Page 139 of Talk Nerdy To Me
“Their social media following has steadily increased, and has had a lot of big jumps after the performances. And all the buzz generated about their start is still drawing attention. I’ve been assured it’s a good upswing for them,” I state idly as I busy my shaky hands.
When I look back up, they’re both staring at me.
“You realize you’re not over him,” Bo says after a moment.
“I’m aware. I adopted the out-of-sight, out-of-mind philosophy, since it seemed to be the most effective tool,” I tell her as I drop to a chair.
“How’s that working out?” Harley asks.
“Not so well, since I just had to see him,” I tell her, wondering why that isn’t obvious.
She just blinks a few times before swinging her gaze to Bo.
“I’m sure he’s only here for a limited amount of time. I need to know how to braid the leather tighter,” I say as I start working on a set.
Bo comes to help me, as Harley leans in closer, the way she does when she tries to talk about Base. I think she believes talking about him quieter makes it less painful to do.
“They’ve started playing one of his new songs a lot, and it’s sort of about a guy who really loved a girl.”
I nod. “I know. I’ve heard it. But when he writes, he never writes honestly. He tells the story of what may have been. Never what actually was,” I explain distractedly as I catalogue Bo’s hand movements.
“Dad has a custom studio in Sterling Shore. It’s possible they’ll record their full album here,” Bo says like she’s poking more metaphorical holes in my once-effective coping mechanism.
“He showed no outward jealousy about my date for tonight, and followed up with no questions, so one can reason he’s moved on and just wanted to find closure on a friendlier note,” I tell them both when they continue to stare at me.
“But what if—”
I interrupt Harley’s hypothetical what-if, because she always has one when she’s trying to make me see her point. Today is not a day to compromise.
“If he wants more, I’ll refer to the relationship chart that will remind me how impossible it is for us to work out,” I remind her.
“Relationship chart?” Bo asks in confusion.
“The chart that demonstrates the fact there’s no healthy way for the two of them to have a relationship, even though people can’t be broken into categories. We have emotions that trump issues. The human element and all,” Harley says pointedly at me.
“I need to urinate.”
I stand abruptly and go to the bathroom, shut the door, and…slowly slide down the wall until I’m sitting in the floor, my eyes closing as one silly tear rolls down my cheek.
Out of sight. Out of mind.
It’s worked fine. Sterling Shore isn’t little. We went a long time without running into each other, despite the many people we had in common. It’s reasonable to believe we won’t unintentionally cross paths again.
“Britt, come on. I’ll drop you off after I hit the kinky store,” Harley says after she knocks on the door.
I wipe away the tear, check the mirror, and take a breath before I walk out.
My memory starts working against me as it pieces together every frame of just how good and happy Base looked.
Harley, fortunately, doesn’t mention Base again as she talks about everything else on the drive to the adult novelty store she frequents.
I focus on the store and not on the image of Base that is frozen inside my mind.
I follow her in, but I veer to the right when I spot an odd contraption made of leather. I study it for only a moment when I hear familiar laughter.
Spotting Maverick and Corbin at the register, likely making a dirty joke about their purchases, I walk toward them.
Then I back up and stare at the very large, thick, suction-cup dildo designed for sticking to floors or walls. The diagram shows a woman doing the splits to use it.
