Free Dizzy by Jolene Perry

in another breath, and I can’t believe I have to do this with HIM because I have no one else to talk to. “I think, since your party. She’s been weird and so has James, and…”
    “Oh, shit.” He knows. Of course he does.
    They’ve been weird for like two months, and I didn’t see it. But in just a few words, he’s caught on. I’m such an idiot.
    I shake my head and wipe my face again. “Don’t. It’s just. It is what it is, but it makes the whole wedding thing…”
    “Even worse.” He shifts in his seat and starts the car. “And Lora doesn’t know?”
    “Pre-occupied.” And as I breathe in again, my body relaxes. Not a ton. But a bit. Enough that I think I might be able to hold myself together for a while. I hate that my own sister hasn’t looked past her wedding since she’s been home.
    Dylan runs a hand over his hair. “That’s one way of saying they barely come up for air.”
    I start to put a foot on the dash like I always do but stop and pull my knees to my chest instead. “I’m sorry. I just… I mean, he just left, and I just found out. And…”
    “Nah. It’s cool. I got screwed out of pizza the other day, so we’ll get pizza. If we get around to the bullshit museum thing they want us to do, we’ll do it. If not, we can both claim bonding time or some stupid shit like that. Cool?”
    “Bonding shit, huh?” I almost laugh. Almost.
    “You’re about to crack a smile already. Damn I’m good.” He flicks on the radio.
    The Neon Trees. “I love that song,” I say at the same time he says, “I love this band.”
    “Jinx,” he says as his thumbs tap the steering wheel to the beat.
    “Wait? What? You can’t say jinx unless you say the exact same thing!” Everyone knows that.
    “Um, yeah I can. Dylan’s Hummer. Dylan’s rules.” His blue eyes find mine, and he gives me a ridiculous smirk.
    I shake my head. “Okay, then you can’t say jinx unless it’s 1995. Dork.”
    Maybe I can just hang with hot party guy. And maybe I’ll be able to function even though the guy who should be my boyfriend is with my should-be best friend. I wipe the last few tears off my cheeks.
    “Shh. My rules, remember? You can’t talk until the song is over.”
    And we just sit and listen. Mary’s seats are so wide I can pull my legs into cross-legged position. It’s not perfect and my chest still feels a bit caved out, but I also feel like I’ll survive it.
    ***
    “Okay, are you kidding me?” I ask as we stop. The pizza place is sandwiched between a laundromat and a pull-tab convenience store.
    “Don’t ya trust me?” he teases.
    “I… Not really, no.” But I am totally distracted.
    “Come on.” He opens his door.
    “Your car is taking up two parking spaces,” I point out.
    He shrugs. “Yeah. We were lucky to get two close together.”
    “You can be such a jerk.” And I can breathe, which is more than I thought I’d be able to do an hour ago.
    He chuckles. “It’s parking spaces, Ziah. Don’t be such a drama queen.”
    He shuts his car door and starts around the front of Mary for mine. I jump out before he gets to my side. I’m not sure why I didn’t just let him get my door. It feels like I forced him on a date or something—though, really it’s our brother and sister who have forced us on a date, or an outing, or whatever this is.
    I follow him inside, and the cashier leans his elbows on the counter. “S’up, Lil’ D.”
    Lil’ D? I’m trying to hold in my laughter, but my body’s shaking anyway. This is so perfect. The crappiness from earlier is fading away fast. I’m sure it’ll come crashing in again at some point but not right now.
    Dylan cringes. He turns toward me. “This is my brother’s friend Hank. And I don’t even let my brother get away with calling me that.” He tags Hank in the shoulder across the counter without looking.
    “All right. Dylan.” Hank rolls his eyes at me. “What can I get for ya?”
    “Do you trust me to order for us?” Dylan