Chapter 3 #2
I just couldn’t understand how someone so obviously lazy and carefree could still outdo me in studies.
His GPA was always a decimal point higher.
No matter what I did, I just couldn’t beat him.
And it didn’t stop there. We fought for the same internships, the same RA positions.
Whenever I aimed for something, he would be there to snatch it from me.
I got the RA position, but he got the internship that would have opened doors for me.
He went for it the day after he found out I was applying for it.
What made it worse was he didn’t even need the internship since he had completed the alternative assignment.
Frustration floods me. I had hoped I wouldn’t have to see him again. But here he is like a disease I can’t get rid of.
Diving into work, I force all thoughts of Caleb into the background. I’m so deeply focused that when my phone begins to ring, I don’t even look at the screen, swiping the icon automatically and pressing the phone to my ear.
“Hello?”
For a moment there is no answer on the other end, and then I hear a familiar voice which has me losing my train of thought.
“Eve.”
My hand tightens over the phone, and I squeeze my eyes shut, annoyance flaring hot in my chest. Under that strong emotion is the sting of betrayal.
“What do you want, Luis?” I ask sharply.
I know he doesn’t like it when I use that tone. Like most men from my community, Luis believes that women should talk in a soft tone like my sister and pamper him like my mother. That is where we disagree. I refuse to submit to his weird-ass ideas of how a woman is supposed to behave.
“I was thinking I’ll pick you up tonight for dinner,” he says.
I let out a gust of air, leaning back in my seat and closing my eyes as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “What the hell are you talking about, Luis? Why would I go out to dinner with you? Did you miss the part where I broke up with you?”
“To talk about our future, Eve.” I can almost see him frowning in that disapproving way of his.
“There is no future. I told you that. What you and I want are two very different things. Specifically, you want a housewife, and I want a backbone.”
There’s silence on the other end, and then he says, “Your mother said you were ready to apologize. That’s why I called.”
My eyes fly open, cold anger whipping through me like a hurricane.
“My mother said that? When was this? When you were complaining about me to her over dinner two nights ago?” I see Caleb walk out of the kitchen, and I lower my voice.
“I’m not apologizing for anything, Luis, and for god’s sake, grow a pair and stop running to my mother to snitch about me like we’re in elementary school. ”
I don’t give him the opportunity to respond, ending the call and slamming the phone down on my desk, desperately wishing I could throw it against the wall and watch it break into a thousand pieces.
Glaring at the phone, I try to count to ten in my head to calm down.
Of course my mother would tell him I’m ready to apologize.
How could I expect her not to interfere just because I’ve told her so a hundred times?
I’m tempted to pick up the phone and say a few choice words to her, but I know exactly how that’s going to go.
The chair to my right moves, and I see Caleb sitting down, his voice doing nothing to bring down my rising blood pressure.
“And here I thought I was the only one you talked to in that tone.” Grabbing the edge of his desk, he pulls himself closer to it, reaching for his bag.
“Turns out you treat everybody that way. You must have lots of friends.”
I would normally have a sharp quip to hit him with, but his words strike a raw nerve. They shouldn’t because they’re nothing more than a childish taunt. But my heart tightens in my chest almost painfully, and I try to breathe through the torrential emotions ripping me apart.
Fortunately, I am saved from responding to him as Joshua strolls in. “Morning. Think fast, Eve.”
I turn around, only to see something that looks like a burrito being thrown straight at me.
There is no way I will be able to move fast enough to stop it from smacking me in the face.
But before I can flinch, Caleb’s hand darts out right in front of my face, catching the burrito before it can make impact.
My eyes wide, I stare at the back of his hand as he slowly lowers it. My heart does this ridiculous stutter at the protective gesture, and I hate that I can’t control my reaction.
“Sorry,” Joshua grins sheepishly. “You usually have sharp reflexes. You good?”
My heart is pounding rapidly for some reason. Maybe the short burst of adrenaline. Or maybe it’s the way Caleb is still sitting close enough that I can smell his cologne.
“Why can’t you hand me things like a normal person, Joshua?” I demand, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through my chest.
He just grins before sitting down beside me. “It’s a breakfast burrito. I know you don’t have breakfast, but I thought you might like it. I got you one, too, Caleb.”
Caleb has already unwrapped mine and is biting into it when Joshua hands me the other one. It smells really good, and my stomach rumbles. Tearing off part of the covering, I glance at my colleague. “So, what do you want? And don’t say ‘nothing’ because you only bring food when you need something.”
My friend gives me an innocent look. “Why do you always assume the worst of me, Eve? Can’t I get you something to eat without wanting a favor in return?”
I bite into the burrito, and close my eyes as the taste of perfectly salted eggs, tomatoes, and sausage hit my tongue. Chewing thoughtfully, I glance at him. “So you don’t need a favor?”
He smiles. “Well, if you’re offering...”
I roll my eyes and gesture with my head. “What is it? And make it quick, I have actual work to do.”
He slides his chair closer. “There’s a girl I’ve been seeing.”
“Macy?”
“No, Macy and I ended things. This is a new one. We met at a bar around Christmas last month.”
I wait for the punchline. There’s always a punch line.
“She won’t leave my apartment.”
I’m about to bite into my burrito when his words stall me. “I’m sorry what?”
Joshua looks pained. “I brought her home one night. Three or four nights ago. And now she won’t leave. She’s there when I go home. She’s cleaning my place. She’s doing my laundry. She’s cooking. I can’t handle this! I’ll go crazy. I need her out!”
I give him a long look, considering his words. “So you brought this girl home, you’re sleeping with her every night, she is making your home less of a pigsty, and you want to kick her out? Do you have a problem with freshly laundered clothes, Joshua?”
“I have a problem with Crazy Eyes telling me we’ll make adorable children together,” Joshua hisses, his expression strained.
“Eve.” He grabs my hands, his eyes wild.
“Eve, just come over tonight and pretend to be my girlfriend, and beat her up or something. Please! I’ll buy you whatever you want.
I’ll take you out to dinner. I’ll do whatever you want! Just get her out of my apartment!”
“I’m not going to beat her up.” I pull my hands free before taking another bite of my burrito. “But sure. I have nothing better to do on a Friday night.”
“Really?” Joshua gives me a wary look.
I shrug. “I don’t mind. As long as you get me a reservation at Le Fount, that new Italian place on Madison Avenue.”
Joshua narrows his eyes at me. “You know it’s impossible to get reservations there. The place is booked out for months.”
I chew slowly, holding his gaze. “You want me to convince Crazy Eyes we’re together, you’d best make it worth my while, buddy. I want to have lunch there next week. Figure it out or figure out how to live with your new roommate forever.”
Joshua’s mouth moves like a fish before he groans. “Fine. Fine! I’ll figure it out. Just come over and get rid of her first.”
I hold out my hand, shaking my head. “Reservations first. I wasn’t born yesterday, Taylor.”
He stares at me. “You’re cold.”
I just beam at him. “Have fun with your future wife and potential mother of your adorable children.”
I’ve just turned my chair away when he slides me back around, gripping both sides of the chair with his hands, caging me in. “Alright. Fine! I’ll have the reservation by lunch.”
“Then I’ll drop by tonight,” I reply cheerfully.
As Joshua sinks into his chair, relieved, I hear Caleb murmur, “Interesting side-hustle you have there, Lopez.”
I blink at him. “And this is your business how exactly?”
He shrugs. “Normal people help out their friends without extorting them first. I’m just pointing out—”
“Why don’t you focus on that survey report I sent you last night and stop worrying about things that don’t concern you?” I narrow my gaze at him. “Unless you’re volunteering to play fake boyfriend instead? I’m sure you have experience pretending to be someone you’re not.”
He flashes me a quick steely smile, his dimple showing. “I already have that report done. I sent it to you around dawn. Maybe you should check your email before you bite my head off?”
Joshua makes a dramatic sound from his desk. “Ouch.”
I resist the urge to kick him.
Opening the email, I feel a surge of irritation when I realize he’s telling the truth. He did send me the file at dawn. Grinding my teeth, I open the file and go over it.
It’s concise, to the point, with pie charts and bar charts scattered all over, drawing attention to the necessary details.
It’s fucking perfect.
And it pisses me off.
When I don’t say anything, Caleb scoots his chair over. “Well? Did you find something to yell at me over yet?” Joshua lets out a bark of laughter, and my head whips around to glare at him. He immediately puts on a somber expression.
Turning my attention back to the report, I mutter, “It’s fine. Good job.” The last part is torn out of me, a reluctant acknowledgement.