Babe!!!!!!!!
I know.
Project for you,she said.Come up with a new one.
I drew my legs up and rested my chin on my knees, thinking about it.
Another message popped up.This isn’t me trying to do some weird house renovation on you btw. Just trying to help you see what’s already there.
I get it, don’t worry,I sent back.How about 5) I’m not going to let the quicksand drag me down?
She sent back an emoji of two champagne glasses clinking against each other.
OMG!I texted Dylan a few weeks later. It was a subject change – the last thing we’d been talking about was the fashion at the Met Gala and how bad everyone was at following the theme.You’ll never guess who I just got off the phone with?!!!!
I bet I can guess,she sent back almost immediately.Gruff? Scruffy? Mid-thirties-ish? Somewhere between daddy and dad vibes?
I shifted position on my bed and leaned up against the wall, my head resting against the bottom of an old Halsey poster teenage Mandie had ripped out of a magazine.You think producer Murray has daddy vibes?
Like, *I* wouldn’t call him daddy personally, but I can picture a universe in which *someone* calls him daddy,she replied.But he called you? You’re on the show?
I literally just got off the phone with him,I sent.Which you guessed very easily, so – he called you too?!
You bet,she replied.Officially on my way to the Juliet Villa, bayyyyybeeeeeeee.
You said yes straight away?
Of course I did. Didn’t you?
I told him I had to think about it.
Babe!!!!!!Dylan sent.What is there to think about?
It was a totally valid question. I’d been just as surprised as she was now when ‘Can I think about it, Murray?’ had come out of my mouth.
???she sent.
But there were reasons.1) My mum hates the idea. 2) I’m not over my ex. 3) I don’t understand why they picked me.
She sent back a list of her own.1) Your mum will get over it. 2) This is an absolutely iconic way to move on. 3) They picked you because, a) you rule, b) you’re interesting, and c) you’re hot.
Another text arrived before I had a chance to reply.Also d) you’re blonde. You know how horny the show is for blondes.
I sent back a row of laughing emojis.
Plus, we can’t forget e) the whole audience is going to fall in love with you,she added.
Like clockwork, the break-up started playing in my mind again. Jac blowing her hair out of her eyes. Telling me she didn’t love me anymore. Me crying. Her telling me to grow up.
And bonus: I’ll be there!!Dylan sent.Who wouldn’t want to hang out with me?!
I definitely want to hang out with you!I replied, forcing the memory away.But there’s work too. They’ll be pissed.
Trust me, so will mine,she sent back.But I’m still going.
How is work?I asked.Everything I hear on the news is so terrible. I worry about you all the time.
She sent back a selfie. She was in full PPE, the mask digging into her face, leaving deep hollows under her eyes, dark and bruised.It absolutely fucking sucks,she sent back.
