Page 83 of Just the Tipsy
“Yes.” I’m falling in love with her, but saying that out loud right after I absolutely tanked everything will only make me painfully emotional out here in the open.
“Oh, so you fucked upsuperhard,” Ash says. “Yikes.”
“Thanks, Ash.”
“Well, would you ever come to me for advice in most circumstances?” He plays with the silver ring on his thumb.
“No, to be honest.” Ash will always be blunt and honest, but his ideas are always a bit off the wall. He’s always done his own thing.
“Today’s not any different because Wes’s getting married.” He chuckles.
We sit in silence, my chest burning from the inside out with the swirl of feelings inside me. I want to talk to Wes or Jeremiah or Jada (though I think Jada might kick my ass for hurting Bianca), but I don’t want to start different rumors by bringing it up in person.
“Have you ever been in a serious relationship?” I ask, mostly out of curiosity.
“Fuck no,” he says with a laugh. “Maybe some six month long flings, but it works for me.”
“You never want anything serious? Even though you’ve never been hurt before?” I ask. “By a long-term girlfriend, I mean.”
“Nope.” He shrugs, rubbing one of his eyes. I assumed his eyes were red for more nefarious reasons, but the longer I look at him, the more I realize he’s just exhausted. The dark circles under his eyes look terrible when his face catches the setting sun. “Seriously, if youeversee me with a long-term girlfriend or even worse, see me get married? Assume I’ve been bodysnatched.”
I laugh, but it comes out weird. “Okay, I’ll remember that.”
“But for real,” he says. “Serious relationships seem like they fucking suck. They give someone else the power to do this to you.”
I shrug because I don’t know what to say. I used to agree with him on that, but now I feel like shit for turning one down.
“Here’s some advice that doesn’t suck. Probably.” Ash stands up and stretches. “With the thing with Mom, just let her calm down a bit. She’s been pissed off at me plenty of times — a new thing for you, I know — and she’ll soften up as long as you give her space.”
“Good to know.” I sigh. “But how long does that take?”
“Fuck if I know. I pissed her off all the time so she probably recovered faster. But with you? Her precious golden boy?” Thesarcasm in his voice stings a bit, but again, he’s not lying. “I’d give her a lot of time.”
“Yeah.” I sigh. I’ve never seen my mom look that hurt before and I hate myself for being the one to make her feel that way.
“By the way, what’s the deal with your hot friend?” Ash asks. I stare at him blankly. “Yellow dress, long locs, glasses?”
“Oh,Jada?” I blurt. I recognize that Jada is pretty and all, but she’s practically my sister so I never think of her like that. “What about Jada?”
“Wait,that’sJada? History club Jada? Salutatorian Jada?” He looks genuinely shocked, and Ash is never surprised by anything.
How the hell did he remember she was salutatorian? I didn’t think he paid attention to me or my friends at all, especially after he graduated.
“You didn’t ask her name when you were talking in the hallway?” I ask.
He waves his hand. “Not the point. Never mind. Forget I said anything.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Ash.”
“Relax, Waylon. I’m not going to do anything dumb now that I know.” He yawns. “I’m going to get some cake or something. I doubt this conversation helped you at all.”
I have to laugh. “Thanks for having it with me, then.”
“You came to me,” he says with a grin. But he quickly turns serious. “Seriously though. Take it from a guy who’s a fuck-up — don’t linger on the mistakes too long. Just try to move forward and get out of the situation.”
Ash is rarely this serious, so I take his words to heart.
“I’ll try,” I say.
