Page 49 of Finding You
“And you…” Dante said, pointing at me with his glass, “You are definitely Elsa.”
“Oh, hell no,” Nora protested, “she is Furiosa.”
“Oh yes. I love me some Charlize with one arm.” Dante giggled. “Can I shave your head? You would look great with a buzz cut.”
I could not even follow this conversation right now. “Um, no thank you?” I replied.
He nodded sagely. “You’re right. Something slightly softer. I’ll work on it.”
“I’m feeling Elsa, guys,” Emily added. Christian offered her a high five.
“You have a real Elsa vibe,” he said. “Oh yes. Tortured ice queen with a rage problem? Yup, that’s it. Are you Swedish?”
I shook my head. “Norwegian, actually.”
“Close enough,” he said. “I knew it. You have a real Viking princess look. I stand by Elsa.”
“But Anna is really the hero of the story,” Emily added.
“No way,” Maggie protested. “Anna is just the the plucky little sister. Elsa has the powers.”
I zoned out slightly during the Disney debate, which was actually getting heated. This was fun, but I started to feel a bit down. I loved my new friends, but I was jealous. They all knew who they were and what they wanted. I had no clue. I felt confused, frustrated, and really, really horny. I wanted Declan, but I also wanted to go back to Burns & Glenn. I knew I couldn’t have both, and it sucked.
Nora sensed my unease. “What’s up, Elsa? You can share. You’re among friends here.”
I shrugged. “I’m just confused. Confused about Declan, confused about my career, totally confused about my life.”
“We’ve all been there,” Cece assured me. “When I came back to Havenport last year I was a total mess. These guys helped me figure my shit out.”
Emily held up her glass. “I propose a toast. To figuring your shit out and making awesome friends in the process.” I smiled.
“Hell, yeah!” everyone echoed.
After we toasted, Nora looked at me. “You know what you need?”
I stared at her. A cab home? A new job? A personality transplant so I won’t be in my own head all the time? Another vibrator because I was afraid I was going to wear the one she gave me out with all the sexual frustration Declan had caused me?
“Lizzo,” she declared.
Everyone started nodding immediately. I had no clue what she was talking about, and my mind was still spinning from the text.
“We all need Lizzo,” Emily said. “But Astrid really needs her.”
“What is Lizzo?” I asked.
Everyone looked at me in horror. You would think I had just pulled out an AK-47 or told everyone that I saved all my fingernail clippings.
“Sorry, guys, I don’t have a lot of cultural references for the past ten years. I worked so much there wasn’t a lot of time to keep up with pop culture. I need you guys to help me catch up.”
“Oh, no problem there, Elsa. We will change your life by introducing you to the amazingness of Lizzo,” Nora said over the loud music.
“Christian, sweetie, can I have your phone, please?” Nora asked, batting her eyelashes at her brother.
Christian sighed and handed it to Nora, who turned to me and explained, “Christian can control the juke box from an app on his phone. Watch out, bitches, I’m programming a playlist.”
Before I knew what was happening, Nora and Emily were dragging me to the back of the bar where there was a small dance floor. Cecelia begrudgingly joined us after Nora chastised her for texting Liam during girls’ night.
The music was pumping and everyone was dancing. The lyrics were speaking to me and I found myself feeling strangely empowered.
