Turn About is Fair Play

By Tari K. Robinson

Unrequited love can be one of the most agonizing experiences life can hand you, and Tracy Raymond knows this all too well.  In an effort to secure the affections of handsome rock star Jake Benjamin, she purchases a mysterious love potion that guarantees to snag the affections of anyone who consumes it.  The tables turn quickly when Jake falls in love with Tracy Raymond and succumbs to the full effects of the ill-fated love potion.  Tracy's unconditional love causes her to endure unthinkable hardship and grief. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tari K. Robinson
• Release date: Sep 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781644679395

Book preview

PREFIX

FLASHBACK

Time spun around as if it were a tangible object, fragmented and suspended in air.  Trauma often provides a sort of out-of-body experience in which the brain slows down and time seems to stretch or even stop.

Nothing but blurred vision and distorted images.  The sound of a deafening, prominent heartbeat could be heard overriding frantic screams and a man’s tirade in the distance – but only barely.  Panting.  Labored breathing.

Oh, God.  Run, she thought.

The metal blades on the table top fan frantically whirled around, whisking the sheer white curtains to and from the picture window.  The same wind caught the desk calendar pages, flipping them back several months earlier, exactly six months prior to current day.

CHAPTER ONE

LOVE STRUCK

One early evening in mid-April, Tracy Raymond observed herself in the old antique mirror in her bedroom.  She was the kind of girl most people didn’t notice off-hand, plain and assuming.  Her brown eyes studied her outfit to see what she could change to make herself more noticeable.  She was casually, yet smartly, dressed in jeans and a trendy jacket accented with a decorative scarf.  Her rich, medium skin tone had not a blemish in sight.  She sported simple, natural makeup and her shoulder-length, textured black hair was pulled back into an unassuming ponytail.  Her eyes were puffy and red.  Months of sleepless nights were the bane of her existence. 

Suddenly, there was a pounding at the front door of her apartment.  She opened it to find her impatient friend, Janie Smith, on the other side. 

We’re late, Janie said, annoyed, then waltzed in uninvited.  As usual, she continued.

Sorry, Tracy apologized, closing the door behind her.

Janie began to ramble.  Who takes a nap towards the end of the day? she caught herself complaining.  Don’t mind me.  I’m irritable.  Some twenty-somethin’-year-old called me ma’am at the gas station today.  She stopped to examine herself in a nearby mirror.  Damn, I’m getting old.  She turned to Tracy to observe her casual attire.  What’s your deal?  Is that what you’re wearing?

Tracy couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

Hours later, they found themselves sitting in a dimly lit restaurant.  The bartender was serving drinks to a group of patrons sitting at the bar.   Janie ate salad while Tracy babysat the same drink for an hour.  Tracy spotted a couple making out in a dark corner of the restaurant and rolled her eyes in disgust. Ugh, get a room, she muttered under her breath.  Janie turned to observe the couple.

What? she questioned.  It’s nice.  There’s nothing wrong with showing a little PDA.

It’s a family-oriented restaurant, Janie.  No one wants to see that.

Janie looked around the room and didn’t spot any children.

There are no kids in here.

Tracy shrugged her shoulders.

Oh, I see.  The green-eyed monster has reared its ugly head, Janie quipped then continued.  Speaking of which, you’re never gonna meet Mr. Right holed up in your apartment for hours on end.  

And just how did you derive my love life from that?  Tracy said sarcastically.

Nonexistent love life is more like it.  She laughed.  Face it, Trace.  You’re not getting any younger.  None of us are.

You know my situation.

Yeah, and it’s pathetic.  That’s why I’m speaking out about it.

Tracy noticed the grooves carved into the table that they were sitting at.  She ran her fingers across them repeatedly while becoming transfixed on the rhythmic repetition.  She got lost in thought.  Janie took notice, then softened a bit.

This is coming from a place of love, I swear, she tried sounding endearing. Jake Benjamin is a rock star, a superstar no less, surrounded by a bevy of beauties.  You, my friend, are what most commonly refer to as a ‘regular’ girl.   Yours truly, also in the same boat, she openly admitted.  The guy is completely out of your league. We all, at some point in our lives, fantasize about someone that we may idolize, but then reality sets in, or it should anyway.

Hurt and embarrassment began to show.  Soon Tracy’s eyes began to tear up.  Janie felt as though she was being dispassionate so she lowered her wine glass and placed it down on the table in front of her.

We’ve known each other for, what, twelve years now?  You had a life before this unhealthy obsession with Jake.  What happened? Janie asked.

Tracy bowed her head over her clasped hands and shrugged it off.   Janie leaned in and grabbed her forearm in an effort to comfort her.

Trace, when did things take a turn?  Janie’s voice relaxed.

Tracy lowered her hands and placed them on the table in front of her.  She began cracking her knuckles.

Years back, like six or seven years, I went to a concert where his band was the opening act, she began to reminisce.  The band was just topping the charts so I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about and evaluate whether the fuss was justified.  She stopped to take a deep breath.  Two songs in, I was hooked.  They were phenomenal.  Then he appeared center stage.  I hate to sound cliché but my heart literally skipped a beat. 

Of course, now he’s on your radar. Janie realized.

Tracy picked up her fork and started slowly jabbing at her salad.  She continued to stroll down memory lane.

Yeah.  The concert came and went but thoughts of him consumed me.  Soon I began having these really vivid, lucid dreams about him.  It’s weird.  Normally my dreams don’t make sense, if I can even remember them at all, but these did and they were frequent and impactful.  Her voice trailed as she got lost in her own thoughts.

All this because of some lucid dreams? Janie asked, unconvinced.

I believe the dreams were a manifestation of my true love for him.

Janie rolled her eyes in disbelief and then began to smirk.

People don’t really talk like that, you know.

Yeah, I know, Tracy admitted then lowered her head, slightly embarrassed.

Why can’t we just get back to the old Tracy?

Tracy shook her head in disbelief and began speaking in third person. 

Oh, what was so great about the old Tracy?  It’s not like she had a plethora of men lining up at her front door, asking to go out on dates.

So instead you get lost in fantasies about the two of you together?  I imagine that after a while it would be hard to differentiate between reality and the dreams.

I don’t expect you to ever understand, Tracy said somberly.

Now, this is true, Janie agreed.  Obsession is an incredibly debilitating illness for which I cannot relate.

"I’m not obsessed," she stated emphatically.

You have uncontrollable thoughts of him! she stated. "Incessantly, she added.  What would you call that?"

You know what?  I don’t want to argue about it.  I’m crazy.  Ok.  I’m crazy, she submitted.

Suddenly, friend and confidant AJ Nixon appeared from out of nowhere.

Who’s crazy? he said, joining in harmoniously.

Finally, Janie said.

Janie and AJ exchanged hugs.

Am I the only one around here who knows how to keep time? Janie continued sarcastically.

Sorry I’m late, AJ apologized.  How’s the birthday girl?

Ugh, don’t remind me, she quivered.

Hey, what are you griping about?  Be grateful you’ve lived to see another year.  There’s always the alternative. 

Janie looked around for a gift.

What?  No gift?  She shrugged.

"I am the gift," he joked.

AJ sat down to accompany them.  He noticed Janie’s expensive jewelry. 

He motioned to the jewelry.  Why are you wearing your grandmother’s priceless heirloom? 

It’s my birthday.  I’m in mourning.  Wearing expensive jewelry makes a girl feel better.  Therapy 101, Janie laughed.  It’s a girl thing.  You wouldn’t understand.

No, I can’t say I would, he laughed.  So, why are you crazy? 

Janie shook her head and pointed to Tracy who immediately renounced.

Oh no, we’re not having this conversation, Tracy summoned the waitress.  Miss, can I get another one of these? She motioned to the drink in her hand.

The waitress nodded in agreement.

That’s it.  Drink your sorrows away, Janie said.  Seriously, we’re going to have to set you up with some ‘real people. You know, attainable people to date?" 

Not the damn rock star again, AJ stated, exasperated.

Who else?  Janie rolled her eyes.

When are you getting off of this merry go round? AJ asked facetiously.  You’re wasting your life away, pining over a man that doesn’t even know you exist.

Oh, so this is the two of you feeling sorry for me.  Is that it?   Tracy asked sarcastically and then took a sip of her drink.

Look, I’m sure I know a few guys who would love to date you, AJ said with a smile.  Let me hook you up with someone.

No, thanks.

Or we can sit idly by and watch you torment yourself, which is ridiculous to say the least, Janie added.

I’m fine, really, Tracy tried assuring them both.

Come on, Trace.  You haven’t even tried any of the bullshit internet sites or night clubs, said AJ.

I appreciate your concern, really I do, but I’m just not interested, Tracy said. 

It’s bad enough when people are co-dependent and stay in toxic, dead-end relationships, but yours is completely nonexistent.  What is your deal? AJ asked in amazement.

I’ve carried a torch for this man for five and a half years.  I am literally five and a half years vested, Tracy explained.  I can’t just throw that all away. 

Remind me again why I haven’t given you a psych eval?  AJ said half-jokingly.  You know, we’ve studied and interpreted basic habits of human nature to include symptoms of obsession, he added.

Ugh, not the obsession jab again.  Please stop berating me and making me feel more like a lunatic than I already do, Tracy begged then began to stare at the plate in front of her.

AJ and Janie looked at each other, suddenly realizing the seriousness of the situation.  They sat in silence for a few seconds.

I don’t mean to come off as a hard ass, but you’re never gonna get this guy.  You know this, don’t you?  AJ said.

Not the traditional way, anyway, Janie added.

Yeah, like there’s a non-traditional way?  Tracy said facetiously then quickly became inquisitive.  Is there? she asked, unconsciously straightening herself up.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, I always say, Janie responded.

How?  Tracy asked with curiosity.

Janie, don’t do this, AJ responded, his eyes piercing her like daggers.

Don’t do what?  Tracy inquired.

Tracy realized she was on to something.  Janie let out a big sigh.

I must admit, I’m reluctant to say anything about it, but then again I am at my wit’s end in trying to bring some sense of normalcy to your life, Janie admitted.

Normalcy, really?  That’s a little over the top, Tracy scoffed.

No, it’s actually spot on, AJ added.  You spend countless nights on the internet checking his whereabouts, what he’s doing, what he ate for lunch, for God’s sake.

He has a lot of fans.  A lot of people do it, Tracy vowed.

Not for five and a half years, they don’t, AJ jabbed.

I feel bad for you.  I mean, you haven’t had a boyfriend in well over six years and that’s just crazy.  Everyone needs love and you’re no exception.  You’re certainly worthy, Janie smiled.

Janie lovingly grabbed Tracy’s hand across the table.  The nice words brought tears to her eyes as she obviously didn’t share the same sentiment.  In fact, she was overwhelmingly insecure.

AJ and I will help you in any way we can, Janie added lovingly.

Nope, AJ shook his head.  Leave AJ out of it.

What?  She’s our best friend.  We may have the solution to her prevailing loneliness, Janie urged.

Uh uh, he insisted, shaking his head.

It’s not like we’re planning on kidnapping the guy! she snapped.  Come on.

No, AJ insisted.  Of course, no. 

If it doesn’t work, she won’t be any worse off than she already is.  No harm, no foul, Janie said.

Why do you continue to go back and forth about it?  AJ complained.

Can you please, just tell me what you two are talking about, Tracy interrupted.

It’s a long shot anyways, AJ said.

I’ll do just about anything at this point.  You know I will, Tracy assured them both.

Yes, you’ve proven that your level of desperation has no end, AJ teased.

Ok, then,