Page 52 of Ink & Ambition

She pauses with her backpack slouching off one shoulder. “What do you mean?”

“I was promised date details. Go on. Spill,” I lean my elbows on the table and put my chin in my palms, the picture of attention.

Margot breathes out a laugh and looks at her watch. “Fine, but can we walk and talk? I gotta get home.”

I get up from the table, throwing my empty coffee cup out as we walk out the door. “What’s the rush?” I ask, as nonchalantly as possible as we head in the direction of our homes. I should tell her that I drove to the cafe and I’d drive her home but that would be a two minute conversation, rather than a ten minute one. And for some reason I’m masochistic enough to want to hear all the sordid details so a walk it is. I’ll pick up my car later.

“No rush, just, uh… Sydney is waiting for me to help her with an article for the newspaper.” She’s lying. I know that she’s lying. I just don’t know why she’s lying.

“Well then, talk fast,” I reply, trying to make light of the situation. I’m still not sure why I’m even pushing this conversation, but something in me needs to hear about this date. I need to know what they did, where they went, what they talked about.Did they kiss?Does she like him? Every question and potential answer makes my stomach clench more and more.

Margot rolls her eyes as she walks in step with me. “What do you want me to say? He picked me up, took me to an Italian restaurant. We had pasta and bread. It was nice,” she says, her voice clipped.

“Nice?” I bump into her playfully.

“Yes, nice.”

“Is that what you want? Someone nice?” Her eyes jump to mine. I meet her gaze for a second but keep walking, definitely noticing her steps faltering a bit. For half a block, she’s quiet and it’s clear she’s in her head. At this point, I’m not sure how safe that place is for me so I stay quiet too.

We pass the turn for my block, but I continue walking with Margot to her apartment.

“You don’t have to walk me to my door, frat boy,” she says and immediately the tension leaks out of the air, leaving a smile on my face again.

“Maybe I just want the extra exercise,” I shrug and Margot nods with a giggle. Her apartment building comes into sight in the middle of the street. “You guys are coming to the party tonight, right?”

“Yeah, Ryan is coming to walk us and—” Immediately Margot closes her mouth tight as if she accidentally let it slip that her and Ryan would be coming to my party together. Like it was a secret. Like I would care.

And all at once, I realize I do. I do fucking care. She wants to show up at my fucking house with another guy?

Like a goddamn miracle, Gia leaves the same building that Margot is about to enter and I seize my opportunity.

“Gia,” I shout and she gives me a huge wave and smile as she walks toward us.

“Hey guys. Great podcast—”

She doesn’t get a chance to complete her sentence before I sweep her up with my left hand and crush her mouth to mine with my right. I kiss her with the force of someone in love, and it takes her a second or two to catch on but when she does, she matches my motion with her own flair. I ignore Margot next to us, no idea what expression she has on her face right now and trying my fucking hardest not to care. If she wants to date Ryan, bring him to my house in front of all my friends, make a fool of me…she can do whatever the hell she wants. And so can I. At this point, I have no idea what the hell I’m doing, but the train has already left the station. All that’s left to do now is let it ride.

After a moment, I release Gia and she catches her breath. “Well, hello, handsome,” she says, her hand still on my arm for stability. “I was just heading over to yours actually, figured I’d get there early before all the good beer is gone.”

Perfect.“I’ll walk with you,” I say to Gia before turning back to Margot, her expression blank as a newly purchased canvas. “See you later, yeah?”

She nods a few times as I wrap my arm around Gia’s shoulders and lead her back the way I just came from toward frat row. I don’t turn around to check, but when I’m satisfied that Margot is safely inside her building, I drop my arm, putting both my hands in my pockets.

“You got it bad, don’t you?” Gia laughs next to me. I almost forgot she was there.

“Shit, G. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that to you.”

Gia waves me off easily. “I get it. And I don’t mind. I mean, as long as I don’t get bitch-slapped, I’m down to help you with your cause.”

I run my hand through my hair. “What cause is that?”

“Obviously you want to make her jealous.”

Do I? It begs the question, why would I want to make myfriendjealous? Is it because the thought of her and Ryan, her and any other guy, makes me physically ill?

I sigh loudly. “I’m in way over my head here.”

Gia laughs as we ascend the steps to the house. “Yes, you are. But you know the best cure for that?” She grabs the door and holds it open for me. Walking into the kitchen, she grabs two beers from the cooler and hands one to me. “Alcohol.”

---