Executive Engagement

The brown paper bag full of Thai food is giving off an amazing smell, and I decide to have a look through. I pull out some crispy rolls and start munching on them.

I didn’t realize I was so hungry.

I guess fucking my whole life up in an instant does that to a girl.

I have to admit, Will does have excellent taste in food.

Shitty taste in women, though.

At this point, myself included.

I decide then and there that I’m going to eat everything in this bag. I shove in another pile of noodles in my mouth.

Then, my screen lights up.

Video chat from Bea. I answer immediately.

“Hey sis, what’re you doin’?” Bea smiles widely across the screen.

“Ruining everything,” I tell her, forcing a smile. “And destroying like a billion calories worth of Thai food while I’m at it.”

It comes out too loud. Bea immediately takes a closer look at me.

“Babe, honey, what the fuck? You look like you just went ten rounds with an ostrich.”

“Bea, I seriously don’t want another run through of that time you were a zoo keeper.”

“The bitch has a bite tonight! What’s the trouble bubble?”

“Will,” I say. One word, and my eyes burn with tears. Fuck this. “Will is fucking trouble. I should’ve known it. I fucking should’ve seen it coming. But here I am, crying into my fucking wine.”

Bea chuckles. “Babe, you don’t know how to fucking cry. Remember that time—”

“No,” I shake my head. “I don’t want to wander off down memory lane tonight. I just want this to be over, Bea.”

“Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

“It started with his sister today. She gets up in my face about Will, being all fucking catty about it too. So, I wasn’t fucking happy. Then I get in, and he’s not here. So, I decide to do some snooping. Well, I’m not going into the details—but Google knows a lot about Will. There’s so much smut under his name I’m surprised it doesn’t sync data with the local garbage collectors.”

Bea gives a chuckle and a nod. “But you love him anyway.”

At least, I’m breathing more easily now. I’m still fucking mad, but I’m starting to think clearly.

“Probably,” I sigh. “But he’s a dick, and he’s gone. C’est la fucking vie.”

It’s a real fucking shame that with the thoughts come feelings.

Will’s blue eyes getting dark and stormy. That split second of hurt I saw across his face. Those sweet dark eyelashes against his pale cheeks as he sleeps.

“I don’t give a fuck,” I mutter, not even realizing I’m still on call with Bea.

“Sounds like you do, babe.”

Suddenly, a buzzing noise fills my apartment. Someone’s ringing me at the gate, wanting to be buzzed up.

Bea and I say our goodbyes as I head for the door. Will doesn’t always use the buzzer. He gets into most buildings just by being Will Ambrose, and he’s been here before so the desk probably wouldn’t care.

Intellect and emotion rarely meet in the middle. All these good reasons still add up to my heart whispering at me.