Page 123 of Small Town Swoo
“No, don’t fire her.” I frowned at the ceiling fan. “I’ll just feel worse.”
“Well, cheer up. Something good is bound to come your way.”
We hung up, and I stared at my phone, longing to call Ari and confess the entire debacle. She’d probably find a way to make me laugh about it. See the humor in the miscommunication. Reassure me my time was still coming, I had a gift, I shouldn’t give up.
She was simply the best, just like the song said.
But I couldn’t tell her I loved her. The thought of it paralyzed the muscles in my throat.
And a bunch of adolescent girls were not qualified to give me relationship advice. They didn’t know me, they didn’t know Ari, and they certainly didn’t know how hard a relationship could be—especially if you lived on opposite sides of the country. They were just kids. They thought you could write your own life like a script and give it the ending you wanted.
If only it was that easy.
But I had to admit, they’d said some things that made me think.
I knew what she wanted in a relationship—she’d said it right out loud.I just want someone to be there. Be in it with me.
But how was I supposed tobe therewhen Ilived here? There was no getting around it. So what the fuck was the point of all these fucking feelings that had come surging forth once my heart energy was unclogged? They weren’t making my life any better or lighter or easier.
I scowled at my phone. This was some real bullshit. The universe wasn’t handing over any breaks. I hadn’t gotten the big role. I’d done everything Delphine had said to do and I was right back where I started, alone with my shit.
No, I was worse off, because now I was potentially in love with a girl who lived a million miles away, and we couldn’t be together.
This was all Delphine’s fault.
Jumping off the couch, I threw a baseball cap on my head, shoved my feet into some slides, and grabbed my keys. I was going to drive to her shop and tell her so.
The same sandwich board advertising the same psychic bullshit was out on the sidewalk, and I felt like kicking it over as I marched past. I stormed into the shop, a chime going off above my head. Inside, I stood there in a huff, feet spread, chest puffed up, chin jutting.
“Can I help you?” asked a tall, skinny guy with long hair behind the register.
“I’m looking for Delphine.” My eyes scanned the shop, but all I saw was the back of a woman with a long blond ponytail examining some crystals.
“She’s in the?—”
“Dash.” Delphine had appeared from behind the beaded curtain. The resemblance to Ari seemed less strong to me now, but it was still enough to ratchet my anger up another level. “How are things going?”
“Terrible.” I scowled and pointed at her. “And it’s all your fault.”
She didn’t even look surprised—further proof of her guilt. “Would you like to come back and talk about it?”
“Yes, I would,” I said, storming past her and throwing the beaded curtain aside. The room looked the same—black walls, stained glass lamp with beaded fringe shade, table holding crystals, cards, and hand sanitizer.
“Take a seat,” said Delphine, following me inside.
“No, thanks. I’ll stand.” But what I did was pace.
Delphine lowered herself into her chair. “You seem upset.”
“I am upset. You lied to me.” I knew I was being loud and obnoxious, but I couldn’t help it. She wanted feelings? I’d give her feelings!
“I did?”
“Yes. You told me that if I walked around naked and got more comfortable being vulnerable, I’d get what I wanted.”
Delphine hesitated. “I’m not sure that’sexactlywhat I?—”
“Yes, it is! You said all I had to do was strip down to my purest self and knock down the walls around my heart. You said what I sought was within. Well, I did all that and unless I was seeking misery and humiliation, it didn’t work!”
