Page 224 of Notes of Attraction

“Bea.” She turns me gently by the shoulders to face her instead of the mirror. Her face is serious in the way it only gets when she actually means something. “You don’t have to have it all worked out. You just have to say you’re ready to talk. That’s all. One text. And then you go from there.”

I look at her.

“Right,” I say.

“Right,” Sydney confirms. “And if you still don’t want to forgive him, which you’d be totally within your right to, then we will ban all mention and playing of Atlas Falling in the Hive House. We will go on strike with you. But before that, I think you should speak to him; otherwise, you’re never going to be able to close that door.”

“Alright, I need a minute,” I say, hugging them both.

“Take your time.” She squeezes both my arms. “Then come dance with us.” She slaps my butt as they sashay back out onto the dance floor.

They go.

I turn back to the mirror. Wash my hands. Dry them. Take a breath.

I get my phone out.

Bea

I’m ready to talk.

I send it before I can think about it more than I already have.

I put my phone in my pocket, and I go back out to find my friends.

By the time I reach them on the dance floor, Sydney is already twirling around, and Gianna is swaying to the music. The song is something I actually know, so I step in between them, and I dance.

My phone, in my pocket, buzzes once. I leave it because I’m here with my girlfriends having a fucking great time and this time is sacred.

Dealing with men can wait until our feet are sore.

I don’t check it until we’re outside at midnight, in the cold, waiting for Sydney to finish kissing goodbye to someone she met near the bar and will never see again, and when I do check it, I’m grinning ear to ear.

Cal

Let’s talk

Btw I passed A&P. Couldn’t have done it without you Doc. Thank you for everything