Page 118 of Give Me a Shot

You got this. Go get your sensitive man!

—

Just before nine, Jess stepped out of her car in front of Mo’s house. Her hands were shaky enough that she needed to readjust her grip on the ivy plant she’d chosen from Alice’s list. While waiting at the florist, she’d also learned that all the flowers Mo had given her had communicated something specific. And she, Ms. Clueless, hadn’t realized it.

She was almost to his porch when Mrs. Sargysan’s front door swung open. Leaning on her cane, she shuffled to the edge of her porch, leaving the door open behind her.

“You!” Mrs. Sargysan spat. Jess gulped.

“Good evening, Mrs. Sargysan,” she said. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Don’t ‘Good evening’ me,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “You dumped him, didn’t you?” Mrs. Sargysan asked, leaning into her purple cane, squinting down at Jess.

“Well…um…” Jess’s throat felt thick, her tongue gummy. She hadn’t even thought about Mrs. Sargaysan, but she should have known that the older woman would not be happy with her. Her hands began to stick to the paper around the plant.

“Don’t sugarcoat it. I know you did. He didn’t say anything, but I can tell.”

“Yes, I did.” She took a few steps closer to Mrs. Sargysan’s porch, not wanting to be impolite.

“And why is that?” Mrs. Sargysan snapped.

“I’d rather not get into it,” Jess said.

Her inquisitor didn’t say anything, but the way she raised her chin told Jess that her answer was insufficient.

Pepper. Help me.

“Hm,” Mrs. S said. “If you’re back to make it worse, I suggest you be on your way; you’ve done enough. Mo deserves better than some wishy-washy nonsense.”

“You’re absolutely right, Mrs. Sargysan,” Jess said. “He does.”

“Course I’m right.” She readjusted herself on her cane.

“I just want to apologize to Mo and see what he wants from there,” Jess said. “If it’s over, it’s truly over. That’s his choice.”

Mrs. Sargysan harrumphed.

“Maddie can’t have some flighty woman darting in and out of her life. I know Mo won’t stand for it and neither will I,” she said.

“Of course not, ma’am,” Jess said. “They both deserve stability.”

“Hmm.” Mrs. Sargysan furrowed her brow and bunched her lips to one side. Then her face softened just a little. “My deepestcondolences about your sister. Truly. I know what that pain is like.”

Jess swallowed hard, her heart clenching.

“But if you don’t face your hurt, deal with it? It’s going to make you hurt other people. And yourself,” Mrs. Sargysan said, squeezing the handle of her cane. “Which would be stupid things to do, wouldn’t they?”

Vision blurring, Jess nodded quickly, wanting to say more but incapable of doing so. Mrs. Sargysan gestured to Mo’s door.

“You can make your case now,” she said. “But I’ve got my eye on you. No more hurting Mo. Or my little kuzu.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jess said. “Have a good evening.”

“We’ll see,” Mrs. Sargysan said, narrowing her eyes at Jess before she slowly turned and began making her way into her house. Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Jess took the steps to Mo’s door.

Thanks, Pepp—

Jess’s thought was cut off by Mo swinging the door open the moment she reached it.

---