The apartment was dark and empty, Cal wasn't home yet. Good, maybe he'd beaten the storm. I flicked on the light in the entryway and spotted it immediately: his umbrella, propped forgotten against the wall by the door. The one I'd left for him this morning.
This could be my chance. To be the thoughtful girlfriend he deserved, make up for being distant.
"Yeah." I'd dry off, change, and head over. It wasn't far, just a quick bus ride to that shiny office building downtown.
His workplace was all glass and steel, the complete opposite to the greasy haze of the grill stall. I'd never been here before; Cal always came home complaining about the commute, but seeing it now made the eight grand from savings feel like nothing.
I lingered outside the lobby doors, dialing his number repeatedly.
"the number you're trying to reach is not available." An automated message read after every ring.
Maybe I'd missed him. The rain had picked up again, I turned to go.
But then I saw him through the doors, stepping out with someone. A woman. She was young, very young. Polished in a fitted blouse and skirt, her hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. They were laughing about something, close enough that her hand brushed his arm.
My stomach dropped, the umbrella handle slick in my grip. Who was she? Before I could process, she glanced up, her eyes locking on me, staring curiously.
Cal froze for a split second, then his face switched back into that easy smile reserved for strangers. He walked faster towards me, waving her off. "I'll just head back home, and…"
"…Is she staring at us?"
"what, seriously? You actually came out here because it's raining? Uh… Cely, this is… my neighbor."
Cely blinked, her gaze darting between us. "Oh! I didn't know. Sorry about that!"
"She's kind of like family, I guess."
"Ah, like family!" She nodded vigorously, forcing a polite smile.
"Well, I've got an umbrella now. You should head home, Cely."
"Okay! See you tomorrow Cal." She turned on her heel, heels clicking away into the rain, giving one last glance over her shoulder.
The moment she was out of sight, Cal leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. "Seriously, what are you doing? When did I ever ask you to pick me up? After all that time of you acting all stiff like some robot…"
I wasn't hearing a word. My eyes stayed fixed on the retreating figure of the young girl, her silhouette blurring in the rain.
Neighbor? Family? The words repeated in my head.
"Uh, hello? Are you gonna stand there all night?"
I finally turned to him, the question spilling out. "Who was that? That girl with you…"
"Oh, Cely? She interns at my office. Just someone I know."
"Jesus, ease up. I said she's just a coworker! Am I not allowed to talk to her just because she's a girl?"
"No, I was just…"
"Look, this is ridiculous. Normal people hang out with coworkers and friends all the time. It doesn't mean anything. Stop overthinking it. It's embarrassing."
His words felt like a slap in my face. I thought of the book hottie, standing there in the rain, offering simple friendship, and me shutting it down because he made me uncomfortable.
"Overthinking? Right. Didn't realize I was embarrassing myself again."
The ride home was silent, the umbrella between us like a barrier. Cal stared out the window, with his jaw tight.
I buried it the only way I knew how, by working.
"Ugh!! I just wanna go home! Why are there so many groups looking for books? It's not even exams season! We should be getting extra pay for this. Ugh, I feel like I'm dying here."
Tia slumped against the counter, wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. Her ponytail had come half undone, strands sticking to her neck.
"Why don't you take a break? I can handle the rest."
"You're a lifesaver, Lori. Seriously, if anyone walks in before I leave… Actually, never mind. The book hottie's fine, seeing him would definitely boost my energy." She peeked toward the door.
"Shoot… another customer? Someone save meeee!" Tia wails dramatically.
"No way. It's the book hottie! How is he always this hot? Eh… he probably wants Lori to help him. Fine, means I can rest a little longer…"
I smoothed my apron, forcing a neutral expression as he pushed through the door. And for a heartbeat, I thought he'd look my way, acknowledge the umbrella fiasco, maybe. But his eyes scanned the room, landing on Tia behind the register. He strode straight to her, ignoring me even though he just a breeze away from me.
"I can help you…" I started to say, stepping forward, but he didn't spare me one glance.
He walked right past me, his shoulder brushing the air inches from mine, heading for Tia.
What was this feeling? Like I had just been kicked right in my gut.