Page 81 of Summer Haze & Tokyo Craze
"Then just don’t talk to him about work," she suggests and shrugs like that’s the easiest thing in the world.
"It’s not that easy. This is not like a romance movie, where everything just resolves magically."
"Oh, come on, don’t be ridiculous. As far as I can judge the only thing hindering a magical resolve is yourstubbornness and 'reputation'." She lifts her hands for airquotes, making it abundantly clear how laughable she finds my reasoning. "Have you talked to Millie and Kayla? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind."
"No, I haven’t, and I won’t," I reply, taking a sip of my coffee, then starting to peel the wrapper off my cupcake.
Lucy might have a point about my coffee.
Today’s is really strong. Or maybe I’m just not used to it anymore.
"We had fun. Now he’s back to being CEO of his company, and I’m back to being CEO of Siren’s Talent. I’ll get over it."
"I’ll get over it," she repeats, mocking me. "Well, I don’t like it. You shouldn’t have to get over it. I’m not saying your dating life is a disaster. I’m saying it’s non-existent. And he seems good for you. And you haven’t come to me complaining about him, which is more than I can say about your past boyfriends and even flings," she points out.
"And don’t tell me it’s because he’s not worth talking about, because that glow on your face says otherwise."
"No idea what you’re talking about."
“And you’re going to let that man slip through your fingers? Because of your reputation?” She continues her rant and I can’t help but feel dumb. “Since when do you care about what some boomer thinks of you? You said it yourself, they think you slept your way to the top anyways. Do you think by staying single forever you’ll change their mind? Spoiler alert, it won't.” I gnaw on my lip, each of her words piercing through my heartlike a knife.
Because they're true. And the realization that I've thrown away something that could have been great for reasons that sound dumber and dumber with each word leaving Lucy's mouth, is making my eyes sting.
She talks herself into a rage that I can’t deal with right now. I need to think. So, I get up and toss her the bag with her clothes so she’ll stop. It works. She catches it and glares at me silently.
"Now let’s change the topic. Try them on. Give me a fashion show."
"This topic is far from over, Lily," she says, pointing her finger at me and I roll my eyes.
"Yes, it is. Now go and try them on, or I’ll keep them."
"You wouldn’t dare," she says, clutching the bag to her chest and running off to my bedroom to change.
"Lily, welcome back!" Millie greets me at the office and jumps me with a hug. I take a few steps back, startled.
"Hell yes," I press out with a wide grin and return her hug.
I don’t know what it is about her, but she brings good vibes wherever she goes. No matter how shitty my mood is, as soon as she enters the room, she manages to lift it instantly with her bubbly and kind personality.
"How was it? Did you have fun? What did you do?" she asks, letting me go and taking a step back.
"How about you let her talk, Millie?" Kayla says and approaches me. She’s not quite as bubbly, more of the calm and calculated type, but not any less welcoming. "Maybe let her get to her office first."
"Sorry," Millie says with an apologetic grin, but I wave her off.
"It’s fine. Let me put my bag in my office, make a coffee, and then we’ll meet in the meeting room, alright? Give me 10 minutes?"
"Of course," they say in unison, and I hear them bickering as I make my way into my office.
"Are you coming too?" I ask Felix, who has a stack of papers piled up to his head. His desk is right by the doors so I have no doubts that he heard us. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," he says way too quickly, looking at me wide-eyed and trying to subtly hide the papers in front of him with his arm. My curiosity is piqued and I cross my arms in front of my chest.
"If it’s ‘nothing’, you can tell me.”
“It’s… something,” he corrects himself and I roll my eyes at him.
"You know what? Now I don’t want to know anymore," I say, shaking my head, cursing internally when the reverse psychology doesn’t work.
