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25. Clear as Vodka

"It was insane Dan! Seb had to tackle an alligator and Monica had to tap dance her way out of there. Literally!"

"Sounds like you're having a ball, Seth. But I hope you're staying safe."

"Yes, mom. No need to worry. I'm a big boy now! You, of all people, would know exactly how bi–"

"Seth Morgan! Don't you dare finish that sentence."

"What you gonna do? Spank me–"

"Mr. Morgan!"

It felt great to be finally speaking to Seth on the phone since it was the first time since he left. I was at work when my ex-boyfriend decided to surprise me with a phone call. Last night, Eddie and Iris forced me into going bowling and crashing Linda and Barry's date.

As much as I hate to admit it, I actually kinda had fun. Mostly because it was interesting to kick Barry's ass even though he was acting strange last night. And by strange, I meant real strange.

Like psychic strange.

Barry was speaking as if he had lived through this night before. It was almost as if he knew what was I was thinking and as soon as I was about to ask a question, he would have the answer.

Strange right?

"Hey, Dan? You still there?"

"Yeah, yeah! I'm here, sorry, I guess I kinda zoned out." I adjusted my black Beats headphones which we connected to my phone via Bluetooth.

"I hope you're not thinking about me too much."

Rolling my eyes, I answered, " Dream on Morgan." I continued to edit the photos that I took earlier in the morning.

There was a rustling in the background before I heard Seth moan, "Not now Simone."

I froze in my position, trying to listen carefully.

"Uhm... Seth do I need to leave you alone?"

Who the fuck is Simone?

"Oh no Dan, that was just my sister's cat. I'm babysitting while she's away with her family."

"Oh... okay."

I could almost hear the smirk on his face, "Dani, don't tell me you're jealous."

"Uh Seth, I have to get back to work, I'll speak to you later okay?" I frantically tried to avoid Seth's accusation.

"Work? Since when do you actually work at—"

"Bye Seth!" I said before ending the call and finishing the touch-ups on the photo I was editing. Getting up from my chair, I walked over to the coffee and water station. Moving my headphones from my ears to resting them around my shoulders.

Grabbing a bottle of water, I turned around to be greeted by the not-so-happy Linda Parks.

"It's your fault!" Linda shouted at me before I could utter a word out.

"Hey Linda, I'm good thanks for asking," I replied sarcastically.

"Don't play smartass with me, Daniella! You're the reason why Barry and I broke up." By this statement, multiple heads turned in our direction.

"Look, Linda, I have no idea what the hell you're talking about but I didn't break anything up okay?" I was not prepared to be dealing with this bullshit today.

"You know, Dani, when you told me that Barry had feelings for you, I thought it was just the typical weird crap that women do to each other," she crossed her arms beneath her chest and continued to glare at me, "But last night, I realized what you didn't tell me, and that's kind of irritating is that you have feelings for him too."

Linda took a step back when she realized that she was all up in my space.

"And this morning, Barry broke up with me. That doesn't make you look too good now, does it? Well, you never looked good anyway."

Oh no she didn't.

The little bitch did not just roast my sense of style.

"Okay Listen here, Linda. I don't know what gave you the idea that I 'stole' your boyfriend but you need to get it through your thick skull that someone's lying to you. The same way your friends lied to you when they told you that you looked cute before you left the house today." I smirked as Linda turned bright red with anger.

"You are so exasperating, Daniella!"

I laughed, "Ooh, exasperating? Spell it."

Linda looked around before she took a step closer, obviously not caring about my personal space anymore. "I get that you're gonna deny breaking my relationship apart but you will not embarrass me in front of out co-workers again! Am I clear?"

I shot her a bitter smile, "As Vodka."

With that, she turned around and stormed away.

"Bye, sweetie! Nice chat."

Better think twice before you mess with a queen.

✦✦✦✦

So after the little incident with Linda, I texted Barry to meet me at Jitters during my lunch break which he agreed to say he was about to ask me the same thing.

"Hey!" Barry greeted cheerfully as I sat down in the chair across from him.

"Hey?" I greeted back but it came out almost like a question as I questioned his sudden happiness. Especially after a breakup.

"One incredibly heavy cronut and one cappuccino with an extra foam. Just the way you like it." Barry pushed the to-go bag and to-go cup towards me, a massive grin on his face.

"Just the way I like it," I whispered, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.

"Yeah, I know. I know you, Dani," Barry cleared his throat before the massive smile returned to his face.

"So...what is going on with you? You're acting like Christmas came early." I chuckled, my eyebrows still crunch together.

He laughs, "Uh... Yeah, no, I guess it did, kind of. Look, Dan um... I still think about you all the time and I know you've been thinking about me too, so let's just stop thinking and start doing."

"Barry–" I started but was interrupted.

"I know. I know that we both have awful timing, but we were meant to be–"

Where the hell all of this coming from?

"Barry, what are you talking about?" I picked up the cup of cappuccino slowly before taking a sip, my eyes never leaving Barry's.

"You and me. We like each other." Barry reached out and grabbed my hand that was free.

"Barry, we've been over this. Okay? Nothing has changed for me." After the not-so-friendly conversation with Linda, I realized that what I did was actually wrong. I know for a fact that if I was dating Seth and one his friends were flirting with him and were the cause of us breaking up, I would be hella pissed too.

"No, but it has." Barry gave my hand a squeeze as he insisted.

"How do you know that?" I asked before taking another sip of the delicious cappuccino.

"I just... I just know some stuff somehow. I don't know, maybe it's like ESP or something, but..." I stopped him before he could continue. I placed the cup down on the table before I grabbed Barry's other hand over the table.

"Barry. I love you, okay? You are the greatest friend anyone could ask for. But I'm sorry, but nothing has changed for me since Christmas." That was a damn lie and I knew it but he needs time to heal.

I took a breath before I continued, "And you can't keep springing this on me. Okay? It's not fair that you keep making me the bad guy who keeps telling you no. I think you need to take some time alone, especially since you just broke up with Linda, okay?"

He nodded softly, looking as crushed as a sad puppy. Great, now I feel like an asshole.

"Listen, I have to go back to work now but I'll talk to you later okay?"

Not saying anything, he nodded before giving me a weak smile. I got up from the chair, went round to his side and placed a soft friendly kiss on his cheek. I grabbed the coffee and bag and left the shop.

I could feel the tears starting to develop in my eyes as I placed the key in the ignition and drove away.

✦✦✦✦

hey guys, sorry it's been so long.
it is a short chapter but i'm still trying to figure out how i can end season 1 quickly to move on to season 2 or would y'all prefer if i just skipped and went straight into season 3?
let me know in the comments!
Lots of love
Ore Adesanmi x