CHAPTER SIX
I started getting Mal’s texts just before lunch.
Mal: Awake
Anne: Morning
Mal: Going for a run with Jim
Anne: Have fun!
Mal: Back from run having lunch
Anne: K
Mal: Where’s cleaning stuff?
Anne: To clean what?
Mal: Pizza exploded in microwave
Anne: Spray bottle under sink
Mal: When you home?
Anne: 5:30
Mal: Bored
Anne: Sorry
Mal: What you doing?
Anne: Working right now. Gotta go. Talk later.
Mal: Your taste in music sucks
Anne: Thanks
Mal: Seriously, we need to talk it’s that bad. Everything apart from Stage Dive needs to go.
Anne: Wait. What are you doing?
Mal: Fixing it
Anne: Mal, WTH are you doing?
Mal: Making you new playlists with decent shit. Relax
Anne: K Thanks
Mal: Bored again
Mal: Ben’s coming over to play Halo
Anne: Great! But you don’t have to tell me everything you do, Mal.
Mal: Davie says communication’s important
Mal: When are you on the rag? Davie said to find out if you want cupcakes or ice cream
Anne: I want to not talk about this ever
Mal: Bored. Ben’s late
Mal: Let’s get a dog
Anne: Apartment has no pets rule
Mal: Nice green lace bra
Anne: Get out of my drawers, Mal.
Mal: Matching panties?
Anne: GET OUT NOW.
Mal: :)
Mal: Sext me
Mal: Come on it’ll be funny
Mal: Plz?
Mal: High level of unhealthy codependency traits exhibited by both parties relationship possibly bordering on toxic
Anne: WTF?
Mal: Did magazine quiz. We need help. Especially you
Anne: …
Mal: Booking us couples counseling. Tues 4:15 alright?
Anne: We are not going to counseling.
Mal: What’s wrong? Don’t you love me anymore?
Anne: Turning phone off now.
“Problem?” asked Reece, moseying on up and looking over my shoulder.
“No. Sorry.” I shoved my cell into my back pocket. “I’m working, I swear.”
“Sure you are.” He winked. Being friends with the boss did pay off sometimes. “Do anything interesting last night?”
Had I ever. Mal seemed hell-bent on driving me crazy today, but last night had been fantastic. We’d had a floor picnic with some of the best tapas I’d tasted in a long time, washed down with Spanish beer. He’d told me hilarious stories about big-name musicians. Lots of tawdry sexploits and insane backstage demands, Mal knew about them all. He made for awesome company.
I wasn’t ready to explain Mal to Reece, however. Looking at Reece, I might never be ready. Where would I begin? Even if I could keep a straight face, he knew me well enough to know I didn’t jump into relationships. Not in this way. Luckily, Reece’s attention had already slipped away. I shouldn’t have worried. His gaze rested on a young woman browsing in the True Crime section. You’d have thought he’d have enough sense to turn away when she picked up a book on female serial killers, but no.
“I didn’t get up to anything much last night,” I lied, feeling zero guilt.
He did a half nod, probably not even listening. “I’ll just go see if she needs help.”
“Okeydokey.” I pulled my cell out, switched it back on. As soon as the screen flashed to life I started one finger typing, a smile already on my face.
Anne: Ben arrive yet?
Mal: He’s here. How you doing? Home soon?
Anne: Soon.