Me: Guess
O’Keefe: Are you flirting with me? Do you have ahand fetish?
Me: Don’t change the subject
Me: You were upset I made things worse for your mom?
I phrase it as a question because I’m not sure.
O’Keefe: Don’t worry
Me: Too late
Someone without anxiety could never understand the mental fixation of our fears and problems. They loop in our heads over and over until we pass out or figure out a solution.
O’Keefe: Whatever
I drop it since he’ll get upset if I don’t. He makes it hard to be nice to him, like he does it on purpose.
Chapter 14
Theo O'Keefe
Logically, it’s not King’s fault John lied to me. But I still feel betrayed, as if he’s the one who tricked me. And now he’s trying to be nice. It’s a complete mindfuck.
I leave the practice facility happy that Sarah brought my car. The heat and familiar worn-in driver’s seat reassure me that not everything changes for the worse.
Me: You’re the best
Sarah: I know
Sarah: Shit
Sarah: Am I supposed to argue?
My laugh relieves some of the tension in my shoulders.
Me: Only if you want to
Sarah: No you are *kiss emoji*
Me: *face palm emoji*
Me: Driving
I’m about to set my phone in the holder when I notice a message.
From my mom.
Finally.
I listen. “Hi sweetie. What are all the dramatics about? I told you I’d be taking time for a spa treatment after redecorating Park Ave. Well, it can’t be that important since you didn’t answer. Kisses.”
I punch the start button and peel out of the parking lot. It’s impossible for my own mother to be nice to me. Most people go for spadays, or even a week. No one ever disappears with no contact for over a month and claims they’ve been at a spa. I listen to the message again, and I’m sure she feels like I yelled at her. It’s so her.
The drive to the city flies by; I definitely broke the speed limit.
I sit in my car in the parking garage, persuading myself that John must have gone home by now.
