Page 94 of Roommating

It wasn’t just sex and mind games.

From: Sabrina F.

To: Adam Haber

Date: July 19th, 10:56 p.m.

Subject: Re: New email

But was it real?

This email was written but not sent and will save as Draft until further action.

From: Adam Haber

To: Sabrina F.

Date: July 19th, 11:01 p.m.

Subject: Re: New email

It was real.

Chapter Forty

Istop on the street in front of the Target two blocks from my apartment and as gently as possible place four brimming grocery bags on the ground at my feet. I wipe the sweat from the back of my neck and shake out my arms. They’re sore from carrying two heavy bags each. I also have red marks on the underside of both elbows from where the plastic straps slid off my shoulders and down my arms. In a word, I’m a mess. Taking an Uber from a supermarket that’s literally down the street from my home felt extravagant at the time, but now I regret the decision to walk. Blocks feel like miles when carrying a hundred pounds of food.

I remove my phone from my purse and text Marcia.

Sabrina:Are you around tonight? I bought shrimp, scallops, and fresh veggies and thought I’d make us dinnerSomething I should have askedbeforeI added the expensive ingredients to my cart.

Since getting home from Europe a week and a half ago, I’ve noticed Marcia’s been spending more and more time with Sharon, which is great, but if they already have plans tonight, I’ll save this attempt at stir-fry for another night—hopefully within the next twodays since according to Google that’s about how long fresh shrimp and scallops last in the fridge.

Thanks to my mom’s generosity, my checking account has surplus funds and while I’m determined to save most of it, splurging feels less like a foolish indulgence when shared with someone else. Also, I decided to take the summer off from school. The session started while I was on vacation and most of the classes conflicted with my schedule at the library anyway. I’m happy with the choice, other than a smidge of pesky guilt over delaying the completion of my master’s degree, but it leaves me with nothing to do several nights a week. Why not fill some of it by exercising my cooking muscles and spending time with my roommate? Seriously. It’s time to move forward and remember all the reasons I loved when it was just me and Marcia… before Adam showed up and made it even better.

The bubbles dance on my screen while Marcia writes me back.

Marcia:Hi Sabrina. I’d love that!

I chuckle at her overuse of emojis and return my phone to my purse. I glance at the groceries at my feet and frown. With a longing gaze at my building still a ways down the block, I huff and lift the bags back over my shoulder, where they immediately slide down my elbows again. The sweat from the early August heat has left my skin damp and more conducive to slippage. My sunglasses slide down my nose and when I raise my hand to push them back up, the weight of the bags follow me.

Ping.

Happy for the excuse, I free my arms once again and check my phone.

Marcia: How about we cook together? ?

I clap my hands. Dinner is guaranteed to taste good now!

Sabrina:Fun! I’ll pick up a bottle of wine

Right after pressing send, I look over my shoulder at the liquor store Ijustpassed and curse my offer to add yet more pounds to my already heavy load. But an offer made cannot be rescinded. New York is a great walkable city, but sometimes walking sucks!

By the time I finally get home and release the four grocery bags hanging on my elbows, purse over my shoulder, and bottle of wine in my hands, my arms feel bloodless. Though I could use a drink, I doubt my ability to hold a glass right now without dropping it, and I’m sweating like I personally picked the grapes for the wine.

After a desperately needed shower, I join Marcia in the kitchen. She’s already chopped the vegetables and laid out the seafood for the stir-fry. I handle the rice. It’s boil-in-a-bag and completely within my range of abilities. Soon, the combined aromas of garlic, ginger, and onions fill the air.

Marcia and I dance around each other to the cooking playlist I helped her create on Spotify.

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