Page 112 of How to Get Revenge on a Cheating Ex
Toni stands up and pushes me toward the door. “Girl, you look worse than I feel. The best thing you can do is just...say it. Say whatever it is you need to get off your chest.”
“Rip off the Band-Aid,” Janie agrees from behind me.
I let them lead me to the back door. “But what do I say? What if I panic? What if I freeze?” I look at them with wide eyes as a whole new fear hits me smack in the forehead. “What if I’mwrong?”
What if I’m wrong about how I feel, is what I mean.
But also, what if I’m wrong about howhefeels?
What if he doesn’t feel the same? What if he’s not evencloseto feeling this way?
My head is spinning with horrifyingwhat ifsas Janie takes me by the shoulders and grips me like she’s a coach about to give some tough love. “There’s nowrongwhen it comes to emotions. You can be confused about what you’re feeling, or your feelings might not be reciprocated, but?—”
Toni smacks Janie’s shoulder when my face drains of blood and my eyes widen.
“But,” Janie says again loudly. “You won’t know unless you confront this head on. One of you has to be brave.”
“Why does it have to be me?” I whimper.
Janie gets serious. “Because you’re Bailey Tucker and you’re strong as hell.”
Toni nods. “You told Grayson you’d cut his dick off. You’re a freakin’ badass.”
Janie looks to Toni. “Wait, she did what?”
I straighten, their words giving me a burst of confidence. “Right. You’re right. I need to do this for my own sake, no matter the consequences.”
“Damn straight.” Toni clasps a hand on my shoulder alongside Janie’s, her expression fierce. “Remember, nobody puts Baby in the corner.”
Janie nods. “Nobody putsBaileyin the corner.”
I stare at them for a long moment to see if they’re serious. They are. “As far as rallying cries go, I’m not sure that’s a winner.”
They’re both giving me fierce glares now, and I’m not gonna lie, it’s a little weird.
Toni repeats the line. “NobodyputsBaileyin the corner.”
I nod, letting go of the ridiculousness of that battle cry. It might be stupid, but…it’s kind of working. “Yes. Okay. Nobody puts Bailey in the corner. I can do this.”
I’m done swallowing my emotions. I’m through pretending I’m all right when my heart is breaking. I’m ready to come out and fight for what I want.
I wipe clammy palms on my pajama pants as I head through the back screen door to go find Zack.
Toni and Janie follow me onto the back porch.
“Summon your inner Baby and tell him how you feel!” Toni shouts.
I take a few solid strides toward Zack’s yard, but I stop short when I see him burst out of his back door, and head straight for...their shed.
Well. That’s not exactly heartening. I’m over here planning to spill my guts to this guy and apparently, he’s decided that tonight is the night to take up weeding.
I square my shoulders. I will not be deterred. Baby is my spirit animal and I will tell Zack exactly how I feel.
Even if it’s as painfully awkward as Baby shouting out Johnny’s name in that weird, desperate plea. I flinch at the memory of the scene I hate so much.
My eyes are fixed on the shed where the door flopped shut with a bang behind him. I should be thinking about what I’ll say, but it’s easier to think aboutDirty Dancing. Or literally anything other than the terrifying leap I’m about to take.
I’ve almost reached the shed when the door flies open again. Zack comes barreling out, his arms filled with...balls?
