Sumi was glad there was no expectation of video chatting, because she was a blubbering mess by the time she had read through his message, wheezing to breathe as she responded.
And of course she forgave him. Forgave for everything, because how could she not?Hewas apologizing toher, when she was the one who had ruined his life. But, she reminded herself, ChaoticConcertina didn’t know that. She wanted to beg for his forgiveness in return, but he only thought he was venting to his friend, venting honestly and unselfconsciously.
That, more than anything, made up her mind.
She could not,wouldnot give him up, and that made her decision on what to do crystal clear. She couldn’t let go of ChaoticConcertina, which meant she needed Ranar too, to fold them together into the perfect partner. They would have to meet in the middle, find a way to meld the differing sides of their personalities. It didn’t matter if he hated her now. She was going to make that snake love her if it was the very last thing she ever did.And live happily ever after.
* * *
Yuriko, at least, was sympathetic to her plight. Sort of. As much as Yuriko was sympathetic about anything, Sumi decided.
“Okay, remind me again who we hate? Because absolutely, fuck that guy. Who needs a conceited ass lick like that in their life? Nobody, that’s who. Or do wenothate him now?”
Sumi hunched, laughing at Yuriko’s casual vulgarity as they set up for the tea group. She would be eternally grateful to the ogress for welcoming her in with open arms. As soon as Yuri learned that Sumi had moved to Cambric Creek with no one, no family or friends or support system, she had practically adopted her, despite being nearly the same age.Pink Blossomwas closed on Sundays, and she’d spent nearly every weekend doing something with the Nippon club or else, the ogress and her family.
“Why are you agreeing with me if you don’t even know who I’m complaining about?!”
Yuri shrugged. “Hey, I’m just trying to be supportive. You were mumbling about some asshole, I just agreed.” She raised an eyebrow as Sumi laughed again. “Whoare we talking about?”
“Ranar. You know,The Perfect Petal?”
“That’s right, your feud. You’re the bitch from out-of-town corporate fembot drone dead set on ruining poor sad Ranar’s life.” Yuriko threw up her hands in self-defense. “I mean, obviously those aren’tmywords. What did he do now? Heseemslike a nice guy. A little oblivious. You know what I mean, my brother is the same way. Book smart but low perception. Need their hands held a little. Don’t tell me he’s a flasher in the park or something.”
“No!” Sumi cried, shaking her head in amazement. “How would that even work, his balls are on the inside! No, I’m just . . . I’m done feuding with him. I’ve officially launched Operation Friendship. I just need to get him on board and he’s making it sodifficult.”
Yuriko snorted in laughter, pulling open the folding table they used for practice. “I feel like that’s a pie-in-the-sky dream, but it depends on what you mean by friendship?”
Sumi threw up her hands in exasperation. “I mean not enemies! We should be friends. We should start by being friends. I just need to get him on board with the idea.”
“Startby being friends.“ Yuri gave her a look.
“Innocent friendship! Chaste camaraderie. A fond alliance. Bosom bonhomie.”
“Keep going, you’re just digging yourself deeper. You aresofull of shit. Why, though? Why him? Leave the poor guy alone, let him lick his wounds in peace. Do you really think he’s ever gonna be able to get over this?”
Sumi gave her a sour look as she wheeled in the chairs. “You know, just for the record, let me remind you,noneof this is actually my fault. If Ranar wants someone to blame, he needs to look to his own neighbors.They’rethe ones choosing to place orders online instead of directly from him.”
After all, Sumi reminded herself, she was paying her good fortune back into the community already, and she was barely unpacked. All of her floral designers, except for Hedda, were local, as were both of the drivers. They hadn’t disliked her enough to not take the job, she thought to herself rancorously, had no problem depositing their paycheck every week. Their loyalty to Ranar only went so far.
“And you know, he’s acting real innocent and sad now, but Ranar didn’t have a problem with me when we first met. He asked me out! We could potentially already be a thing! It wasn’t until I became his competition that he changed his mind and made everyone think I’m the literal devil. But that’s what I’m saying, that should bebehindus now.”
At that, Yuri’s eyebrows disappeared into her bangs. “He asked you out? Wait, when was this? Did you say yes?”
Sumi nodded, a little unwillingly. “Yeah, I did. But then my store started construction and it all fell apart because—’
“All because you’re the big bad chain store that’s putting him out of business,” the ogress finished, finally catching up with Sumi’s consternation. To her shock, Yuriko didn’t offer her a sympathetic shoulder.
“Girlypop, this is so much deeper than ‘I only want to be his friend.’ You actuallylikehim. I can tell. Otherwise you wouldn’t be acting like such a mopey bitch about it. I don’t know, I think you might be expecting a little too much from him. I mean, you’re not only putting an end to a three generation family business, you’re literally puttinghimpersonally out of work.He’s not some dumb kid who can go pick up a side job at Blinxieburger.”
Sumi heated as Yuri ticked off the reasons why Ranar would likely never forgive her.It’s not personal just means you didn’t think beyond yourself.
“But. . . he obviously liked something about you to pursue in the first place . . . “ She threw up her hands. “You’re all as bad as my brother! I guarantee half of this is just sexual tension. Gods, everyone in this town needs their hands held for every little fucking thing, I swear. Just fuck him and get out of the way! Ranar isveryfuckable, by the way, if not a little dumb. You know nagas have two cocks, right? He can probably go all night.”
“I know,” she heard herself agreeing, dropping her face into her hands as the ogress laughed. “He’ssobabygirl. Look, I’m trying. Wait, are you sure? Two?Allof them?”
“All the ones I know. Most of them can’t shut up about it. Think about it.”
You know they’re probably spectacular. The rest of him is gorgeous, he’s not going to have scrawny limp noodle dicks.
