Page 4 of Heartache & Playdates
“Look, Maddox, you know I love you but it’s time to shit or get off the pot.”
“Excuse me?”
“You need to go all in or fold.”
“You’re really leaning into the metaphors today, huh?”
“Those are idioms not metaphors.”
Lizzy was a journalist, and the English language was her happy place.
“I haven’t talked to her in over two decades.” If that wasn’t folding or getting off the pot, I didn’t know what was.
“And?” Lizzy shrugged. “That torch you’re carrying is so bright it burned my retinas when we were dating. The reason why you never have anything serious is because there’s no room in your life for another person. Totga takes up too much real estate in your heart and you either need to find her and give her the deed or evict her.”
“Are you trying to reach a dailyidiomquotient or something?”
“Yep.” She smiled as she lifted her hand and held up her middle finger. “One more to go.”
I chuckled as a text came through on my phone and I pulled it out. I was expecting to see a message from my assistant Samara. It was Friday but I’d snuck away for a brunch and rock-climbing adventure with Lizzy and Hannah because next year, I wouldn’t be able to do these weekday activities since Hannah would be in first grade and at school all day.
The message wasn’t from Samara, it was from Alex.
Alex:U going to the reunion?
Me:No, I have Peanut this weekend.
Not that I would have wanted to attend even if I didn’t. Other than meeting Peyton, my high school years hadn’t been the best. Also, I’d only been there two years as opposed to people who had gone for four. There was only one person I’d want to see and since I knew she wasn’t going I had no interest. When I got the invite for the reunion, which was going to include four different classes since COVID had fucked up other years having their twentieth, I declined the invitation.
I started to put my phone away, when I got another message. It was a highlighted screenshot of the attendees. Peyton Russo’s name was in bright yellow.
Holy shit.
My heart slammed into my chest which was constricted tightly as I stared down at the screen. Peyton was going to the reunion? She’d only gone to the school for six months and as far as I knew hadn’t kept in touch with anyone there.
“What? What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Can you keep Peanut this weekend?”
“Why? What’s going on? What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to my reunion.”
Her brow furrowed before her eyes widened to the size of silver dollars. “Is Totga going to be there?”
I didn’t answer.
“She is?!”
I still didn’t answer.
“Can I come?” Lizzy clapped her hands together. “As your date?”
“You want to come to my high school reunion as my date?”
She nodded as a wide smile spread on her face. “Yes!”
“I’m not bringing my baby mama to my reunion. Plus, you need to keep Hannah.”
