The Heartbreak Bucket List by Hughes A. Lee

Author:Hughes, A. Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 12

renewal

As the sufferer embraces her changing identity, she may feel child-like. Additionally, she may develop a renewed self-confidence and/or more assertive component of her identity that empowers her to keep living even though she continues to feel a sense of loss.

After taking turns showering and dressing this morning, and without mention of sleeping so close to me last night, Clever helps me pack up my belongings and carry them down to the parking lot. I assess my luggage and the two additional boxes he retrieved from the dance studio next door for my pots and pans and such.

Back in the kitchenette, I leave a tray of macaroons with a generous tip and a note for housekeeping that says to please take the leftover baking items in the fridge.

“I felt like you’d need a bigger ride,” Clever says, nudging his head as a Toyota Tundra parks beside the curb. “I’ll ride with him. You drive the Grand Am.” He and the driver hoist my things into the truck’s bed before pulling off and heading for Glenn’s shop.

I know I haven’t had the VW long, and during the time I’ve owned it the thing’s cost me more money than it’s worth, but I’m happy when I see the rusty little bus again.

The rest of the group is here at Glenn’s with their overnight bags. Ness won’t make eye contact with me, although I compliment her hair and gush over her flan again. During the drive to Waco, she’s quiet at first, but the guys soon get her singing and dancing along to the song they’re performing tonight, and I even catch a glance of her smile in the rearview mirror. I wink at her and she sticks her tongue out and at me. I return the gesture.

When we arrive in Waco, I pay for two double rooms—one for us girls and one for the boys—at a nice hotel a block from the old dance club in the downtown area where the contest is being held. “We’ll meet y’all in a couple of hours,” I tell the boys as I swipe the key on the door next to their room. “Ness and I have some shopping to do.”

Once we’re settled, Ness and I head out for thrift store shopping. As we walk along the town’s sidewalks, she apologizes for the night before. “I overreacted,” she explains. “I was being a bitch. It’s a long story.”

“That’s okay,” I smile. “You don’t have to explain. Believe me,” I add, “my girls have had their share of dealing with stupid boys.”

“Clever’s an idiot,” she huffs, pausing at the window display at a retro consignment shop. “Bingo!” she squeals, changing the subject. Her expression blooms. “Ohmygod. This is it, Ms. Ava.”

The shop is packed with everything we need to throw together the perfect ‘80s-esque getups. Boas and hats and netted hair sashes and beads and sequined tops dangle at varying lengths from the shop’s walls and ceiling.

I start when Ness grabs my arm, holding

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