Hot Mess (LBSC #1) | Completed

Chapter 28

"Why are we heading back here when there are plenty of seats up front?" I asked Malcolm as I followed him into the back room of Cuppa the next evening. He'd texted me earlier during my—thankfully—non-eventful workday and asked me to meet him because he had a new development in his love life.

I stopped in my tracks when I saw Zoey, Hayden, Suresh, Hallie, and Felix of the Blue Hair sat on chairs assembled in a semi-circle around one lone chair in the middle of the room. I looked back at Malcolm and then to Zoey sitting at the end of the arc.

"Why are all these people here? What is this?"

"I've called an emergency meeting of the Late Bloomers' Social Club," Malcolm said. "This is an intervention, Reese."

"An intervention for what? I don't have a drug problem." I shook my head. "You people are ridiculous."

Zoey stood up and approached slowly as if I were a shy horse she didn't want to spook. "This is a life intervention. We're all here because we care about you and we want you to get out of this funk you're in."

"This is insane." I waved my hand at Suresh and the rest. "These people barely know me. I'm leaving."

I turned to go but Malcolm blocked my path.

"Reese, everyone's here because we want to see you succeed," he started in a low, earnest voice. "Not just for you but for all of us. Stay for five minutes. If you don't like what we have to say you can leave. Just give us five minutes."

Why wasn't I ever able to say no to Malcolm? "Fine. Five minutes and then I'm outta here."

Malcolm extended his palm and I gave him a limp shake.

I turned to face the group without bothering to hide my annoyance. I plopped myself into the chair in the middle of the ring, slid low, and crossed my arms.

Malcolm took a seat on an empty chair. Zoey pulled out a folded piece of paper from her pocket and cleared her throat.

"You wrote a speech?" I asked. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Reese, you've done a great job with transforming your life in such a short period of time," she began. "I am so incredibly proud of you—"

"Me too," Hayden piped up.

Zoey glared at him before focusing her attention back on the paper. "You're an inspiration to me. You set your mind to accomplish something, and you did it."

"But I didn't!" I blurted out. "I screwed things up with Javi—and Quinn—and I haven't found anything I'm good at. I didn't manage to perform a feat of awesomeness. And one of my job responsibilities is to be harassed by perverts."

Felix straightened, his face lighting up. "Wait—what's this about a pervert?"

I scowled. "That would be the thing to pique your interest, weirdo."

Felix shrugged and slumped back into his seat.

Hayden raised a slow hand. "I kinda want to hear about the perverts too."

"No one is talking about perverts right now," Zoey snapped.

I threw my arms up into the air. "This is ridiculous!"

Malcolm stood and put his hands out in front of him. "Everybody, simmer down. We're forgetting why we're here." He fixed his eyes on mine, speaking only to me. "So things didn't work out Javi or Quinn—we'll be your hot date for the reunion."