Page 28 of Cherry Picking

why?

Briggs

didn’t have the performance in me tonight. Augie dragged me to a party last week to “distract” me. all it did was remind me I felt like a pile of shit

He didn’t have to hand that over. He could have sent another deflection and kept the gate locked. I get the sense the fortress is his default setting, which means I should be careful with the fact that he’s letting me stand on the drawbridge.

Evie

it seems exhausting. to grieve under a spotlight. to have a pulse under one, honestly

Briggs

it’s the job. just have to feel it later, in private, on your own time. never learned another way to be

Evie

and how’s that working out for your overall health?

Briggs

probably not great for the long haul. weirdly, this is the most I’ve talked about it all week

Evie

I’m sorry

Briggs

don’t be

you’re easy to talk to despite the general gloom and doom

Evie

that is either the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me or a devastating review of your friends

Briggs

probably a bit of both

Evie

tell me about the best one, then. is that Augie?

Briggs

by default. no volume knob. you’d hate him for an hour and then you’d be friends for life

Evie

sounds like a familiar archetype

Briggs

your version got a name?

Evie