She has a rosy tint to her cheeks, looking a little like she did when she was tipsy the night before.
‘How’ve you been coping with everything, by the way?’she asks, lifting those pretty blue eyes at me.
‘All right, I suppose,’ I say.She nods slowly, waiting to see if I’ll elaborate or not.Leaning back in my chair, I adjust my position briefly, trying to gather my thoughts.‘I feel a certain way one day, another the next.’I exhale, lifting a shoulder.‘I don’t know how I feel.I’m assuming you’re talking about the whole Mum and stepdad situation.’
My stepfather’s passing was unexpected and still has me reeling.I have recurring nightmares of his hands on me.The bruises he left.Then everything that happened after.My mother’s face fills my mind and I grit my teeth, a tidal wave of anger washing through me at what she did and how she handled things.I try to let go of it all and move on from it – he’s dead.It’s in the past.But how can I let that go?I needed her more than I’ve everneeded someone before.She’s mymother, and yet, she turned her back on me.I can’t just forget that, no matter how hard I try.
Of course, Nora would know nothing about all of this.I don’t know what Anya has told the girls about Rod and our family, but I doubt she would have given them a play by play on what went down.
‘Yeah.’She is staring at me.Kind and soft.My heart rate decreases a little – I didn’t realise it had started climbing – and I relax my shoulders.‘I don’t know all of the details but it sounded quite intense for you.’
Movement to my left captures my attention and my stomach tightens.
‘Sorry …’ Nora trails off, noticing my expression.‘I didn’t mean to overstep.’
‘You didn’t,’ I reassure her, glaring towards the group of girls who just entered the shop.I’m unsure if she’s noticed me yet, but if my theory about her tracking my phone is right, she’d definitely know I’m here.‘My ex just walked in.’
‘Oh.’
‘She seems to be everywhere I go,’ I mutter, suddenly losing my appetite.Pushing the bowl away, I stand.‘Want to get out of here?’
‘Sure.’I notice the discomfort on her face straight away and I hate that Leasa gets this reaction from me.Somehow, she is still making my life about her, even though I’m doing everything I can to distance myself.
Standing abruptly, Nora reaches for her bag and a few things spill out onto the table.She hastily reaches for them, and I quickly lean over and help pick the items up.A business card makes me pause and I stare down at it.It’s a black card streaked with pinks and oranges that swirl together.In glittery gold lettering, it saysValiant Vixenwith a QR code and a drop list of socialmedia handles.Letters decorate the background and there’s a silhouette of a girl behind a laptop.
The card is yanked from my hand and shoved deeply into her bag before I get the chance to study it more.She shrugs the bag onto her shoulder, not meeting my gaze as she steps away from the table.I eye her curiously as I follow her out of the courtyard and onto the street.
‘Sorry,’ I say once we’re out by the road and I’m able to think clearly.I don’t feel eyes on my back anymore and feel like I can inhale again.
‘It’s fine.’she replies, hugging her arms around herself.‘I’m sure having an ex that you bump into would be frustrating.’
I glance at her.‘Ah, that’s right.You wouldn’t know.’
‘Thanks for rubbing it in.’
Cracking a smile, I nudge her with my arm.‘I didn’t mean it like that.’
‘I know.’
‘It’s not that I’m not over her or whatever,’ I say, feeling the need to explain myself.‘It’s just that she messes with my head.I just want us to go our separate ways, but it seems like she has other ideas.’
‘Maybe she wants you back?’Nora says.
‘Too little, too late.’
‘Might be worth reaching out to her and having that conversation.’
‘I have.She isn’t someone who I can talk to reasonably anymore.We both just need to move on.I don’t understand why she won’t let me go.She’s the one who hurt me.’
Nora’s hand touches my arm briefly and I look down at it in surprise.‘I’m sorry.That sucks.’
‘It’s whatever.’
Biting the inside of my cheek, I fight the smile trying to clawits way onto my face.I hate when Mason says that and yet I sound just like him.
‘How about you?’I ask, deflecting the attention from me.‘You put yourself out there and hey, it might not have gone the way you wanted it to go, but you took a chance and that’s better than nothing.’
‘I agree.Not every date is going to be a good one.I’m going to learn from it and keep moving forward.’
