“Tell me why I can visualize this like it’s happening right in front of me?”
“Because you’re you. Now, tell me how work is going.”
I’d finally started work at the music store in town four weeks ago. That had been the same time Elijah finally headed back to South Carolina. Both Christmas and New Years had passed without a single awkward interaction with him. Honestly, I thought he’d pop back up around the holidays and was relieved when he didn’t.
“It’s like working all day, but it doesn’t feel like work. And at least now, I can buy my own coffee.”
“I buy you coffee because I love you. Not because I consider you a charity case.”
I sighed dramatically as I took a sip. “And because now that you are happily engaged, you are living through me and my love life.”
“Since you brought it up. Anything from him?”
I shook my head.
I couldn’t understand why Damien still chose to ignore me. Two months had passed since our time in Los Angeles.
But I was over it.
Over him.
Blake put her chin in her palm. “There has to be a reason. I saw the way he looked at you. It was more than a conquest.”
“I wish I knew.”
It frustrated me to no end how the guy I actually wanted to talk to completely ghosted me while the one I wished would leave me the hell alone kept popping up unexpectedly.
Like hormonal acne.
“Well, how are the guitar lessons going?”
“Amazing. I don’t know why it took me so long to pick it up. I’m a total natural.”
I wasn’t just saying it, either. Dave was the one giving me lessons, and he was wholeheartedly impressed how quickly Iwas picking it up. But when I held the carved piece of wood in my hands, I felt free.
Blake rolled her eyes. “I can think of one reason.”
I laughed, but she was right. Controlling ex-boyfriend and all that.
Now that I was on my own, though, I spent every single moment of my free time strumming on my guitar, writing my songs, and pouring my soul into the chords.
Music was all I had right now, and I clung to it like a newborn baby to its mother.
Another four weeks flew by, and I’d still heard nothing from Damien.
I had weak moments where I’d cave and reach out to him, then berated myself when all I received in return was silence.
I thought eventually I wouldn’t think of him as much, but that turned out to be wrong. Thoughts of him followed me around, always in the back of mind.
I hated the vulnerability I had for him.
At this point, I’d written so many lyrics about him alone and I aimed to piece them all together in the almighty “Damien Walker Sucks” dedication song. Maybe it would be the debut for my indie-published album, which I planned to record once I fully mastered the guitar.
Anger coiled in my stomach, like a snake getting ready for the moment it could finally strike.
I wasn’t sure if I was more mad at him or myself. I was the one who reached out to him in the beginning. I traveled to hisshows and supported him. I pursued our friendship. And I flew out to see him.
There were zero instances where he went out of his way to pursue me.
