The Breakup Mix Read Online Free Page B

pillow trying to suffocate the random thoughts racing through my head . Maybe I’ll take a long trip. But who will be my emergency contact now? How long has he been planning this ? What did I do to deserve this?
    Alissa lifted my legs off the couch, plopped down, and set them on top of her lap. I tried to sit up a little but the weight of grief mixed with a hangover is mighty heavy.
    “You need to shave.” She pulled my pajama pants over my ankles.
    I sighed and waved her off. “No point in it now.”
    “How long have you been up?” She took a drink of her coffee.
    “I don’t know. What time is it?”
    “Almost nine.”
    “Is it really? A little over an hour, then. You know how when something bad happens, you start remembering clues you missed along the way? Well, I’ve been replaying the last few months in my head and I can’t find any. Not one. And you know Barry. He doesn’t make a snap decision about anything, so he had to have been planning this. We just found out Thursday morning I have no more eggs. He was so supportive, so caring and nurturing, and he knew he was about to devastate me even more. I don’t get it, Lis. I don’t understand.”
    “So what if he was? Does it matter?”
    “Yes, Lis, it does matter.” I sat up.
    “What I mean is, are you going to be any more hurt than you already are now if you keep going back to figure out missed warning signs? No. You won’t. My point is you already know how the story ends. Rereading the shit you’ve already lived isn’t going to write the next chapter faster or easier. The best thing I can tell you is get on with today. And we’re going to start with the gym.”
    I stared at her blankly. “The gym.”
    “Yep.” She slapped her thighs. “Get up. We’re going to the gym.”
    When we walked into Reggie’s Total Fitness, my jaw dropped open at all of the equipment. I just saw pain in my future. “Lis, I do not belong here. I haven’t broken a sweat outside of planting flowerbeds since high school P.E. I mean, look at me. I look ridiculous.” I did look ridiculous in Alissa’s black spandex-tight capris, a neon pink tank top, and a sports bra that made my shoulder blades look bigger than my C cups.
    Alissa waved me off. “Don’t start bitching. I’m going to introduce you to your new best friend.” She gave a long-distance wave to someone sweating on an elliptical. “Don’t be too intimidated. Most of the people here have had at least one surgery to make them look the way they do. You’ve just been blessed with a good metabolism.”
    “Then why am I here?” I was already out of breath just trying to keep up with how fast Alissa was walking.
    “Anger management, by dear Watson.” She stopped in front of a service desk outside of what appeared to be a boxing ring. “Two sets of gloves, please?” She slid her membership card across the counter, the service rep scanned the cards then the gloves and handed all three back to Alissa without so much as a thank you.
    “There are friendly people around here.”
    “Yeah, you get used to it. Here, take these.” Alissa handed me both sets of gloves and maneuvered her long blond hair into a high ponytail. She flashed a perfect grin at me. “Are you ready?”
    I shrugged and followed her into the boxing arena. “Shouldn’t they be playing ‘Eye of the Tiger’ right about now?”
    Alissa chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do about that.” She stopped in front of a black and red punching bag suspended from the ceiling. “Here we are.” She walked behind the bag and put both hands on it. “Meet Asshole. Asshole comes to us from some place in China and has been provided to you as an outlet for all your frustrations.” She rubbed her hands up and down the punching bag. “He is much like your typical asshole in that he has no feelings and never gives a shit how upset you are when you approach him. Put your gloves on.”
    I stared at her wide-eyed. “You don’t expect me to punch this