The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle Read Free Book Online Page A

given her propensity to sit on Charlie’s lap, that
    they’re together, yeah.”
    “Oh,” Wren said, disappointment plunging through her.
    Starrla sat on Charlie’s lap? When? How often? Why?
    “That doesn’t mean they’re a couple!” Tessa said.
    “I’ve heard she’s good in bed,” P.G. said. He popped a
    chip into his mouth. “Just sayin’.”
    “Well, don’t. Inappropriate and off topic,” Tessa said.
    “P.G., are you positive Charlie and Starrla are together, or
    do you just think they are?”
    P.G. shrugged. I’ve given you all I’ve got , the gesture said.
    “Well, did Charlie say she was good in bed?” Tessa
    pressed.
    “Please,” Wren said, and her voice came from some-
    where far away. She felt sorry for herself in the most
    ridiculous of ways. She didn’t even know Charlie, not
    really, and yet picturing him with Starrla, with Starrla on
    his lap . . .
    P.G. considered. “I’m going to say no on that one. It’s
    more just general knowledge.”
    “See?” Tessa exclaimed. “That means it’s all stupid gos-
    sip, which I’m equally guilty of, I know. But, Wren. That
    means—maybe—that she’s had multiple boyfriends, if boy-
    friend is even the right word, which means Starrla probably isn’t with Charlie, at least not exclusively. Or maybe she
    was once, but they’re not together anymore.” She grabbed
    Wren’s forearm. “Wren, this is so exciting!”
    Wren pried Tessa off and said, “Let’s drop it. I was just
    curious.”
    “No, because you don’t do ‘curious,’” Tessa said. “Not
    when it comes to guys.” Tessa turned to P.G. “Wren’s
    never had a boyfriend. Her parents didn’t let her. Well,
    there was this one guy in middle school, but that lasted
    all of—what, a month? So believe me, her asking about
    Charlie is exciting.”
    “Whoa, back up,” P.G. said. He looked at Wren. “Your
    parents don’t let you date?”
    Wren quietly died.
    Tessa winced and mouthed “sorry” and then launched
    into an explanation that only made things worse.
    “No, it’s not that,” Tessa told P.G. “Well, it is, kind of,
    but also Wren decided when she was a freshman that she
    didn’t want to get distracted by all that. Right, Wren?”
    Wren pressed her fingers to her temples. Phrases from
    Tessa’s monologue made their way into her consciousness:
    “. . . because she’s brilliant . . . actually studies, unlike the rest of us . . . and her parents said that if she stayed single, basically, and didn’t have sex during all of high school, then they’d—”
    “Okay, that’s enough,” Wren said, cutting her off. Yes,
    Wren’s parents had made a deal with her when she was a
    freshman, but it wasn’t as dramatic as Tessa liked to make
    it seem. Or maybe it was. Wren had a hard time seeing
    things clearly when it came to her parents. But she hated
    to imagine what P.G. was thinking about all of this.
    At any rate, she’d promised her parents she wouldn’t
    get hung up on guys when she should be focusing on her
    grades, but the decision had been about showing good
    sense. It wasn’t a virginity pledge.
    P.G. popped a chip into his mouth. He didn’t seem too
    concerned about Wren’s love life one way or another. “So
    you haven’t found the right guy,” he said to Wren. “No big.”
    “That’s what I say!” Tessa exclaimed. “But when she
    does, it’ll be great. He’ll be great—the guy—and she’ll be great with him.” She turned to Wren. “You are awesome,
     
    Wren. And when you finally fall for someone, it will mean
    something. Right?”
    Tessa had a dab of guacamole in her hair. Just a dab at the
    bottom of one long strand. Wren frowned.
    “Wren?” Tessa said, a note of alarm creeping in.
    “I hope so,” Wren replied. She made herself change
    expressions. “I mean, sure. Yes. Whatever you say.”
    Their waiter swung by and refilled P.G.’s Coke.
    “Thanks, man,” P.G. said.
    Tessa immediately claimed his big plastic cup, found