Audre & Bash Are Just Friends(80)

“I understand,” she said.

In response, Bash’s face melted into almost giddy relief. With an exhale, he pulled her closer by her hand and kissed her forehead.

“Aww,” sighed Clio. “I’ve been rooting for you two. You know, behind the scenes.”

“Hold on,” Bash blurted out. “Speaking of ‘behind the scenes,’ since when are you a lesbian? If the cancer doesn’t kill Dad, this will. One queer kid wasn’t enough?”

“Oh, now you care whether Dad lives or dies? You won’t even call him,” said Clio. “Also, I’m not a lesbian. I’m bisexy.”

“Since when.”

“Since Reshma.”

“She doesn’t need to explain shit to you, Bash,” snapped Reshma, stepping in front of Clio. “And watch your tone. I can get real urban real fast.”

Ignoring Urban Reshma (because she was ridiculous), Bash turned his attention to Clio. “Did you or did you not tell me that you wanted to cheat on your boyfriend this summer to make him jealous? ’Cause you’re pressed about the groupies on his tour? That’s what this is, isn’t it?”

Clio’s jaw dropped.

Reshma yelped.

“This is so Wattpad,” said Audre. “So messy. Everybody’s lying.”

“Yeah, tell me more about your cat.” Bash smirked.

Audre gasped. “You knew that was a lie, B?”

He gazed at her, eyes twinkling. “You’re good at everything but lying, A.”

Audre bit her lip, her cheeks flushing hot.

Reshma ignored this, because she was furious. She took a powerful step toward Clio. “You only talked to me to hurt your boyfriend? How could you use me like that?”

“Oh please,” scoffed Audre. “When are you gonna tell Clio you’ve been lying, too?”

“There’s more? Yo, I can’t,” groaned Bash, shutting his eyes and rubbing his brow bone.

Reshma winced, rapidly shaking her head.

“Tell her, or I will,” threatened Audre.

“Fine!” Caught, Reshma threw up her hands. “Clio, at first I was dating you ’cause I thought you were blocking Audre and Bash. My plan was to seduce you away from him.”

“After you promised you wouldn’t,” wailed Audre. “How could you? Why do you always put yourself at the center of everything? Are you really that attention-seeking?”

“Is this true?” Clio’s eyes were wide and hurt. With a guilty sigh, Reshma nodded. And then Clio winced sharply, like she’d grazed an open flame. Slowly, she backed away from Reshma.

“Wait, wait, wait,” pleaded Reshma, holding her arm. “It was true. I was trying to help my best friend. It’s stupid, I know. But none of it matters, because I fell for you. For real. I’ve never felt like this before.”

Clio snatched her arm away in disgust. And then she stormed off.

Reshma turned to Audre. “Not her being salty! She was using me, too.”

“We’re not talking,” snapped Audre.

Eyes downcast, Reshma turned and walked off. She knew when to cut her losses.

Then it was just Audre and Bash, staring at each other in utter incredulousness. Without saying a word, he swept her into a warm, strong embrace. She nuzzled her face into his chest, his chin resting atop her head. This was the only safe place in the world.

For ages, they stood there, locked in their airtight, healing hug, oblivious to the sidewalk traffic passing them on either side. After some time, she disentangled herself from him.

And then Audre went home to face her mother. Whoever she was.





Chapter 34


“I’m in here.”

Eva’s voice reverberated from the kitchen. The house felt weirdly still. All the lights were on in the house, even the bathroom. Shane was out with his mentorship group. Baby Alice was with the new sitter (about fucking time). It was just Eva and Audre, alone.

Quickly, Audre grabbed an oversized sweatshirt from a laundry basket and threw it on, pulling the sleeve over her tattoo. Eva would freak out if she saw it—and Audre didn’t have an explanation yet.

Holding her breath, Audre entered the kitchen. Her mom was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for her—and Audre could sense her tension.

The first thing Audre noticed was the box of Honey Nut Cheerios placed in front of her mom. Uh-oh. The Cheerios were a clear sign that Eva was trying to prevent a nervous breakdown. In times of stress, Eva ate dry cereal by the fistful. No milk, no bowl.

The second thing Audre noticed was that her mom looked weirdly formal. At least for her. Usually a jeans-and-sneakers lady, Eva was wearing a linen maxidress. Had she dressed up for this conversation? Her hands were clasped together on the table so tightly, the skin on her knuckles looked stretched. Audre wondered what she was thinking. Was she angry with Audre? Disappointed? Or, possibly relieved?

Audre sat in the chair across from her. She folded her hands on the table, unconsciously mirroring her mom. They looked like two Mafia bosses having a sit-down.

“I used to be able to trust you,” said Eva.

Audre flinched. “I trusted you. And you lied to me about your life. About your name. About Grandma Lizette. It was like finding out Santa Claus is Satan.”

“Audre. You read my manuscript without asking me.”