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Stodge is deflated. “Uh…yeah. Sure.” He picks up his snowboard and stands at the door, presumably waiting for me to say something else.
When I remain stoic and silent, he slips out without waving. The door clicks shut behind him, leaving me alone to stew about the situation at hand. I was a kid with a load of brains, a shitty home life, and zero social skills. I was also hopelessly smitten with my best friend’s sister, who happened to be the most popular girl at school.
She ruthlessly chewed me up and spit me out without a second thought. Miles wasn’t there to witness it because he was otherwise…occupied. The aftermath could have ended our friendship, but Shay moved away so… Anyway, seeing Shay again is going to suck but I can’t let the situation fuck things up with Miles. I’m smart enough to know if it comes down to it, he’ll always choose his twin sister.
You can’t change who your family is. I live with this sad truth every fucking day.
Goddammit.
Oh, I know it’s been years and I should forgive and forget and all that.
Revenge sounds better, though.
Yeah. Much better.
I should be a bigger person. I’m no longer a scrawny, insecure geek. I’ve built Hungry Llama into one of the hottest companies in the world. I’m not hurting for cash. I own several properties. I have no problem getting laid. I’d like to think I’m a decent boss. I support a ton of philanthropic causes.
So why can’t I let it go?
Because I want to bring her down a notch.
Yep. That’s it. I want to give her a taste of her own medicine.
I’ll let Miles know I’ve changed my mind and Shay can report to me. Then I’ll be an asshole. Not any asshole, a subtle asshole. Take great pleasure in making her life miserable until she quits on her own accord. That way I’ll get rid of her and keep my friendship with Miles intact.
I stand at the window.
It’s snowing again. Everything is quiet.
The world might look peaceful from up here, but I know better.
A storm is beginning, and I’m standing directly in its path.
Chapter two
Shay
One Hour Later
Today’s my inaugural day at Hungry Llama. I can’t believe my good luck. It’s snowing, a rare occurrence this early in the year. On my way into the office building, I even caught a few snowflakes on my tongue.
It didn’t help. My nervous system is a tangle of live wires.
Too much change. So much disappointment. Never-ending anxiety.
When Devon broke up with me, I had no choice but to move back to Seattle into my parents’ house. Everything was in Devon’s name. Our condo. The cars. Furniture. Dishes. Electronics. The few things that I kept were clothes, shoes, handbags, and some personal items. I had to beg Devon for cash to fund my trip home—which was ultra humiliating by the way.
My long-term relationship has been reduced to my personal belongings and the ten grand he begrudgingly deposited into my bank account. In return, I blocked his number and unfriended him on all social media accounts. He might have broken things off, but I’m the one who officially ghosted him.
When I returned to Seattle, I thought my parents would be empathetic. That I’d have a soft landing. I figured it would take a few months to heal. Regroup. Figure out my next steps. Stuff like that.
I had a rude awakening. My parents loved Devon, apparently, and seem to blame me for the demise of our relationship. Mom goes on and on about why I stayed so long without a commitment. Dad grumbles about how I essentially abandoned my career to follow him around the NFL. They’re giving me a serious dose of tough love…and a six-month deadline to get a job and figure out my life’s plan.
Everything is just…hard. I’m heartbroken. Devastated. My life’s in shambles. I could use a little nurturing. Would that be too much to ask?
Besides, nothing is the same here in Seattle. Connecting with girlfriends I’d lost touch with was a disaster. Mindy is married with children. Bianca lives in Florida now. None of us kept in touch after high school, so I’m not surprised we’re not friends anymore. More casualties of my relationship with Devon, I guess.
All in all, my homecoming has been harsh.
