14. True
Mama:
You need to get laid
Me:
Ma.
Mama:
I’m serious, True.
Me:
Ma.
Mama:
You need a release. Trust me, it’ll be cathartic and you’ll be over this writer’s block in no time.
Every time I get stagnant or experience a creative block, it’s because I need to release something in order for the new thing to sprout wings.
If she said the word release again, I was going to scream into my pillow. Although, I guess I had to take her word for it. She was a creative through and through.
Patience St. John was a part-time sculptor, part-time seamstress, and part-time yoga instructor. She did nothing and everything. It was part of her charm. Because my dads supported her regardless, she did things because she wanted to not because she needed to. So she bounced around from one job to the next whenever the mood struck and regaled me with the stories before she moved on.
Mama:
Download a dating app. Krystal was telling me about a new one that was good
Why was our neighbor talking to her about dating apps when my mom had two husbands?
I rubbed my eyes, fighting a yawn.
A few seconds later, my phone vibrated and a picture popped up in our thread. It was a marketing photo for an app that promised their mission was to make you delete the app because you matched with someone.
“Yea, right,” I huffed, incredulous.
Of course I knew they existed, but I’d never used a dating app. I went out pretty regularly in King’s Town and met people organically. Since I’d stopped going out, I’d stopped meeting people and I didn’t know if that would be an easy method to resume in a town as tiny as Bliss Peak.
Mama:
Download it and give it a try, baby. You never know who you might meet
I mulled over her words, staring at the ad again before swiping the messaging app closed. I could be a pessimist or I could be grateful that she’d gone from telling me it was too soon for me to be writing to telling me I needed to find a date to help me speed up the process.
Without responding to her last text, I opened the App Store and typed in the name of the dating app, surprised when I saw it had over a million ratings with an average of 4.5.
“I guess this is working for somebody,” I conceded grudgingly.
And I did have a lot of pent up…energy. It was apparent every time I was around my neighbors. Maybe this would be good for me. Allow me to relieve some tension and maintain my friendships without making it weird.
I didn’t get a chance to download the app or read any of those reviews because I got a text.
Dad:
True, this is your father, Kristopher
So formal . As if I didn’t have his number saved. I grinned when more grey bubbles appeared.
Dad:
What’s this your mother tells me about you going on dates in Bliss Peak? I thought you were there to write a book
Me:
I can multitask, dad
Dad:
Hmm. Tell your grandparents where you are at all times. And if they try something, you know your grandmother loves getting target practice for her rifle
Good lord , the last person I wanted to think about firing a rifle was Ruby Jean St. John.
And how the hell had my mom told my dad about my potential dates so fast? I hadn’t even downloaded the app yet.
They were probably in the same room.
Shaking my head, I hugged my pillow tighter and waited for more messages to appear.
The next one that came through was from the family group chat.
Daddy:
True, when are you coming home?
Me:
When I finish my book
Daddy:
why is it taking so long?
Me:
It’s only been a month. You can just say you miss me
Mama:
He cried the first two nights you were gone
What ?
Guilt made my stomach turn.
Daddy:
Stop telling my business, Patience
Mama:
It was sweet
Daddy:
Dad:
True, you need some money?
Me:
No, I’m okay.
Daddy:
How’s your car holding up?
Me:
Good. I haven’t driven it in a couple weeks but I crank it every morning like you told me.
Well, afternoon . I was never awake in the morning and it was too cold to be starting a car at that time anyway.
Dad:
Good, keep doing that
Daddy:
When you finish your book, we can get you a new car to celebrate. Whatever you want, princess
Me:
I don’t need a new car, daddy
Daddy:
We’ll see
Mama:
Wait, I thought you said you went into town today. How’d you get there? I know your grandma didn’t get that truck up the mountain.
A snort of laughter left me. I wholeheartedly believed I’d inherited my allegiance to my old car from that woman.
Me:
It wasn’t grandma. It was my neighbor, Noah.
Mama:
Ah, yes. The pretty boy next door.
My jaw fell.
Me:
I never told you he was pretty.
Mama:
You didn’t have to. You told me long hair and tattoos and I got the picture.
Me:
Mama:
Why aren’t you dating him?
Me:
Because he’s my neighbor, Ma. We’re just friends.
Mama:
isn’t there another one? Or did I make that up?
I needed to make a friend. Or ten. My mama knew too much about my daily encounters with Noah and Greyson.
Me:
If you must know, one of them did ask me to go to a wedding reception with them. But we’re going as friends.
Daddy:
I remember when your mother and I were friends.
Mama:
Don’t forget to set up your profile
I liked the message and watched as another one rolled in.
Mama:
And don’t forget to bring your own condoms. You never know what these men will try.
I groaned. Why had she sent that in the group chat?
My dads had two very different reactions.
My phone notified me that “Daddy” had emphasized my mother’s message and
“Dad” had left the group chat.
I finally closed the thread and smiled at my screen for a beat.
Was my family heavy handed with a side of meddlesome? Yes. But I loved them for it.
Before I fell asleep that night, I downloaded two dating apps and set up my profiles, frowning when I noticed how far back I had to scroll in my camera roll for a good full body picture of myself. I used to do stuff. Go outside and be seen. Before my mind could take a raggedy detour to grief, I pushed the thoughts away and focused on creating my profiles.
Operation: Get Laid and Write This Damn Book was officially underway.