“How’s Parker in New York? Miss him already?” she inquired as she checked her phone, missing the odd expression playing on my face.
“He just left, so no, I don’t miss him yet.” And I doubt I would.
Parker tried to see me hours before his departure, but I had dodged him. I didn’t have the capacity to go through such emotional turmoil. It wasn’t about being a coward. It was due to the fact that my brain was too exhausted from memorizing lines. In my right time, I would permanently cut ties with him. For now, I needed to focus on work.
“When do you plan on visiting him?”
“We haven’t really discussed it yet. We will see how my auditions go. If I don’t get a call back, I don’t really mind. I’m sure I can fill my time with something before shooting starts for the show.”
“Positive thoughts. You never know where your fate takes you. Life’s short, so give it your best shot and don’t waste it by thinking about what ifs. That’s what I tell myself, anyway, you know, when things go to the shitters, but it might work for you, too,” she encouraged.
God only knew what drama she had been put through. Kells had her own demons to slay, and the only way she got through it was by having a good head on her shoulder. She was made of stronger stuff, and I had always admired her spunk. I admired her tenacity. I wish I could be a badass like that someday, I would rule life like a champ.
The “what ifs” fucked me until I was on my knees praying for the nightmare to end. No, never again. I had learned that placing your entire heart and trust into someone was a heedless investment. The only person to trust was yourself. And you should never discount your instincts. They were instilled for a reason, and that reason was to run for the hills if it’s telling you to.
“Thank you for the great advice, yogi master,” I murmured with a smile before drinking a sip of my diet Coke. She could be so serious at times that I couldn’t help teasing her.
She snorted before picking a piece of cherry tomato off my dish. “Seriously, you gotta go to yoga with me. I promise it’ll stretch out your kinks. I’m sure you have loads of those.” She winked at me cheekily.
If Parker had worded it that way and not in the most condescending way possible, we probably would have avoided the fight. But the man was crass and couldn’t care less if he hurt my feelings.
“Now that I’m jobless for some time, count me in.” With three months of vacancy, I needed something to do apart from dishing food in my mouth and binge watching Netflix. I needed a hobby, something productive.
“We gotta go out and celebrate my new gig tonight,” Kells said, breaking through my thoughts.
Celebrate life. There was so much I was grateful for.
“Of course. Have anywhere in mind?”
“The Nice Guy for din-din. Then we can go dancing somewhere afterward. I’ll have everything sorted out by tonight.” With her connections in the industry, she had no problems getting us access anywhere.
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Here’s to single ladies.” She raised her cup of coffee, grinning like a mad woman.
Raising my half-filled diet Coke, I wasn’t one, but I toasted, anyway. What was the point in arguing? I was already planning on breaking up with Parker. I had the inkling to call him and cut it off right then and there, but where was the sensitivity to that?
Though our relationship was barely a month old, he still earned a respectable good-bye. No man or woman appreciated to be broken up over a phone call, text message, or an email, no matter the longevity of the relationship. I was not a cold-hearted bitch, thank you very much.
So why did you leave and walk out of River’s life without saying a word?my mind countered, unsettling me. I loathed it when my conscience popped out of nowhere.
“I have a cleaning appointment in an hour and half. Wanna tag along?”
We were just about done eating, and I couldn’t help taking note that there was a sheepish feeling when she stated “cleaning appointment.” It sounded tricky.
“What kind of cleaning are we talking about here? Dental? Pedicures?” Pedicures were cleaning in some way, weren’t they?
“Oh, you know, the usual.” She waved her hand like it wasn’t a big deal before she was distracted with a business call.
While she busied herself, I was making hand signals and trying to mouth the words that I wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t having it. She basically dragged me toward her car, leaving mine with the valet while she took us to our next destination.
I hadn’t really minded. Well, up until I found out it was not the “usual kind” as she had assured me. I was sure a colon hydrotherapy wasn’t the norm, not even for me. Talk about taking this friendship to another level.
“Does your friend want to try it as well?” the kind technician asked Kells.
My ears turned crimson. I vehemently shook my head in protest. Hell no. I was beyond terrified.
Kells turned toward me. “Can I sign you up for this? Please. I’ll pay and everything. Do this for me please, Sprinkles?” she pleaded, hands bunched together.