Shit. Just when I thought we were about fucking done.
The Blade Loses Her Temper
TALIA
Here we fucking go.
I am so ready for this dog and pony show to be over. These people are a bunch of whiny, damaged assholes who would sell my mate up the river for a peak at a nipple. She’s far too good for them, and she gives their presence in her life way too much credence. I feel Taurus echoing my sentiment in our minds. Deli senses us and swats us away from our connection, wanting to focus on the impending doom that is Sari’s bottom bitch.
Everyone waves and shouts greetings to the traitorous moron. If they don’t stop kissing her ass, I’m going to barf. Amanda only pals around with Sari and Belle now, but the others are acting like she’s their best friend. Maybe she’s been out on the campaign trail for the troll, too.
That seems like a whole different level of prep for one small meeting.
“Okay, let’s finish this subject. Is anyone here not willing to go outside their comfort zone and find someone new to talk to every once in a while? To watch for ‘open’ things and jump in?” Deli asks, looking ready to bolt if she gets the opportunity. Again, the crowd murmurs agreement, and she smiles. “Good. We all agree that no one is trying to leave anyone out.”
“Thank you, Marina, for bringing this up so we could all discuss it,” Lily says. “I think the next person to start a major discussion is Sari. Pass her the stick, please.”
Now I know why Amanda finally showed her face. She knew Sari was going next.
This is going to suck.
“I thought I was last,” Sari says petulantly.
Trying to hold back a growl, I look at Lily. “You were working your way to the middle, right?”
“How about Rita goes instead?” Lily sighs, not wanting to fight. She holds up the stick while she waits for Amanda to get settled.
“Okay,” Rita replies. She wriggles in her seat for a moment, then sighs. “I hate to keep harping on it, but how do you get to someone that seems untouchable? I want to know.”
For fuck’s sake, my mate and her co-mayor have to put a stop to this obviously personal bullshit or we’re never getting out of here.
“I still think a road trip would solve it! Come on, guys, if you had the cars we do, you’d want to drive, too!”
It strains me not to roll my eyes at both of them. Michaela needs to lay off the damned road trip. If she wants it so badly, she cando it with her good friend, Belle, over at Safe Haven. Rita needs to grow a pair and stop acting like her ‘popular people’ damage is everyone else’s responsibility to fix.
Lily tilts her head, looking thoughtful. “As lame as this answer sounds, you only have three options: bite the bullet and talk to them, never try and live without knowing, or realize you’re making assumptions and try to work through that.”
“I moved here later than many of you guys. I’ve always felt like an outsider looking in. The only time I find friends is when people have a falling out or someone introduces me. I’ve tried to do what you suggest, and I feel like some people ignore me.” The short woman gives our leaders a stubborn look, completely unwilling to take responsibility for own inability to simply fucking speaking to other people.
I look at my mate with a grimace. Hopefully, she gets that Rita is only interested in getting with her and she only bit back when it was about Deli. She has to know that no one else matters to the small woman and that’s how she has to approach this.
~ I swear to Christ, I interact with her as much as I can humanly stand. We’re just not compatible as close buddies. ~
Despite her internal commentary, Deli turns and smiles. “We committed as a group to making new friends, though. Doesn’t that mean we’re not untouchable? Maybe I’m weird for thinking so.”
The suspiciously late rabble rouser raises her hand, and I shudder. This can’t be good.
Okay, that wasn’t so bad. Maybe she’s not here to rip into the cat.
“Everyone should realize, though, that sometimes people may not respond right away for reasons like personal life, never received the email, etc. They may not be snubbing you. It doesn’t hurt to give someone the benefit of the doubt.” Tamara looks at her housemate, and I wonder how much she coddles Rita’s obvious damage in the background to keep her devoted minion.
“You can move on to Sari now,” Rita says with an angry frown, holding the stick out to her. “I’m good for the moment.”
She’s not, and this will definitely come up again and again until she gets what she wants.
I let out a slow, measured breath to calm myself in preparation. Schooling my face and contracting my muscles, I try to exercise even an ounce of the control my mate has this evening. I do not want Sari to know that I’m dreading this like a tax audit. Even without magick, Deli is remarkably restrained, and I need to mimic her skills.
Tamara raises her hand. “I still have things to say, and Amanda is here. She gets to speak, too.”
