10
“ARE YOU HAVING A conversation with yourself inside your head? Because you’re making faces.”
Hailey jumped at Anne’s words, not remembering where she was. She was waitressing and it was absolutely dead. She only had two tables so far and there was only an hour left in her shift.
“Oh. Shit. Um, yeah I guess I was,” she conceded.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“Just considering trying out for the American bobsled team but I’m not sure I have what it takes. I also don’t know if I can compete because my feet are actually made of ice and it’s an illegal advantage.”
Anne furrowed her brow at Hailey like she was crazy, which, yeah she probably was.
“Come on, seriously!” She begged. “Tell me what you’re thinking about!”
“Geez, you don’t think I have what it takes either? Fine, I guess I’ll just stick to amateur bobsledding in the alley behind my apartment.”
Anne chuckled. “You’re ridiculous. Now, tell me.”
Hailey let out a deep breath before deciding to tell her. Maybe she could be helpful.
“Just deciding if I want to break up with Gage and how I would do it. It’s overwhelming.”
Anne's jaw dropped before a wide grin took up her face.
“Oh my God, finally! You need to drop that bastard. He treats you like shit.”
Hailey just sighed. She’s heard this from too many people at this point and it was getting tiring defending Gage so much. It was getting harder to come up with good things about him. She pulled out her chapstick to distract herself and applied it to her lips. Good old, classic cherry flavored.
“What if I just tried training him like a cat? Whenever he’s an ass I just squirt him with a spray bottle, or blow an air horn? Or I could shout ‘LA LA LA’ whenever he talks, then he’ll never say something stupid. Or, at least, I’ll never hear it.”
“Good ideas, but maybe a bit passive aggressive.”
“Kidnapping?”
“Too actual aggressive.”
“You’re right. Glitter bomb it is.”
“That is not how you break up with someone! Or at least get your stuff out of his house before he opens the glitter bomb. Then you can enjoy the single life without any arts and crafts supplies all over you.”
“Did I hear you’re about to be single?” Scott asked from his spot on the grill. “Just as I’m about to move away?”
“Ugh. I haven’t decided.”
“Does this mean you can come to my going away party Monday night? You won’t have Gage keeping you on a leash.”
Hailey wasn’t sure what was more awkward, the fact that someone like Scott picked up on that, or the fact he actually said it to her. Rude.
“He’s right. You need to come,” Anne added.
“I’ll see if I can. I have a shift at the gym, but maybe I’ll come after?”
“I hope so!” Scott had a mischievous look on his face that Hailey ignored. “You going to a shift at the gym after this? I can sneak you a chicken pesto sandwich.”
“Yes! Please, I won’t have time to make myself dinner. You would be my hero!”
Scott gave her a wink before saying, “Consider it done.”
