Marianne by Elizabeth Hammer (best books to read in life TXT) 📕

Beth, from over the fence. “I was telling you about my friend Heather and my friend Lori.”

Saints preserve us. Marianne turned and grinned at Beth. “That’s right, you were.” She looked sideways at Patrick. “But did your uncle get to hear it yet? I’m sure he’ll want to hear the whole thing later tonight.”

Patrick said, “Nice try,” under his breath, and then raised his voice. “Beth already told me all about it. Didn’t you?”

“Oh, yeah,” scoffed Beth. “Patrick knew waaaay before you did, Marianne. He thought it was so funny.” She giggled into her hand again. “He was cracking up.”

“Naturally,” said Marianne.

“I always make Patrick crack up,” said Beth. “It’s because—”

“Beth!” hissed Danielle from the back door.

Beth started visibly and turned around. “Sorry.” She turned back to them and said, “I forgot I’m not supposed to be out here.” She started to climb down from her spot and her mom walked up behind her.

“Hi, Dan,” said Marianne.

“Hey, loser,” said Danielle. “You guys should turn some lights on. You look weird sitting in the dark.”

Marianne climbed to her feet and went inside to flick on the switch. She came out the back door and heard Danielle say in an annoyed voice, “What are you waiting for, then? Get it done!” Marianne stayed on the porch—she wasn’t sure she was supposed to have heard that.

Patrick looked up at the patio cover in dismay and scratched his jaw. “Very smooth, Danielle.”

Danielle grimaced and glanced back toward her house. “I think I heard the baby.” And then she was gone.

Marianne knew exactly what Danielle had meant by “get it done,” and they were going to have to have a little chat about it after Patrick left. Marianne stayed standing on the porch, giving Patrick the option to get up and leave if he wanted.

He looked at Marianne for a moment, and then bit his lip and stared at his knees. He looked super uncomfortable. But so was Marianne, so she didn’t say anything either. After a few seconds, he stood up—a little tilted toward the exit, in that way that people stand when they’re leaving. “I should probably let you get back inside now,” he said. Well, she had her answer about how he felt about all the match-making.

Marianne nodded. “Okay. You should probably go inside, too. I think you missed dinner.” Oof. This goodbye scene was super lame and uncomfortable.

“Right.” Patrick hesitated—barely—and then walked toward the gate.

“Good night,” she said.

Patrick waved at her and flipped the latch. He pushed the gate, but it didn’t open.

Stupid piece of crap. Marianne stepped off the porch to go help him. “Sorry. It’s tricky.”

“Yeah, it’s stuck,” he said, “I don’t want to break it.” He stepped aside for her.

Marianne flipped the latch and kicked hard in the right spot. The gate swung open, and she stepped back. “It keeps the burglars out of our backyard.”

Patrick smiled sideways at her.

Marianne laughed a little and frowned. “You know—the really short ones without ladders that want to steal...” She looked around the yard for something to steal.

“Your tangerines?” offered Patrick.

Marianne nodded. “Those are very valuable.”

Patrick took a breath. “Do you want to have dinner with me, Marianne?”

“No,” she said automatically, instinctively, stupidly, defensively, and firmly. Then she blinked. What the hell was wrong with her?

Patrick nodded once. “Okay, then.” He watched her face for a moment and then smiled and winked at her. “Goodnight, Marianne.”

He stepped through the gate and started walking between the houses to go home. Marianne stayed frozen in position, watching him leave. What on earth had she just done? Her hand was still on the gate, and everything inside her screamed for him to come back and ask her again.

He didn’t.

He went out of sight, and Marianne ran over to the planter and grabbed a small stone. She dragged a patio chair over to the brick wall and stood on it. She could see Danielle just inside the kitchen and chucked the pebble at the window to get her attention.

Danielle pressed her face to the glass, and then she was outside in an instant. “What happened?”

“You tell me,” said Marianne, breathlessly. She’d been perfectly calm in Patrick’s presence, but now she was almost gasping. “I just need to know this... What were you doing all night? Were you trying to get us together? Are you forcing him to ask me out again?”

“Uh...” Danielle looked guilty.

“Answer the question, Cupid.”

Danielle put her hands up in surprise. “Wait a minute! He didn’t actually do it, did he?”

“What does that mean?” cried Marianne in a whisper, her heart shattering. “Is that a yes? Have you been forcing him?”

“Well, kind of...” she said, looking guilty again. “I’ve been suggesting. I’ll admit that.”

“And what does he say when you suggest it?”

“Nuh-uh,” said Danielle, annoyed. “First, you have to tell me what happened.”

“This is my interrogation!” Marianne smacked her hand down weakly on the top of the wall. “What does he say when you suggest it?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar,” said Marianne.

“Really. He just rolls his eyes and tries to leave the room.” Danielle shrugged.

“Okay.” Marianne put herself into analyzing mode. She flicked up two fingers. “So, he rolls his eyes. And he leaves the room. What else? I know you—I know that you follow him from room to room. What does he say when you won’t let it drop?”

“Nothing.”

“He’s said something; I can see it in your eyes.” Marianne pointed at Danielle’s face. “And you were surprised when you thought he asked me. Why were you surprised?”

“Are we in junior high, or something?” said Danielle, dodging the question. “Can’t you just leave me out of it?”

“He said something bad.” Marianne dropped her hand and slumped down. “But I need to know. Whatever it is, I can take it. Just tell me. If you love me, just tell me.”

Danielle exhaled hard. “I did get him to respond, once. I asked him what the big deal was. It’s just one date; why not just see what happens? He said that it was a big deal because he didn’t