Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Waverly
My coffee is at the perfect temperature, and a lo-fi early 2000’s pop mix plays over the café’s speakers. Perfect. I’m just about to dive into the research Penny Olympian asked me to do on the hythanatia flower. I recognize it from Alana’s phone. She’s right, it’s not rare. In fact, it can grow in lots of different environments, including low water, high heat, frigid temperatures, and floods. It’s like the outside world has very little effect on its ability to thrive. I finally get a call from Angie.
Angie: Girlllll. Are you okay?
Me: Fine, I guess.
Angie: Fine? You broke up with my brother… like out of nowhere?
Me: Well it wasn’t ‘Nowhere.’
Angie: Details. So I can figure out how I’m supposed to feel about all of this.
There’s a sense of dread building in me. How is she going to react? She’s my best friend, she should have my back, right?
Me: I haven’t been happy for a long time. There wasn’t a spark. I kept hoping I would find one, but no.
Me: I guess he lost his spark, too.
Me: Otherwise he wouldn’t have cheated on me.
Ouch, and that statement hurt. It would’ve been easy to think I’m the good guy and he’s the bad guy, but life is never that clear. Neither of us were happy, and he found comfort someplace else. I can’t even be annoyed since I’m hooking up with his brother.
Angie: Hmmm I thought it might be something like that.
Angie: Has he tried talking to you since the break up?
Me: Not really.
Alana + Gun + Forehead = Don’t Call.
Angie: I will see you at brunch. Love ya.
I reread the text three times. No ‘It’s going to be alright' or ‘He sucks.’ Well, I guess blood is thicker than water.
I go back to my research, pausing only to watch a cake decorating video that makes it seem easy. I’m starting to think I can bake Angie’s wedding cake myself… but nah. And now I’m distracted by videos of mini cows.
Me: Which animals look dignified with a top hat?
Lukas: 6 a.m. on the West Coast
Me: Fine, I will tell you the answer.
Lukas: Um, all of them?
Me: What? No.
Me: Turtles, snakes, mini cows, frogs, and golden retrievers.
Lukas: What about a T-Rex?
Me: Don’t be ridiculous. With those arms? How’s he supposed to put the hat on?
Lukas: But none of those animals have arms… I’m so confused.
Me: Go back to sleep.
Lukas: Only to dream about you.
Lukas:…..
Lukas: That was the cringiest thing I’ve ever said
Me: It’s not number one, but it’s in the top ten for sure.
Now I’m all aglow and gooey inside. My cheeks burn. Is this the way I’m supposed to be? Happy? Content? Appreciated?
I spend the next two hours writing my research and sending it out to Penny. Still not sure why the tech giant and easily the world's most important woman wants to know about these flowers, but I’m not paid for the whys of the research.
I’m about to pack up when a shadow casts over my screen. “Waverly Mcleod?”
I glance up, and it takes me a moment to register who I’m seeing. He’s literally the most basic of white guys ever: white polo shirt, wrap-around sunglasses, a baseball hat from a team that’s not local, and floppy brown hair. His only noticeable feature is how completely average he is. “Have we met?”
His smile falls a little and I realize exactly how fake it was to begin with. He touches his chest. “I’m Keith. I went to school with Adam.”
“Oh.” I don’t like any of Adam’s friends. They’re also stuck up, talking about block chains and short stocks.
He pulls out the chair across from me. “Mind if I join you?”
“Actually, I’m about to leave. I’ve got a meeting across town.”
He sits anyway and closes my laptop lid. What the fuck, bro? I notice the birthmark under his thumb nail, it’s kinda like a tall mushroom or a small dick. “I heard about you and Adam.”
I arch my eyebrow and put my hand on the laptop, trying to slide it out from under his hand. “Oh really? About what?”
“I’m in a group chat. So, is it true?”
“That we’re not together? Yes.” He lifts his hand from my computer. I snag it from his reach and put it in my bag.
He turns his head in a slow deliberate motion, like he’s looking for someone. “Shame. You're the most valuable part of his life.”
Valuable? Weird word choice.
“Thanks, I guess.” Slinging my purse strap over my shoulder, I say, “Maybe he should’ve cared more.”
As I stand to step from behind the table, he grabs my arm. Instantly I get the icks. It feels like thirty snakes are slithering up my skin. I go to pull away, but he holds me there. His eyes burn with an intensity I rarely see, but I know it instinctively. It’s the predator stare. His lips curl into a smile. “What’s he gotta do to win you back?”
A whole lot of nothing, but he stares at me waiting for me to answer him. “Something big.” I yank my arm out of his grasp and give him a polite wave, “See you later.” You’ll see me NEVER. Fucking weirdo.