“I want you to listen to yourself.”
“What?”
“Ria told me about your self-doubt, and I see it too now. I see it every day… when I tell you a painting has sold, you don’t believe me. I see it in the way you look at your brother and the way you carry yourself around him. How you shrink like you think he’s better than you.You have to stop it!Just because Ria believed in you and left you doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of being the amazing person you are. Just stop! I believe in you, or I wouldn’t be here.”
“You think you know me?” I ask and shove her once more, but again, she doesn’t budge.
How the fuck does she do that?
“I know you’re hurting. I know you miss her. But, Nate, you need to keep going. Missing her doesn’t bring her back into your life. She misses you too—”
“Not helping!”
“Just because you miss someone doesn’t make your decisions easier or the path clearer. Nate, you gotta let go.”
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks, and a pain ripples through my chest so fierce it takes my breath. “No! Youdon’tfucking get it. I use the pain as my muse, Alex. Without it, I have no art.”
“Bullshit! You were talented before Ria. You don’t need her.”
My nostrils flare, and I jab Alex right in the stomach. She wobbles slightly but remains steadfast. “I don’t expect you to understand. You need to fucking drop it. I need her, Alex.”
“Nate, let her go,” she says, hitting me across my left side, causing me to stumble hard.
“No,” I call out.
“Let her go,” she says, pummeling me with the stick.
This time, I lose my balance and fall head-first onto the cushioned floor, bouncing hard.
“She’s letting you go, Nate,” Alex says, still standing on the tube.
My breathing becomes harsh and fast as rage burns through me, so smoldering hot I can’t control it. I groan out loud as I stand and start to pace.
Alex jumps down from the tube and watches me as I walk back and forth on the puffy mattress floor.
“Nate—”
“No!”I say, bending down, picking up the tequila bottle, and pounding it down onto the rubbery surface. Somehow, the bottle smashes, and a shard of glass pokes into the inflatable arena.
“Oh shit!” Alex says as she rushes forward and grabs me—the flap of broken material flutters violently as air gushes out atlightning speed. “Nate… run,” she says, dragging me out of the arena and onto solid ground. The inflatable arena wobbles and deflates as I open my eyes wide and look at Alex. She pulls her lips in tight and tries to hide her amusement.
“Holy shit, Nate, you’re a fucking badass,” she murmurs.
“Fuck! I totally just blew up an inflatable arena, didn’t I?”
She chuckles and nods. “With fucking tequila, no less.”
Augie runs in and stops beside us as I stand up straighter and breathe heavily.
Goddammit! I could be in deep shit.
“Fucking hell,” Augie says, a little out of breath. “What happened?”
Alex shakes her head, looking over to the group of college boys. “Those fuckers were drinking tequila on your inflatables, Augie. It had to be them, those little fucking brats,” she says.
Augie nods and puffs out his chest. “Little bastards. Right, they’ll pay for this. Thanks, Alex. What would I do without you?” He steps off toward the college kids.
She turns to me and takes a deep breath. “Quick, grab your shoes, Boss… we’re yeeting out of here.”
