Page 50 of Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

SawyerRox4:I sense a story there. You don’t have to tell me unless you want to.

CastGamer55:Maybe another time.

CastGamer55:I just struggle to connect emotionally with anyone.

SawyerRox4:No, you refuse to

CastGamer55:Well, maybe.

SawyerRox4:You think you don’t deserve to.

SawyerRox4:I know bc I’m the same

I felt another tear in the corner of my eye and swiped it away. I might have gone too far here, but it felt so darn good to connect with someone.

CastGamer55:Well, what do you call this, then?

CastGamer55:If this isn’t connecting, I don’t know what is.

SawyerRox4:*mind blown*You’re right

SawyerRox4:Let’s talk about the show then

CastGamer55:You’re right—you’re just as bad at this as I am, Mindy.

SawyerRox4:I’m much worse, Danny

CastGamer55:But you make me laugh.

SawyerRox4:Then it’s all worth it

Chapter 12

By October, I’d finally reached my limit in trying to juggle three jobs, so I asked Hazel and Mariana to meet me for coffee.

When I arrived at their table, they both looked up and smiled.

“Hi, sorry I’m late,” I mumbled while sliding into the seat opposite them.

They both looked surprised for a moment and then smiled.

“No worries at all,” Hazel said. “How are you?”

“Uh, I … I’m good,” I heard myself saying, my voice raising as though I’d asked a question.

They glanced at each other and then back at me with creased brows. “Are you, Roxy?” Mari asked.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” I said, trying to make my voice sound more convincing than my face probably was.

“Roxy,” Mari said with a gentle smile. “I know a little about hiding your feelings. I used to do it all the time. Maybe you remember?”

“She did,” Hazel said with a vigorous shake of the head. “She even convinced herself she didn’t have feelings.”

“Oh, I haven’t done that at least,” I said with a nervous laugh before I realized what I’d just admitted.

That you’d been struggling.

That you wanted to hide the fact that you’re struggling.

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