Chapter 17 Junie
Junie
Junie lets the silence sit as Georgia’s frozen smile looks like it’s beginning to melt off her face. Her big sister is really
trying to come across as unbothered.
Junie lets out a slow, stilted laugh, her face pulled into an apologetic frown. “Eddie Rigsby’s back in town by the way.”
Georgia nods slowly. “I have to say, a heads-up would’ve been nice.”
Junie wonders if Georgia means regarding Eddie’s presence here in town in general or if she more specifically means here at
the Clementine.
“I’m sorry. It’s just with the shop, it kinda slipped my mind.”
“Is this something, like, more than friends between y’all?”
Georgia looks at Junie like she believes the answer is yes. It’s obvious in the hurt behind her eyes despite her stretching
her face into fake comfort. Desperately, Junie wants to be honest, to tell Georgia she wouldn’t ever run around with Eddie—especially behind Georgia’s back—but her current situation doesn’t allow her that truth.
Junie cannot explain why and how she and Eddie began spending time together without unloading a whole ’nother can of worms on Georgia.
One that would hurt far more than thinking Junie’s going on dates with harmless old Eddie.
And frankly, Junie cannot and will not go there, but she could honestly promise that this is not what Georgia thinks it is.
“We ran into each other and started hanging out. He’s back here to take care of his mom—really, I think she’d prefer that
he just take her back to Guatemala, but that’s neither here nor there. There’s not that many people our age living in town.”
Junie can’t handle an outright yes, so she skirts around it. Both sides of this coin are bad options.
“Look, Junie, I think y’all would make a cute couple. I’m not upset about it. Do you want my blessing to date or something?”
Junie feels like she wants to vomit—that’s what she wants. Well, more specifically, the relief that would follow it. But she’s backed into a corner of her own making,
and so she will accept this ghastly blessing because she must. Georgia was so smitten with Eddie, and they all expected they’d make it for the long haul. Get married
and pop out some babies even.
Georgia steps closer and takes Junie’s hands. “I want the best for you. You can be honest with me.”
Junie drops her gaze. “Whatever you think.”
Georgia beams back and squeaks with excitement. “Let me plan the first official date?”
Junie’s insides are screaming out, Yucky yuck, no thank you, but instead she smiles and says, “Eh, that might be a little close for comfort.”
She’s going to have to fill Eddie in on this so he can go along with it. She can’t explain it to Georgia, not yet.
Junie will say that she loves Eddie Rigsby. (She already sort of does in a different kind of way, a truth among her lies.)
She will make Georgia believe that she’s head over heels.
She will convince Georgia that it’s butterflies wiggling in her tummy.
She won’t tell Georgia that Eddie found her at her lowest low.
She won’t tell Georgia that he’s become the best friend Junie has ever had.