Darla: …
I secretly hoped she would type back “Eww, I could never.” Or better yet she’d get mad at me and cuss me out for ever entertaining the thought she would betray our friendship. Edison asked if she and I would be friends if it weren’t for Whiskey Wild. Darla had been in my life forever, not being friends never really felt like an option. I stared at my phone, watching those three little dots appear and disappear. She was a coward, and her lack of a response was all the confirmation I needed.
Fancy: Just so you know. It’s on sight when I see you.
Darla: Fancy please.
Fancy: ON FUCKING SIGHT.
I probably wasn’t going to do shit, but I wanted her to think I was locked and loaded so she stayed far away from me. The most I’d do was probably unfollow her on social media and let the fans speculate over the reason why. Shit, Chap was claiming I was an addict, maybe I should show them bad press works both ways. Okay, who was I kidding. I wasn’t going to do that either but imagining all the ways I could burn the happy couple was filling a void.
Downstairs I poured a cup of coffee and noticed the brown paper bag on the kitchen counter. Edison had forgotten his lunch. It was a little past nine, so I hopped in the shower, dressed, and then set off to make a special delivery.
When Cotton Candy and I pulled up to Figs and Twine, I secured her to a nearby pole. The parking lot was already littered with cars. Figs and Twine wasn’t the only place in town that sold plants, but it was the biggest. It was situated on a huge plot of land with room to grow. It would be interesting to see what Edison and Dial would make of the place once their parents moved away.
Hume residents stopped me looking to say hello, most of whom had known me before I was even born. Ms. Upton gave me updates on her grandkids accompanied by a slideshow on her phone. Nathan, who was once the star football player informed me he now worked at the hardware store. I waved to a couple I’d never met but who seemed to know me, they must have moved to town after my departure.
At the front entrance, I found Dial outside watering some large potted plants. Dial was always no nonsense; she was a bit of a bookworm, and she’d only let her hair down if she felt comfortable with you. Because our families were close, I was fortunate enough to get a glimpse at the real Dial Birch. Growing up I remember admiring her independent spirit. Even though she was only a year older than me, I thought there’s a woman who knows what she wants and she isn’t going to let anyone stop her.
“Hey Dial, is Edison here?”
Dial turned to face me, almost spraying me with water from the hose. “No, he went to town.”
I shook the bag in my hand. “He forgot his lunch, so I thought I’d run it to him.”
Dial’s forehead wrinkled. “His lunch?”
“Yeah, he forgot it on the kitchen counter when he left this morning.”
Her eyes narrowed like she was processing new information. I guess Edison hadn’t told her about us. “I’ll make sure he gets it.” She practically snatched the bag from my hand.
I wasn’t sure what I’d done to warrant the attitude and frankly I was two seconds away from losing my shit. It was probably best I make a quick exit.
“Thanks, that would be great.” The thing about me is I didn’t like it when people played in my face. First Chap, then Darla, and now Dial. Was it so damn hard to be cordial? Not fake, not phony, just cordial. Was that too much to ask? I turned to leave, but the chilly reception was nagging at me, so I spun on my heels. “Did I do something to offend you?”
“What makes you think that?”
“You just seem … cold. I didn’t expect you to roll out the red carpet upon my return, but I didn’t anticipate this.”
“Have you returned to Hume?”
I hopped a shoulder. “I’m back for a bit.”
“Sure until Los Angeles starts calling.” She turned her attention back to the plants. The spray from the hose made carrying on a conversation difficult. But I didn’t back down.
“If you have something to say, stop gnawing on it and spit that shit out.”
Dial released the handle, and the hum of the water ceased. Setting the hose at her feet, she wiped her hands on the legs of her overalls. “I’ve never had a problem saying what I mean.”
“Well then shoot, because this passive aggressive stunt isn’t working for me.”
“The last time you left Hume, it took months for Edison to recover. I know you’ve been back since and I appreciate you keeping your distance. But I need you to remember you agreed to leave him alone.”
“Yeah, because you bullied me into submission. And now I’m realizing that wasn’t what Edison wanted, it’s what you wanted.” About a year or so after leaving Hume, I returned home with Darla. We were in town for a few days, and I had every intention of connecting with Edison, but I ran into Dial first. She informed me Edison was away at college. Then she asked me to keep my distance from him and claimed he went into a depressive state when I left. Dial made me believe I was bad for him.
“Because you’re a taker Fancy. You just take and take until there’s nothing left.”
“That isn’t true.” Hearing Edison’s words from a few nights ago regurgitated out of Dial’s mouth caused me pause. Shit, maybe she’d gotten into his head too.
