My Only Exception (gxg)

Part 23

Fuck this. I can't be here right now.

"I'll be right back," I said, "We need more...cups."

We totally didn't need more cups, but I just needed to get out of the situation.

I walked back to the storage closet and blinked back the tears that were ready to fall from my eyes.

As I stood in the storage closet, I thought about months before, when Poppy and I had hooked up for the first time.

I miss her. Terribly.

Liv left for the night about 20 minutes before close, and the only noise in the shop after that was the song playing from the speakers, "Coffee Bean" by Travis Scott.

I couldn't hold in how I was feeling for any longer.

"Did you really have to flirt with someone in front of me?" I turned to Poppy.

Poppy looked alarmed for a split second, but she turned to face me and said, "It was more so Mandy flirting with me."

"You definitely flirted back, Poppy."

"Okay, and? Last time I checked, I was allowed to do that. I'm not in a relationship."

There was a bitterness to Poppy's tone as she said that.

No way in hell is she over me.

I stared at Poppy for a second and then said, "I'd still appreciate it if you didn't do that in front of me."

"And I would have appreciated it if you didn't choose your best friend over me," Poppy shot back.

"Poppy, I didn't even choose her over you. You essentially made that decision for me."

"Like I said to you, Delilah. I wasn't about to be anyone's second choice."

"You weren't my second choice!"

"Oh really? When was the last time you hung out with Emily?" Poppy's gaze seared into me.

"Today," I said to Poppy. I wasn't going to lie to her.

Poppy looked hurt for a split second, and she then said, "That tells me exactly what I need to know."

I rolled my eyes, "Fine, Poppy. You know what, I'm going to head out early. Will you be okay to finish closing?"

Poppy looked pissed as she said, "Sure. I'll be fine."

Right after I left and started driving away, I regretted leaving Poppy there by herself. But I couldn't turn back now, and I knew that I sure as hell couldn't have texted her.

As I drove, the song "The Only Exception" played on shuffle, and I wanted to throw my phone out the window.

When I got home, my mom was in the kitchen, in clothes that indicated she was about to go out with her friends, and she was drinking a glass of wine.

She knew that Poppy and I had broken up, even though I didn't go into specifics with her.

"Hi hon," she said as I walked in the kitchen, "How was work?"

"Fine," I lied, "Are you going out?"

My mom nodded, "I'm about to head out and meet a few of my friends at a bar in Doylestown."

"You're driving there and back? That's like a half hour away."

"I know," my mom nodded, "I'll be fine."

She took a long sip of her wine, and something inside of me just snapped.

"Oh yeah, you'll be fine? Keep telling yourself that as you drive wasted tonight. Hope you don't kill yourself or someone else."

My mom's eyebrows shot up, "Whoa! Where is this coming from?"

I snapped back at my mom, "You know I get awfully sick of worrying about you? You need help, mom, whether you want to admit it or not."

My mom set down her glass of wine, and I half expected her to yell at me, but she was calm as she spoke, "This is about Poppy, isn't it? I know you're not doing well."

Immediately, a lump formed in my throat, and tears stung my eyes.

My mom wrapped her arms around me, and I couldn't help but to start to cry.

"Oh, Delilah," she said to me, "I know you're hurting, and I am so sorry."

"It's fucking awful," I cried, "I feel like I'll never get better. I'm going to have to quit my job, I can't work with Poppy- "

"Shh, shh," my mom soothed, "I'm going to go get changed out of these clothes, and I'll order us some sushi. We can watch some trash TV together and try to distract your mind from this."

"You don't have to do that," I sniffled.

"Yes, I do," my mom said, "I'll be right back."

I sat down on the living room couch next to Penelope, who was curled up sleeping, and a few minutes later, my mom came downstairs and was wearing a silk pajama set.

"Alright," she said, and turned on the TV, "Real Housewives of Orange County or New Jersey?"

"New Jersey, for sure," I said.

"New Jersey it is then," my mom said, "Can you hand me my phone? I'll Door Dash us as much sushi as you want."

I handed my mom her phone, which was on the coffee table, and smiled at her.

"Thank you," I said, "I'm sorry for before."

"It's okay," my mom reassured me, "Maybe it's for the best that I don't go out."

Maybe it is.

All I knew was that I needed someone in that moment to help me regulate my emotions, and my mom was there for me.

I have no idea what's going to happen, but at least I can be grateful for that.