Page 3 of Head Over Feels
Hesnorted. “Trythe last two days.ItwasWednesday.”
Bracingmyself,Isaid, “CanIask which app you were using?”
Hebarked out a laugh. “Howmany apps are you on, that you can’t remember being a dick to me?”
Igrimaced and ran one hand through my hair.Itmust’ve resembledSteve’sby now. “I’msorry, but it wasn’t me you were talking to.”
Forthe first time, his expression eased a little, morphing into curiosity. “Somebodyhacked your account?Orthey’re using your photo?”
“Notexactly.Thisdisaster is of my own making.”Isaid as earnestly asIcould, “AndIreally am sorry.IpromiseI’mworking on fixing it.I, um, can tell you the story if you like.OrIcan take off and leave you alone.Yourcall.”
Heregarded me for a minute, then shrugged and waved for me to sit down. “Whatthe hell.Ithas to beat talking withSteve’sbar buddies.”
Iwanted to ask him how he knewSteve, butIdidn’t think we were at that stage yet.Ipulled out the chair and sat down cautiously. “Um, my name isFelix.Iwork withSteveat the call center.”
Hegrunted, then said, “I’mCal.”Hesipped his beer and eyed me like he expected me to try to steal his wallet.
Igulped myOldFashionedand regretted it whenIcoughed.Blinkingmy watering eyes,Itried to decide how much of my sordid saga to spill.
It’dbe nice to tell someone the entire story.Ididn’t talk about my dating trials and tribulations to most of my friends or friendly acquaintances.I’dupdatedSteveoccasionally; he was the only one who’d believe me.Upuntil last fallI’dbeen able to vent to my sister, but that wasn’t happening anymore.
Whatthe hell.Cal, however he was connected toSteve, was here and willing to listen.Mightas well dump the whole thing on him.
“So, you know the showFeliciain theCity?”
Calseemed surprised by the unexpected subject change. “Uh, the one where the girl has all those dates and doesn’t like any of them?”
“That’sthe one.”Ipointed at myself. “I’mFelicia.”Calcocked his head. “Well,Imean, my sister’s the producer.Shestarted it as a web series based on my string of bad dates, and it got picked up.”
“Okaaay,”Calsaid dubiously.
“Allof those oddball guys the main character’s gone out with?Atleast for the first season, those were based on my actual dates.”
Calblinked. “Likethe vampire guy?”
Inodded. “Hisname wasHayden.”Iwaved my hand. “Theychanged his name for the show, of course.Butseriously,Iattract weirdos.Somany weirdos.Marcie, that’s my sister, thought my dates were hilarious enough they’d make a good basis for a series, andIguess she was right.”
Marciehad paid me a hundred bucks for each bad date story.Untilthe oneItold her about because she was my sister, not for the show, and she used it anyway.Werarely spoke anymore.
Calfurrowed his brows.Hedidn’t believe me.
Isoldiered on. “OneguyIwent out with, his hobby was learning about death.Differentburial practices and beliefs about death in different cultures.”Ishivered. “Icouldn’t finish my dinner.Buthis episode on the show had one of the highest ratings.”
“Huh.”Calmade a strange face.
“What?”
“Ifeel pretty bad for those guys.Theygot made fun of onTVjust because they went out with you.”
Inarrowed my eyes at him. “Whatdo you meanjust because they went out with me?Theywere all weird guys.Audienceslove watching people who are eccentric.Likethe guy who spent his vacations looking forBigfootand theChupacabra.It’sentertaining.”
Calhmphed. “Thoseguys all have hobbies or quirks they no doubt got bullied or ostracized for their entire lives.Ittakes guts to tell strangers about stuff like that, you know?Noteveryone reacts well when people aren’tnormal.”Hemade air quotes.
Ifrowned, unable to stop myself from going on the defensive. “Iwas nice to all of them during our dates.Eventhe one asshole who tried to pressure me into sex.Imight’ve made some excuses to leave early, butIdidn’t laugh at them to their faces.Andthere isn’t any personally identifying information used on the show.”
Ihad an uncomfortable sensation worming through my gut.Myacid reflux must be getting worse.
Calshrugged dismissively. “Sure, whatever you say.It’ssimply another form of bullying, if you ask me.”Hepicked up his beer and looked around the room.
