23 Ethan
January 2018
Fuck.
How are we living in the same building? Isn’t this supposed to be the most populated city in America? If she didn’t already, she for sure hates me now.
I set my takeout on the counter and don’t even feel like eating anymore, which is very unlike me since I never pass up a meal. My roommates, Noah and Alex, are still out, so I strip down to just my boxers in the hall and head into the bathroom. The scalding hot water hits my back as I stand in the stall shower and think about everything Sloane and I have been through the past two years.
After I finish recounting the weirdest two years of my life, I heat up the Chipotle bowl and sit on the couch to eat it. Scrolling Netflix, I realize there’s nothing new I haven’t watched, so I decide to FaceTime Graham.
“Look who it is!” he answers.
“Is it Ethan? How’s the city?” Emily appears from behind Graham with a huge smile.
“Hey, Em,” I greet her. “It’s fucking cold.”
“It’s January. Besides that, everything good?” Graham asks. “How’s work? Roommates?”
“Work’s great; roommates are cool.” I pause. “There is one thing though…”
Graham readjusts the phone as if he’s now completely dialed in. “What?”
“So, uh, Sloane lives in my building.” The name feels like a weight on my tongue.
His mouth hangs open. “You’re fucking with me, right?”
“Dude, I wish. King suggested this place to me; must be pretty popular.”
“Wait, Blake King?” Graham asks, still in disbelief.
“Yeah, I hit him up before I moved here, asking for apartment recs.”
“No way… King is Sloane’s boyfriend’s roommate, you idiot.”
“Blake King and Reese Thompson are roommates?” I’m confused. “I knew Sloane and Reese were a thing, but I didn’t realize the boys still keep in touch.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “You really need to start using social media more. You wouldn’t have even known known she had a boyfriend if I hadn’t told you. So are you and Sloane gonna talk about it?”
“Probably not.” I shrug.
“I don’t get you, man.”
I throw him a smile, “Neither do I.”
We hang up and I stare at the blank TV screen. I wonder where Noah and Alex are. I shoot a text to our group chat, hoping if they’re out they’ll stay there for a while. I could use a drink.
***
“There he is!” Noah waves me down. “Grab a beer from the bucket; you’ve got winner.”
Darts are such a New York City thing. I don’t think even one bar in Wilmington has them, at least none I’ve been to.
“So how’s your first official week in the city? Work kicking your ass yet?” Alex asks.
“It’s going. Luckily not yet,” I reply.
“Screw you, Alex,” Noah says, pulling the darts from the board. “Brady, you’re up.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re a sore loser?” Alex mocks Noah.
“Every damn day.”
Despite living here for exactly eight days, I can already tell I’m going to like it. I never pictured myself as a city guy, but I also never thought I’d land a job like this. I was grateful to the Clarks for providing me with a family and a life I didn’t think I was worthy of. I’ve always been afraid of it, but I think I’m realizing that change is a good thing. A really good thing.