Chapter 3

It only took one dinner for me to see right through Olivia's feelings for Matthew.

The awkward incident at the end left everyone looking uncomfortable when the meal wrapped up, but then Olivia jumped in again.

She turned to the group and said, "Matthew doesn't come back often, so let's keep the night going and hit up a karaoke!"

The room went dead silent after she spoke. Some people snuck glances at me while others just kept quiet.

Olivia let out a sugary laugh and said, "Oh silly me, I always forget that Grace can't hear."

She quickly typed out a message on her phone and showed me that everyone wanted to sing karaoke.

Someone who felt totally mortified stepped forward and tried to talk Olivia down. "Grace can't really participate, and everyone's pretty tired today. Maybe we should just call it a night," they said.

After all, inviting a deaf person to karaoke was cruel.

But Olivia didn't care and wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away.

She shot back with righteous indignation, "What are you talking about? People with disabilities need respect and equal treatment most of all. When you tiptoe around like this, Grace is going to think we're discriminating against her."

Then she turned to look at me.

Matthew glanced at my face and was about to decline, but I stopped him.

I used sign language and had the translator accept Olivia's invitation. "Sure, let's go."

After we left the restaurant, Matthew went to get the car.

When someone spotted him pulling out keys to the latest Rolls-Royce model, they couldn't help but gasp in admiration.

"Damn, Matthew, haven't seen you in years and you're doing this well? You're driving a Rolls now?" one of them said.

Matthew glanced at me, then smiled at the group. "It's nothing, really. I got it on a loan," he said.

Of course, no one believed him, and they all teased and complimented him anyway.

After politely saying goodbye to everyone, Matthew opened the passenger door for me first.

But before I could even step forward, Olivia swooped in and climbed into the seat.

She laughed and said, "Nice, Matthew! You didn't even tell your buddy you bought a car. As your best friend, I should be the first one to ride in it, right?"

The people around us perked up, clearly ready to watch the drama unfold.

Matthew looked mortified and kept sneaking glances at my face, but he didn't do anything.

When he still didn't make a move, Olivia finally seemed to remember I existed.

She turned to me with mock concern. "Oh my gosh, Grace, I'm so sorry! I've gotten carsick in the back seat since I was a kid, so you'll let me have the front, won't you?" she said.

I didn't say anything. I just stared at her with wide eyes, finding the whole thing almost amusing.

She suddenly acted like something just occurred to her and said loudly, as if talking to herself, "Oh right, I forgot Grace can't hear me!"

Then she pulled out her phone and typed something out before holding it up for me to see. The screen displayed exactly what she'd just said out loud.

I stood there quietly, watching her.

Matthew finally realized something was wrong and stepped forward. "Olivia, stop it. My girlfriend's here. There's no way I'm letting someone else sit in the passenger seat," he said.

When she heard his words, that look of resentment and grievance appeared on Olivia's face again.

The atmosphere was growing increasingly awkward.

I reached out and stopped Matthew, shook my head at him, and gestured for Olivia to get in.

Olivia's face lit up with joy, and her eyes gleamed with poorly concealed triumph. She lifted her chin at Matthew. "See? Grace is way more generous than you," she said.

Matthew looked worried that I might be upset, so he carefully opened the door for me.

He settled me in the back seat and fastened my seatbelt with extra care.

Through the rearview mirror, I watched Olivia's expression shift several times.

But when Matthew got in the car, she put on a completely different face.

After we'd been driving for a while, she spoke up first. "Grace, did you know Matthew still wet the bed in third grade?" she said.

Before I could respond, Matthew's ears turned red, and he scolded her. "Olivia, seriously, why would you bring that up?" he asked.

Olivia covered her mouth and laughed. "What? You did it, but you don't want people to know?" she said.

The two of them kept playing around and bickering like that in the front seat.

The whole ride, I watched their mouths move in the rearview mirror and opened my phone to take pictures of the scenery along the way.

After a long while, Olivia seemed to remember I was still in the back seat. "Oops, I keep forgetting you can't hear me, Grace," she mumbled. Then she typed out everything she'd just said on her phone and showed it to me.

That set off another round of playful fighting between her and Matthew.

I pretended not to notice and turned my gaze toward a tech company's billboard in the distance.