Usually, I took the stairs up to my place on the third floor, but I was so tired today that I propped myself against the wall and waited for the elevator. I stepped in when the doors parted, trying to remember a time I’d been this tired. If there ever was such a time, I couldn’t recall it. Dragging my feet, I dug my key from my pocket and turned the lock.
The loft seemed so much emptier for some reason – a sign that the loneliness and isolation was beginning to wear on me. I closed the door, resenting the echo that ricocheted against the walls a little more than usual. My keys dropped to the countertop and I stepped out of my shoes, heading to the bedroom to change. I stripped down to my boxers and walked back to the kitchen to grab a Styrofoam bowl and plastic spoon to eat with. I was desperate for some home-cooked food as I stared at my ‘dinner’. I wasn’t much good at fending for myself when it came to preparing meals, but this would have to do for now.
As soon as I took the first spoonful to my mouth, I had to rush to my bedroom mid-chew when my phone went off on the dresser.
“Hey, whassup?” I answered when I saw that it was just Terrell.
“Hey. Busy?”
I started back toward the counter to finish eating. “Not really. Everything cool?”
He yawned into the receiver. “Yeah, just calling so you can tell me what it’s like now that you’re running things! Haven’t talked to you since last weekend.”
I chuckled. “It’s just like my last job – frustrating as hell, long hours, endless paperwork.”
He found that funny. “Yeah, but you’re doing it all for a helluva lot more money, so…”
I ran back through the details of the day I’d had and sighed. “Yeah, I guess.” Wanting to talk about anything other than work, I asked, “How’s Maisha?”
“Fine. She’s in there on the phone. Talking to Sam again I think.”
I stopped chewing and lost my train of thought at the mention of Sam’s name. When I cleared my throat to refocus, Terrell started in on me without hesitation.
“Just say the word, man, and I’ll text you the digits. Matter of fact…2-1-2…”
When I laughed he paused. “I told you; I’m not interested,” I replied, secretly acknowledging the fact that Wednesday still hadn’t gotten here and Giuseppe had yet to give Sam my message.
“That’s some bull,” Terrell said under his breath. “And this is the prime time to call her, too. Just sayin’.” He added the next part so quietly that I almost didn’t hear him. “Her and her dude are having issues.” Now I knew why he was whispering; he didn’t want Maisha to hear him running his mouth. My interest was piqued, but I didn’t say anything.
“You know I don’t like to be all in folks’ business,” Terrell lied. “…but she and Maisha have been talkin’ just about every day this week – so it must be serious.”
I wanted to pry, wanted to see what other information he had, but it honestly made me feel strange that I cared so much.
“Well, whatever it is…I’m sure she can handle it. They’ll probably work it out in a day or two,” was all I allowed myself to say.
“Still, I’m saying, though…you’re a businessman, right? You’re supposed to know about strategic planning and stuff! Landing the deal is all about being in the right place at the right time. Flat out.”
I shook my head at the fact that he’d just equated Sam to a business transaction and at the fact that he’d appointed himself as my advisor. “Whatever, man.” I fell silent again.
Sam and the new guy were on the outs, though? How the hell did he mess up that fast? They seemed okay at the wedding, but according to Terrell, something had changed since then.
Another call came through and distracted me from my thoughts. “I’ll call you back, it’s Kira.”
“Alright, but think about what I said,” Terrell rushed to say before I could hang up on him.
I clicked over to the other line and heard Kira’s music in the background first. “Hello?” I answered.
“Hey,” she said sweetly. “I thought I would’ve heard from you when you got in tonight.”
I filled my spoon again and tried not to crunch in her ear while I chewed. “Yeah, Terrell called before I had the chance.”
“Oh, ok. How’re he and Maisha doing?”