Read Online The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno - Free Book Online Page A

across the table, closer to me. “Finally,” she says.
    “What do you mean finally?” I say.
    “I mean like, I thought we were going to have to sit here forever before you admitted that you’re going to see this guy again.”
    “Your support is endearing,” I say.
    “I don’t think she meant that,” Luka says to Erie.
    “No, really, I’m happy you and Sayer hit it off,” Erie continues. “This has to be a difficult time for him and he’s lucky to have you.”
    “Yeah, sure,” I say. “He seems nice.”
    “Of course he’s nice,” Erie responds. “Why wouldn’t he be nice?”
    “When are you seeing him?” Luka asks.
    “Tuesday.”
    “What are you going to do?” Erie asks.
    “I don’t know. He’s going to call me.”
    “Great,” Luka says. “Super.”
    “What does that mean?” I ask him.
    “It’s just like. Great. You’re both going to have boyfriends now.”
    “Oh god, no, it’s not like that,” I say quickly. Erie is beaming and staring off into space, probably planning our eventual double wedding. “Erie,” I say. She looks at me, surprised. “No. Stop. No.”
    She shrugs. “It’s a possibility.”
    Luka exhales loudly and pushes his plate away from him. “I have to get a girlfriend now. I have to call some people. Molly, you never date anyone. You’re putting a lot of pressure on me.”
    “I don’t never date,” I say.
    “Last boyfriend: Will Bonnet. Sixth grade,” Erie recites.
    “That was not my last—”
    “Nope, Alan doesn’t count.”
    “His last name was Bonnet? Like, a bonnet?” Luka asks, putting his hands on his head like a cap.
    “Alan counts,” I say weakly.
    “Like a hat?” Luka persists.
    “It was a week; Alan doesn’t count.”
    “It’s French, Luka. Like— bonn-ay .”
    “Is that—really?” Erie asks.
    “That’s what he said,” I say, shrugging.
    “Whatever. He counts. Alan doesn’t count. Luka, we’ll still sit you with at lunch,” Erie says. She puts a hand on Luka’s arm. He shrugs.
    “Everyone is getting vastly ahead of themselves,” I say.
    “You think he’s cute,” Erie says. “He wants to see you again.”
    “Don’t you think it’s a little weird, though?” Luka says. “I mean, you were the last person to see his brother, right.”
    Lyle Avery’s face flashes in front of my eyes. But it’s not his face in the warehouse. This is something else.
    “He seems nice,” Erie says. “It’s not weird.”
    “I mean, I’m not saying she shouldn’t go. I’m just saying it’s a little weird.”
    “It’s not weird. It’s sweet. I think it’s sweet.”
    I blink my eyes and Lyle’s face is gone. Erie and Luka are totally absorbed in the back-and-forth of whether or not seeing Sayer again is a creepy thing or a good thing and I feel suddenly nauseous, suddenly sick.
    “Hey,” I say, but it doesn’t come out loud enough and neither of them hears me. Erie has her hand on Luka’s arm again and she’s trying to convince him about something I don’t understand because my ears are ringing and I taste something bitter in the back of my throat. I wait until they’re done talking and then I say it again, louder, “Hey,” and this time Luka hears me and he puts a hand over Erie’s mouth to shut her up and she pushes it away, laughing.
    “What?” she says. “What’s wrong?”
    “I have to go,” I say. I dig around my purse and find a ten-dollar bill. I hold it out to them and wave it around until Luka takes it.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing. Nothing, it’s just—I forgot about the bookstore. I told my dad I’d stop by. Big shipment. Things to, you know, put away. Catalog.”
    “You usually go in later than this,” Luka says.
    “Sorry. I just told him I would. I forgot.”
    “Are you sure? You just got here,” Erie says.
    “I’m sure. I’m sorry. I’ll call you.”
    I jump out of my seat and grab my purse and try to keep myself from running toward the door.
    I barely make it into my car before