule with Tom."
"You'll be happy to know, I already did while you were out."
"Really? A big second night with Tom is back on?"
"Yup. I told him my cold was all cleared up and my period was over, so I was ready to see him."
"Okay, good. That's really good, Ginny. That's just the thing to take your mind off... you know. Focus on Tom."
"Exactly," I said, chewing my bagel. "And you know, after I texted him and said, let's get together and all that, he responded really quickly, not like the usual hour I always complain about, and it made me feel really special."
"Aw, well, that's nice."
I nodded, swallowing my bite. "So, I think it's going to be better this time. I don't know if I'll stay overnight or not. He might send me home. We'll see."
Quinn nodded, chewing her bagel. "I'm sure you guys will work that out, I know it."
"I hope so," I said.
Quinn's phone buzzed. She gasped. "Mom's coming up!"
"What? When? Now?" I said.
Quinn was already scrambling, throwing things away and trying to clean up. She was fighting with Sergio, shoving him into the bedroom. He hid in the closet. I was rushing around as well, cleaning up loose dirty clothes, and throwing the dishes into the washer.
Three heavy knocks hit the door. My heart was so loud, I felt as if I'd called Beau again. Oh, my God, what if she knew? Is that why she was here? No, no, impossible. Unless, had Quinn told her?
Quinn rushed to the door, yanking it open just as I slammed the dishwasher closed and spun around, nearly stumbling.
"Hi, Mom," Quinn said.
"Hi, Aunt Olivia," I said warmly.
"Hello, girls," she said as she stepped in, removing her gloves. "How's everything?"
"Great!" Quinn said.
"Super!" I said.
Olivia's eyes were on the television as the newscaster continued to recount the week's sporting events. She stepped up to the couch, picked up the remote, and turned it off. Quinn and I shared a glance.
"What brings you by, Mom?" Quinn asked.
Olivia turned around. "You know I like to pop in, check up on you, make sure there's not a bevy of boys hanging around." She moved through the apartment, glancing in Quinn's open bedroom door. Quinn had carefully left it open with the light on, so as to appear to hide nothing. Olivia glanced in my room next, and then she gave me a smile.
"How are your classes shaping up, Virginia? You must be getting ready for finals."
"Yup, sure am. But I'm confident," I said.
"And yours, sweetie?" she said to Quinn.
"Oh, yes, all's well. I just came back from my last group meeting, actually. My big presentation is on Monday. I showed my team all of your suggestions, and they loved them. We're ready."
"That's my girl," Olivia said, but then her eyes started to narrow, and her lips started to thin. I thought she'd caught sight of Sergio's underwear or something, but she was eyeing Quinn's coffee cup. "What is that?"
"My coffee?" Quinn offered.
I lifted up my coffee cup too. "Caffeine addicted for three years, and no end in sight for me."
Olivia seemed to make a sound that was almost a laugh, but not quite. "From Starstruck's?"
"Yes?" Quinn said. "Oh, right, you don't like that place."
"You've both gone there?"
"Sure, once or twice," Quinn said.
"I see," Olivia said. "Quinn, when you said your group was looking for places to meet and someone suggested that cafe, I thought I told you not to go there."
"Oh, well, we didn't. But the girl's apartment where we meet is right down the street, so I just popped in for a coffee."
I chimed in. "And they make amazing mocha cappuccinos there."
Olivia gave me a stare that seemed to bore into my soul. I wasn't quite sure, but then she chuckled. "You know, I found a hair in mine, a rat hair."
"Oh, gross," I said. "Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously," she said. She looked at Quinn. "I'd love to stay, girls, but I'm actually on my way across town to a little gathering. I was running early, and I thought I'd pop in for a few minutes."
"Oh, okay. We're glad you did," Quinn said cheerfully.
"Yes, definitely!" I said, sipping my cappuccino.
"Goodbye, Virginia," Olivia said, her hand on the door. "Do call your mother more often. I tire of hearing her lament about her daughter's disinterest in her life."
"Yes, of course, Aunt Olivia. I will," I said.