Page 33 of The Breakup Artists

The air smells earthy and humid, a mixture of wet grass and brine from the dock, and the rain thuds loudly against the porch roof. I inhale deeply and make a run for it, my feet sliding in my flip-flops and my arm up to protect my eyes.

I knock three times on Bentley’s screen door, pressing myself against his small faded blue house to stay under the overhang.

“Hey,” he says, opening it and moving aside so I can rush in.

“Hey,” I reply, rubbing my wet face with the backs of my wrists and kicking off my sopping-wet flip-flops.

His smile is so big that I give him the side-eye and ask, “You cool?”

“Always,” he replies, but he’s still grinning like an idiot.

19

august

Mom’s been in Vinnie’s Pizza for a half hour, which means either Vinnie’s hiring her or she’ll come out jobless with a claim that they’re kindred spirits or some crap.

I press my hands against the steering wheel and stare at the windshield blurred by heavy summer rain, the kind that suddenly dumps out of the clouds and then disappears just as fast. And I think about Tiny’s plan, about exposing Justin by making him think he’s lost control over Ella. There are a few ways it might work, but all of those involve trust—not an easily achievable milestone considering Ella only just stopped hating me.

I pick up my phone, selecting my thread with Ella.

Me

Question: have I graduated from mild dislike yet? I’m aiming for a solid neutral.

For a few seconds there’s nothing. Then the chat bubble pops up.

Ella

Who aims for neutral?

Me

Neutral is best.

Ella

Loved is best. Neutral is neutral.

Me

Disagree. Neutral is the gateway to friendship.

Ella

So you’re actually aiming for friendship, not neutral.

Me

Nope. Not sure you make the cut yet.

Ella

Riiiight. Which is why you offered to teach me to paint... because you’re so undecided. Totally believe that one.

I laugh.

Me