Page 31 of Sharkbait
“No, I do not. Tonight is the big Arts and Sciences Department cocktail party for scholarship recipients. We’re supposed to meet our donors face-to-face and thank them for their generosity. I’m waiting for Ralph. He’s my plus-one.”
“Good idea. He’ll help you stay calm.”
“Yeah, that’s what I figured.”
“Hey.” Her voice softens. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t do theJeopardything, and you’ll be fine.”
“I’m not going to do theJeopardything.”
“Okay,” Gail says like she doesn’t quite believe me.
“And for the record, Refrigerator Sex Man –James—and I will not be dating.”
“Ya know, that’s the part I’m not really understanding. Sounds like you’re into him.”
“You think with a new full-time job and a master’s degree course load I have any time whatsoever for dating?”
“Bah! What a cop-out.” She pauses. “Sorry about the bah. But seriously. Lou. You really think I’m going to let you off the hook that easily?”
I shrug.
“You said your mom’s been calling again. Does that mean the nightmares have started up again too?”
I nod.
She knows me so well.
Gail’s voice softens. “Louise. You’re not her.”
My eyes well up, but I won’t let them spill. “So why have I gone from one serious relationship to another since I was fifteen?”
“Because you’re a young woman, and you were dating and figuring things out? In other words, you’re completely normal?”
I don’t let her words register. “And why do I always adoptthe guy’s interests like they’re my own? Why do I lose myself in a relationship every single time? With Mark, it was football. With Aidan, it was D & D. With Trent, it was art.”
“Alright, hold up. We both know you were never into D & D. And art does not belong to Trent. You, Louise Anderson, were born an artist. Trent didn’t introduce you to it. If anything, he was the one who beat the art out of you.” Her face twists. “Ugh. Poor choice of words. See? This is why you should not be paying me for my services yet. Or ever. I know he didn’tbeatyou. Right? Oh my God, you’d tell me if he ever did anything like—”
“No,” I assure her. “Of course not. Trent was never brutal like that. Just ‘brutally honest.’ His words, not mine.”
Gail scoffs. “Yeah, people are always ‘brutally honest’ when they want an exemption from being a good human being.”
I murmur, “It was actually Ralph who gave him a good beatdown.”
“Right. Who could forget?”
After all this time, I still cringe when I think of it. Ralph came to visit me in California junior year. He was pissed at the way Trent was treating me and lost his damn mind. I didn’t speak to him for a year after that.
“Hey. You want my expert opinion?” Gail asks.
“Always.”
“I think being single for a while is a worthy mission. You should absolutely focus on work and school and whatever else makes you happy. I just don’t want you to shut yourself off to the opportunities—and people—who may be good for you along the way. Life has a way of surprising us when we give it some room. So maybe... keep an open mind?”
“I’ll try.” I give her a salute.
“Oh! Also! Don’t discount any animals who cross your path over the next few weeks. There are animal love symbols everywhere we look! FYI, starfish are symbols of salvation during hard timesandsigns of infinite divine love.”
“Gail. I will literally be handling starfish at my job every single day.”
