Page 42 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

-I know you only went out with her to fuck with me.

-But don’t do that shit again.

I tense at her texts. Who the bloody hell does she think she is? I furiously text her back.

ME:

-Don’t tell me what to do. Delete my number.

Seconds later, I get a text back and quickly swipe to open it.

CRAZY MIGRAINE:

-Aww, good morning to you, too, angel!

- But seriously, though. If I ever catch you with anyone else, whether it was fake or even a pity date… I will fucking end them.

I leave her on 'Read'. She can’t tell me what to do, but I’m not naive enough to think that her threats are ever empty.

I let out a harsh breath as I glare down at her text. Seriously, who the hell does she think she is telling me I should end my relationship with someone?

Not that Barbara and I have a relationship.

We’ve only been on that one date if one can call it that. Out of all the messages I got in my dating app inbox, she was the one who said she was interested in waking up early to join me for a run. I thought, “Why not? What’s the worst that can happen?”

Briar happened.

And it’s annoying the shit out of me that I’m thinking about her first thing in the morning when I should be pushing myself to continue my morning routine and go for that jog.

I really hope Barbara doesn’t try to meet me there, though. I didn’t feel anything when we first met. I’m going to assume it’s because fucking Briar was there, ruining everything.

I feel my phone vibrate, and my heart skips over a beat. I swear if this is Briar again telling me to drop everything and — Oh. It’s Barbara.

BARBARA(TINDER):

-Hiii handsome! It was nice to meet you yesterday finally!

-Do you want me to continue joining you this morning on your run again?

-I would be happy to!

I’m going to assume the disappointment I felt flooding in my veins is not because the text isn’t from Briar but because Barbara was planning on running with me. Yeah, that’s the reason why I feel annoyed.

Not because of Briar.

I scoff out loud, exiting out of Barbara’s text and opening up Briar’s again. I re-read her messages and scowl.

“If I ever catch you with anyone else…” The nerve of this little shit.

I pause my thumb on the screen, unsure if I should leave her on ‘read’ or tell her to fuck off. But before I could decide, my phone vibrates again to see Barbara texted me again.

BARBARA (TINDER):

- Should I call you unless you’re still asleep in case you overslept? I remember you saying you don’t like to miss your morning runs!

- Then, I wondered if you wanted to grab breakfast somewhere. Maybe that donut shop I keep seeing on social media! Apparently, it’s supposed to be good…

I immediately stop reading her messages. I don’t have any interest in pursuing whatever this is anymore. I really should end it now while we’re still at the beginning stage—not because Briar told me to, but because I want to.

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