Chapter 12 Liana

Liana thought she might puke — from nerves, not Crohn's disease, this time. After their pickleball lesson, Liana and her mom would go home for a quick shower, and then James would pick Liana up to go to their mystery destination.

Liana thought her mom might lowkey explode at any moment from excitement over Liana's date. Apparently, Deb had always loved James, which was news to Liana, since as far as she knew, Deb had never really interacted with James before starting pickleball. Deb was a history teacher at Liana and James' high school but had never had James in her class.

But when Liana had told her mom about the date, Deb had let out a little scream and clapped excitedly — a dramatic overreaction, per usual. "Oh, such a nice boy!" she'd exclaimed. "I always knew he had a good head on his shoulders. Well, I guess it wasn't such a good head on his shoulders back when you were teenagers, since that boy never looked twice at you in high school, not even as a friend. But I'm glad he's finally come to his senses."

"He didn't do anything bad to me in high school. We just ran in different circles."

"Yes, he was with that Mary Grace girl. I can't believe Tori shared a womb with her. She's awful." Liana knew her mom had never liked Mary Grace. Deb had taught Mary Grace and said the girl was always complaining. Also, Deb couldn't forgive Mary Grace for insinuating that Liana didn't deserve to be valedictorian.

"Jeez, Mom, don't mince words. But I never knew you paid so much attention to James in high school."

"Oh, please. He was all the teachers could talk about. Half of them wanted his autograph because he was the school's golden boy, and even though Pine Heights claims to be all about football and baseball, they all magically became interested in tennis once it was clear that boy was going pro. And the other half of the teachers couldn't stop looking at him for… unsavory reasons. I thought it was disgusting. I always discouraged it when the women talked about him like that. He was just a teenager! But don't worry, darling, he never entertained any teachers' advances. Not that they didn't try. It was abhorrent. I can't believe he had to deal with that on top of the pressures of being at the top of his tennis game."

Liana had always thought life had come easily to James; he was good-looking, popular, athletic, and smart. But she of all people knew that looks couldn't tell you what was going on in a person's mind. Maybe she'd been wrong to think his life had been all sunshine and rainbows.

"I never knew that. That's terrible," Liana said.

"No kidding. But he always seemed so level-headed, even with everything going on around him. I'm not sure why he's teaching pickleball now, but I assume he can no longer play tennis professionally, and I'm sure there's a story there." She looked at Liana meaningfully. As much as her mom loved chisme, though, Liana knew Deb wouldn't push her to reveal any of James' secrets. No, Deb was fiercely loyal to the people Liana cared about. While Deb loved to share gossip, she never spoke badly about those she considered to be under her mama-bear sphere of protection.

"I'm nervous, Mom," Liana admitted. "You know my last relationship didn't end well, and I'm just worried that James will dump me once he realizes that I can't live a normal life."

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Liana," said her mom seriously. "You're recovering beautifully. Most of the things you talk about as your differences are things only you see. Besides, who gets to define normal, anyway? Your asshole ex certainly doesn't. And from what I know of James, he's not one to make you feel inferior because of a physical weakness. I've seen how he treats a ninety-year-old woman who used to come to our class. He was lavishing her with praise about her pickleball playing. I bet she felt like Andre Agassi by the time class finished."

"That's a dated reference, Mom," Liana laughed. "But, point taken. I appreciate it."

Deb placed her hand over her daughter's. "I don't think James will make you feel anything but cared for. But if he ever hurts you… you know he faces mama bear's wrath."

Liana smiled. "Thanks, Mom."