Page 30 of The Bleeding Hearts Club

I whistle low. “Hello, mama. What’re you all snazzy for, Miss Lou Lou,” I send the same look back to her. From my phone I can see her dark curls have been twisted into long, butterfly locs and her deep complexion is glowy. She leans forward in her cut up band tee and black jeans to grab her makeup bag.

“Which one?” Lou holds up a dark red and a mauve lipstick. I hum looking at her outfit back to the lipsticks and then back to the rest of her makeup. Her blush is a rich purpley color and her eyeshadow is a soft smokey eye.

“Second one definitely,” I decided with a nod of approval.

“Thank you, gorgeous.” She begins to apply the color. “I’m going out tonight with my sisters. Aurora graduates from undergrad next weekend so,” she smacks her lips with a smile and a wink in the mirror, “we’re celebrating.”

I sigh, nodding. “Yeah, everyone here is celebrating tonight, too. I’m not much in the mood for a party though.”

Lou’s face blanks as she stares at me. “Mi?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”

I roll my eyes at her and she just giggles. “Don’t be such a sour puss. Go out. Have fun. Enjoy your time there, and frankly, what I saw when I first called, it looks like you have been.”

My face heats and I just laugh nervously. “Yeah, I suppose I have. This guy, dude…” I trail off shaking my head. “I don’t know what to make of him honestly.”

“Does he make you happy?”

I ponder her words for a minute before nodding.

“Is he sweet?”

“Yeah, but—”

“Has he made any dickheaded comments like those-we-do-not-speak-of?” Lou gives me a pointed look.

I sigh, “No, he hasn’t, but—”

“Is he good in the sack?” Her brows wiggle again and she tries to hide her smile.

“Lou!” I shriek hitting the camera with a pillow. Her laugh echoes through the speakers and somehow it lifts my mood.

She knickers and gives me a half assed shrug. “I’m just asking,” Loud laughs. “Give him a chance, kid. You never know. The Fates work in mysterious ways, Mi. It sounds like his ass just fell at your feet and you don’t know what to do because you’ve convinced yourself men ain’t shit and true love is for Disney movies and your smut.”

“Okay, okay,” I say defeated because she’s right. Of course Lou’s right. I don’t think she’s been wrong her entire life.

“I know I’m right. Now. Get your ass up, get cute, and for God’s sake, put some panties on. I’ll text you later!”

I start rolling out of bed moving to the balcony window. The sun’s beginning to fall below the horizon and to the left I can see the lights of the patio coming to life. Beyond the tree line though, a group of people are gathering on the beach. It’s bonfire night, Thursday. The last chance to meet someone for the list finalizing at midnight and setting our date for tomorrow.

“Alright, Lou. Love you, be safe, drink a shot for me, and tell Rory congrats.”

“Will do, babe. Love youuu!” She shouts, blowing a kiss and the screen goes blank.

Lou can always see right through me.

I run a hand through my hair and slump against the balcony door. Goddamn her for her wisdom. I guess I will be going to the bonfire. And I know just who I’m going to hunt for.

* * *

The beach is less crowded than I had anticipated. It seems people are more inclined to stay on the patio with the dance floor and the bar, but there are still a few clusters of retreat goers, gathering around the fire pits set up spanning most of the shoreline. I walk by nodding and giving small waves to anyone who recognizes me, but I couldn’t tell you a single thing about them.

The whole week, no one had kept my attention and captivated me the way Theo had. They’re all just nameless, slightly faceless memories that leave me feeling annoyed and frazzled.

Well, Theo does too, but for completely different reasons. He just knows how to push my buttons in the right ways, and our arguments are more fun than they are frustrating. Which I think is a good thing. Aren’t you supposed to find someone who challenges you? Keeps things interesting.