It was important to eat every meal. I couldn’t skip them. Because then it would be all too easy to skip the next one. And the one after that.
I took another bite and wished this conversation were over.
“Well, that’s not how things are now. There’s Mays and Jordan. Riley and Garrett. You and Cole. And Sophie and Mitch. Then there’s Gracie who as it turns out isn’t so fun to hang out with when she’s not wasted.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Vivian scowled. “Is that what you think? That you’re not fun now that you’re not drinking? I really hope you’re not that stupid.”
I managed to finish all of the cereal and got up to wash out the bowl. I was already running late for work because of my early morning clit flick.
“No. I don’t really think that. I was just being silly. But seriously, Viv, don’t start anything this weekend. Or I swear to God I’ll leave. I’ll steal your keys and drive home,” I threatened.
Vivian gave me a shrewd look. “I won’t start anything. But you need to try to talk to him. This has gone on entirely too long.”
I let out a noisy breath and leaned against the counter. “I have more things going on in my life than whether Mitch Abrams is talking to me. Just drop it.”
Lies. All lies. I told them so well.
“I just need to lie here for a while and stretch. I think my muscles have started to atrophy from being cramped into one position by Vivian’s army of suitcases.” I kicked one of my roommate’s three bags. “We’re only here for the weekend, Viv. How many trampy halter tops does one girl need?”
Vivian stuck out her tongue and hefted the largest of the three up onto the bed. “You really are cranky when you’re stressed out,” she said, flipping her long hair over her shoulder.
“Shouldn’t you be trekking this stuff over to Cole’s room?” I asked her.
“The guys are still in sound check. We’re going to head over and meet up with them as soon as you get all settled and I have a shower. I’ll take everything over later. We’re all on the same floor anyway,” Vivian explained, pulling a tiny scrap of fabric from the depths of her suitcase.
“I’m guessing you want to use my shower then,” I surmised as she started to unload a pile of beauty products from her makeup bag.
“I’ll be quick. They’re expecting us over there in an hour,” Vivian promised, blowing me a kiss and disappearing into the bathroom.
There was a knock on the door and I got up from the bed and went to open it.
“Glad to see I don’t have to make an unexpected trip to Bakersville to kick your ass,” Riley announced, walking into my hotel room.
“Happy to see you too,” I chuckled, closing the door after Maysie followed her inside.
Riley rolled her eyes and gave me a stiff hug. She wasn’t the touchy feely type so I purposefully wrapped my arms around her and gave her a squeeze.
“Aw, you’ve missed me,” I simpered, kissing her cheek nosily.
“Ugh. Enough with the hugging and kissing and squealing,” Riley said, pushing me away good-naturedly.
I grinned. “It’s been months, Ri, you need to prepare yourself for tons of cuddles. Maybe I can do your hair for you and you can paint my nails. We can make it a real girls’ night!” I enthused sarcastically, knowing the response I’d get.
Riley made a face. “Has hell frozen over? No? Well then fuck off.”
Maysie grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. She slung her arm around my shoulders while doing the same to Riley. “The gang’s all here! It’s been too long!”
“Well except for Viv. Let me guess she’s giving herself a Brazilian in the bathroom,” Riley guessed.
“I heard that!” Vivian called from the other side of the bathroom door and we all laughed.
“You’re coming over to sound check with us, right?” Maysie asked.
My stomach knotted, but I pasted a smile on my face. “Sure.”
“We thought we’d all go get something to eat before the guys have to be back for the show,” Riley suggested and I simply nodded.
Eating and food was the last thing on my mind.
But taking a drink of something in the mini bar was right at the front of it.
I felt jittery and apprehensive.
Get a grip! I scolded myself. I’d seen Mitch many times since sleeping together. Why was I getting so worked up?
There was absolutely no reason for me to feel this way. I seriously doubted Mitch would bother speaking to me at all.
It’ll be just as it had been for the last year; pretending the other doesn’t exist. Pretending I didn’t feel like bashing my head against a wall every time I heard Sophie’s voice.
Sounds like a super duper time!
The idea of actually trying to speak to him had been dashed the moment I decided not to return his text.
Why did I have to go and send that stupid message in the first place?
I had just resigned myself to the level of discomfort that I continuously felt in his presence. Now it would be so. Much. Worse.
Vivian finally came out of the bathroom and struck a pose in front of the mirror. She ran her hands down her sides while twisting her body left and right as she looked at her reflection.
“Damn Viv, are we hittin’ the clubs before dinner? Do I need to dig out my hoochie gear?” Riley asked blandly.
“Some of us like to look good for our man,” Vivian snipped, fluffing hair.
“And some of us wait to show off our lady bits until after the sun has set,” Riley responded.
“Ladies, ladies. Come on. Let’s just get over to the bar. The guys should be about finished.
“Let’s go then,” I said with pep in my voice.
Riley lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “Wow, someone’s excited to listen to sound check.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh snark, how I’ve missed you.”
I looped my arm with Riley’s and walked out into the hallway, Maysie and Vivian following us.
“How’s the job going?” I asked my friend as the four of us piled into the elevator and headed to the lobby.
“Long hours. Crap pay. It’s great actually,” Riley grinned and she meant it. She had graduated in the spring from grad school and was now working for one of the biggest newspapers in Boston. So yeah, I was a little bit jealous. I was happy for her most of all, but I could admit that I wished it were me working as a cutting edge reporter and not writing about people’s landscapes for a low budget magazine that sat at the back of the rack at the dentist’s office.
Riley and I had both interned at the Bakersville Times during our senior year and when I went off the rails I had pretty much tanked any possibility for a good job in journalism after graduation. So I shouldn’t be complaining about the Southern Gardens gig. It was better than nothing.
“How about you? How are the gardens in the south?” Riley asked.
“Full of flowers,” I replied blandly.
“I’d lose my mind writing about plants all the time,” Vivian added as the elevator doors opened and we piled out into the lobby.
“Eh, it’s not the worst thing in the world. Sure I’d rather be writing for a fashion magazine or be the next Dear Abby, but it’s something to hold me over until I finally land my dream job as a trapeze artist with the circus,” I remarked.
“It’s good to have goals,” Riley replied flippantly.
“I’ve been working on my portfolio, adding stuff to it. So maybe I can actually land myself a decent writing job,” I said with a whole lot of optimism that most days I didn’t feel.
“You know, I could always put in a word for you with Diane. Or if you wanted to, you could come up to Boston. I bet you I could get you a job, no problem. You’re talented. Way too talented to be schlepping it at that monthly rag,” Riley offered.
“Thanks, Ri. I really appreciate it. I do. But I want to get something on my own merit.”
Riley looked at me like I was nuts. “You do realize that in life it’s who you know as much as what you know, right? There’s no shame in me greasing the wheels.”
I gave her another loud, wet kiss on the cheek, which she promptly wiped off with a look of disgust. “If I find myself sucking old guys off in an alleyway for Raman Noodles money I promise to take you up on it. Until then, I’d like to keep doing things my way.”