Page 33 of The Hookup Situation

Me: This is all you, doll

Ken doll: Damn, Tinkerbell

Me: I think I can finally sleep now, thank you for the incredible orgasm, beautiful

Ken doll: Any time, goodnight

I clean myself off with the wipes in my nightstand, then toss my dirty panties into the hamper and grab a new pair. Red this time. I crawl back into bed and slide under the covers, and with my body sated and my mind finally relaxed, I drift to sleep.

NINE

JACKSON

Two days later I’m sending a text to my mom about Thanksgiving because I still haven't heard anything from her about a flight home. I wish I could be as eager as all of my friends are about going home. Lucy, Rory, Preston, Colby, Jeremy, everyone I know is counting down the days until they can see their families again and I’m dreading it, because I don’t know if I can handle one more year of being ignored.

I could just stay here, but I keep holding out hope that maybe this year will be the year that changes and they’re excited and happy to see me, and can’t stop asking questions about school and friends, and if I’ve met anyone special. Maybe this will be the year they see how absent they have been my entire life and tell me what a mistake they’ve made and how they want to do better.

I should really just tell Rory and Lucy everything and save myself the disappointment of going home to people who don’t give a rat's ass whether I show up or not. I know either of them would love to bring me home with them, but I just can’t bringmyself to tell them how bothered I am by my parents’ behavior and how much it hurts me. I’d either have them feeling sorry for me, or sounding like a whiny brat who doesn’t get enough of mommy and daddy's attention.

While I’m waiting for Mom to respond, which could take anywhere from a couple of minutes to a couple of days, I get a text from Lucy.

Lucy: Hey, I know you must be swamped with school work and play practice with opening night coming up, but I haven’t seen you in a week and I'm having Jackson withdrawal. Sad face emoji.Come hang with me tonight? We can paint our nails and do face masks and watch shitty tv.

Me: That sounds fun. I miss you, too. I have rehearsal tonight and i have no idea how long it will last but I can text you when I’m finished

Lucy: You better,kissy face emoji

Me: Rory coming?

Lucy: No, he can’t make it. He has a group project he’s working on tonight

I’m about to put my phone back in my pocket when it dings again and I see it’s a message from Mom.

Mom: Sorry honey we’ve been swamped and I just haven’t had time to look into flights yet. Go ahead and get whatever ticket you want and put it on our card.

I sigh and try to ignore the ache in my chest as I tuck my phone back in my pocket and head out the door to class.

I’m exhausted when play practice finally ends around ten pm that night. Last week we were spending our time going through the entire show without costumes and makeup so the tech team could learn their cues for light and scene changes, and this week we’re going through the entire show with costumes and makeup. Dress rehearsal, in other words, and I’ve got to change and take off my makeup before I head over to Lucy’s.

I’m in the dressing room removing my makeup, still dressed in my corset, tights, heels, gloves, and pearls when I get a Grindr notification.

Curious2002: You like to go running, right?

Theaterslut: Yeah

Why on earth do I have a big ass smile on my face just from this brief exchange? He’s said five words to me and the butterflies in my stomach are running rampant again.

Curious2002: Wanna go running with me tomorrow morning before class?

Theaterslut: You run?

Curious2002: We’ll find out

I laugh.

Curious2002: I miss you

My breath hitches. I read it again. I’m sure he didn’t mean it the way it sounds.

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