…Loved.
I knew what I felt for Damien. Deep down, I realized I was a goner for him. But I refused to admit it.
According to Jade, ‘Denial’ isn’t only a river in Africa…
If I admitted it out loud, then I had to face myself. Come to terms with the fact that he ghosted me. Wrestle with my self-confidence and realize I was just a conquest for him.
And while I was a game to him, the emotions he brought out in me were real.
“You are going to do some serious damage to your skin if you keep frowning like that. I’m talking deep wrinkles, probably in your thirties,” Jade said, crossing her arms.
“I can’t help it. It just happens. Maybe that’s just my face.”
“That is not your face. I’ve known you for most of your life.”
I was thrilled Jade moved to Fayetteville with me. She was a piece of home and comfort, offering me some consistency while my entire life got shaken up.
“Maybe it’s the face I’ve grown into. For the rest of my life, this is what you got.”
“Still nothing from Damien, huh?”
I shook my head. “You?”
“No. He won’t answer me anymore, either. So at least you know it’s not only you.”
“And no gigs?”
“Nothing. It’s like the band up and vanished.”
“Huh.”
“Are you ready for me to ask Colton about him?”
I fidgeted with my hands. “No.”
However, my determination not to ask was quickly waning. The longer Damien iced me out, the weaker my resolve became. I was caught between ‘I don’t deserve this, screw him’ and ‘please talk to me.’ And I was getting closer and closer to the latter.
“Well, I do know one little tidbit. If you want to hear it.”
And did I.
Like a dog salivating over the simple mention of a treat. “I mean… I guess. If you want to tell me.” My nonchalance was not convincingin the slightest.
“Colton told me they canceled the rest of the tour. He wouldn’t say why, and I didn’t want to pry. I figured he’d tell me if it wasn’t something personal to one of the band members.”
“They canceled the rest of their tour?”
“Yeah. Apparently, all the shows after LA.”
That didn’t make any sense. They left around the same time I did. Damien had mentioned Violet being sick. Could that have something to do with it?
If it was a simple explanation like that, he would have just told me, right?
“Well, just add it to the mystery pile, I guess.” I stood from the couch. “I have too much to do to sit here and wonder.”
“That’s my girl.”
“I’m going to get my room fully unpacked today. Wanna keep me company?”
