Page 45 of Feel It All

“Yes, let’s get out of here.” Ivy hits the lights and we make our way out the back door.

“You going to be okay tonight, Win?” Ivy asks.

“Hmm…” my brain had checked out the moment I walked out the door. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me, I’m good. Promise.” I manage some half-ass smile and unlock my car.

“Okay, call me if you want to talk, all right?” Concern crosses Ivy’s face.

“I will, love you lots.” I blow her a kiss and hop in my car.

The drive home is silent, and I catch myself doing that thing where you have been driving but honestly have no memory of it. You just check out and muscle memory takes over. I snap out of it a couple of times and make it to my place. Graham’s car is already gone. Is it odd to be a little relieved? I just don’t feel like pushing my mood on anyone else.

Once inside, I immediately climb into some sweats and throw my hair up. I collapse on the couch and run my hands over my face. I flip on the TV then flip it off again.

Come on, Winry. Snap out of this funk.

I hear my phone vibrating, and I am tempted to ignore it, but I look to see who it is first at least. Ivy’s name pops up on my screen.

“Hey, Ives. What’s up?” I fake sounding perky.

“Hey, why don’t you come help us carry in this food, okay?” I can hear her digging around in her car.

“What are you talking about?”

“Just come outside.”

She hangs up and I stand up going to my door. Swinging it open, I am met with Ivy and my sisters with food and bags in hand.

“Sleepover!” They all shout together.

“You guys, you didn’t have to come over. I am glad you are here, but you didn’t have to.”

“Quit your yapping and move out of the way.” Waverley says, pushing me out of the way.

“Come on, Win. We know Graham is working tonight, and we are not about to let you wallow alone all night. We brought some of your favorites.” Wyla shakes the bags in her hands all giddy.

“All right, I’m listening. What you got will determine whether I’ll kick you out,” I joke knowing good and well that they would never leave.

They set all of the bags down on the coffee table. I already see wine, so that’s a plus.

“Well for starters, we got a Mexican buffet. We ordered enchiladas, tacos, burritos, rice, and your own salsa and cheese dip so you can mix them,” Ivy says, unloading the food and getting it spread out.

“Then we got bottles of your favorite wine, and it’s not the same as yours but we got a pack of cookie dough.” Wyla takes the wine and cookie dough and pumps it into the air.

“I’ll get the plates and silverware.” Waverley jumps up and heads into my kitchen.

“Thanks guys, for all of this.” A lump forms in my throat, but I swallow it down and let out my first genuine smile in hours. Waverley comes back and we all take a plate and dive in.

“So, do you want to talk about what happened earlier or something else?” Wyla asks, scooping out some rice.

“Ugh, I don’t know. She bothered me. Not in the ‘she is Flynn’s new girlfriend’ way but in an ‘I’m the problem’ way. She called the night he broke in a misunderstanding…in what world was that a misunderstanding?” Anger starts to bubble up, but at least I am feeling something other than the doom and gloom I was before.

“She was just trying to get under your skin, Win. Last night at Bluebird’s she was a mess, and to piss Graham off, Flynn kept talking about you and even called her Winry. I am sure she is just jealous.” Ivy mumbles the last part as she takes a bite of her taco.

“Last night? What happened last night?” Waverley looks back and forth between me and Ivy looking for more information.

“Flynn got kicked out of Bluebird’s but wouldn’t leave so Lacey called the police. Graham and Owen showed up and Flynn kept poking at Graham about me. They didn’t arrest him, just made him take a cab elsewhere,” I say filling her and Wyla in.

“Graham looked absolutely feral. Gah, it was so hot,” Ivy fans herself with her hands.

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