Page 135 of Deeper

It was so painfully obvious that this song, “Pride & Failure” was about me—us.

His words echoed in my head, about how when things were going bad for him, he found himself in the studio to find his way. He hadn’t gone back to Jolie, no, he went where it all made sense to him and put it all into this song.

My cell phone rang and I found Victoria calling.

“Hey,” I answered, my voice shaky.

“So, I take it you heard?” she asked.

I let out a breath. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Shout out to him for putting homegirl in her place,” Victoria started. “But, seriously, Bia, this is heavy. Like, you can hear how hurt he is on this song, and the sound of him begging?Girlll.”

The bell to the shop went off and a couple of women entered to browse around. I couldn’t get caught up in my emotions and feelings now, I had work to do.

“I mean, the blogs say hefinallyunfollowed her, too. She had this coming trying to be cute, now look at her, dress like a clown, get treated like the circus.”

Her bluntness made me laugh. “Good riddance.”

“I know it’s tempting, but I think you should take your time and evaluate before going back. See if this is really what you want. The CelebriTea called you a whole groupie over bullshit speculation. This spotlight shit ain’t for everybody, and I can’t beat up the whole world for you, but lord knows I’d try.”

I loved Victoria Raymond.

I let her know this before hanging up and getting back to work. My heart and head were in the clouds, and for the first time in days, when I smiled, it didn’t hurt.

Tori was right. I needed time to myself to focus and think. I caught Holliston at the checkout counter ringing a customer up. “Hey, about that girls’ night out, you’re on.”

30

CRUEL

It took a lot of convincing, but I managed to persuade Holliston into going out for our girls’ night. She was only nineteen, and otherwise a good girl who followed the rules, but getting her to come out to The Boot was a feat.

Victoria kept sneaking looks her way to make sure she was really there. But indeed, she was, dressed demurely for the occasion at that. She was wearing a T-shirt tied into a little knot at the side along with some black ripped jeans. The black Converse sneakers on her feet made me chuckle. Holliston was the cutest.

She was sitting at our table drinking a virgin daiquiri, seeming out of place. It was a chill kind of night for the club, offering a lounge vibe with the smooth Erykah Badu record that was currently playing at a moderate level. Holliston wasn’t moving along to the song. She was out of her element, but she was here for me.

“Wanna dance?” I leaned over and asked her.

Her eyes enlarged. “Oh no.”

Victoria laughed. “C’mon, you gotta loosen up.”

Holliston was shy. “I grew up on Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, and Tom Petty. I don’t know a thing aboutthis.”

“Who?”

Victoria’s confusion caused Holliston to reel back and gape at my best friend. “Oh my God.”

Victoria came to me next. “Who?”

I chuckled. “I think I know like one Fleetwood song.”

Victoria tipped her drink towards Holliston. “Sounds good.”

Holliston smiled. “This place is cool, though. I’m having fun. We should do this again. No boys allowed.”

“Unless they’re buying us drinks.” Tori lifted hers in the air to signal a toast.

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