Page 61 of Moonstruck at Midnight
“Nice try. I have plenty.” Only I didn’t. Not only was it green, which is my favorite color, but it had two cute golden stars in it. For some reason, we women tend to be territorial about our hair ties, or is it just me?
“Are you walking me to my apartment or not? Let’s go,” I ordered playfully, mostly to change the subject. I also needed to lock myself up in my room, for sure.
“No one’s ever bossed me around like this, but I’m here for it,” he replied, his smile sincere and amused.
“You’re crazy. But if you like it so much … take me home, now,” I played along with a laugh, summoning the elevator.
“Yes, ma’am.” William tapped his forehead once with two fingers.
He started singing Say Goodbye in a low voice, as if he were singing to himself, but I could clearly listen to him.
“Stop.” I laughed. He needed to stop, or I wouldn’t be able to sleep from the guilt of listening to him sing those words. He shook his head and kept singing, skipping through the lyrics to the parts he knew would make me react.
He laughed as he sang, and I turned away laughing too because I couldn’t look him in the eye when he sangthat, even if it was a joke. The most interesting joke ever.
“We’renotfriends,” I joked, when he sang the part about going back to being friends after a one-night tryst.
“I know,” he replied. “And I don’t want to be.” He kept singing under his breath and clicked on the already illuminated elevator button a few more times.This guy.
William was right, though. I didn’t think we could be friends. We had to stick to neighbors.
He stopped singing and laughed when the elevator doors opened. Out came walking Tobias carrying a bottle of something with alcohol and the three girls from the lobby holding small tumblers.
Ugh.
“Hey, Billie!” Tobias looked drunker than before. One of the girls clung to him like a tick. Another one with short blonde hair hurried up to William and grabbed his hand, quickly threading her fingers with his. My eyes widened for a heartbeat. She whispered something to his ear, and he laughed, pulling her closer to him. “Do you want to join us? We were just heading up to the rooftop,” Tobias offered.
“Thanks, but I’m a bit tired. I’m headed back to my apartment.” I refused, looking away from William’s too-uncomfortable-to-watch-grip on the girl’s waist. “Have fun.”
That son of a bitch was flirting with me a second before!
William released the girl when I stepped into the elevator, and said matter-of-factly, “Guille, I’m walking you back.”
Like hell you are.
“I’m good,” I chirped. He stared at me as the elevator doors shut in front of him. I clicked on the number nine a million times to the point of almost fading it, hoping it would somehow teleport me to my apartment and away from that ghastly scene.
June 27, 2009
A KNOCK ON MY DOORwoke me up early in the morning. I made my way to the front door as quickly as my body allowed me to. All I could see through the peephole was a bunch of red roses. I assumed a flower delivery guy stood right behind them.
“Coming!” I walked into the guest bathroom to throw some water on my face before swinging the door open.
“Oh—hi, Caleb!” I tried hiding behind the door as I was still wearing my pajamas, but it was useless.
The sight of him holding flowers threw me off.
“I’ve come bearing bad news, I’m afraid.” His eyes gave away his exasperation as he handed the rose bouquet to me. “These are from Thomas, and you forgot to text me last night. At what time did you get back to your apartment?”
Shit!I completely forgot. I apologized and blamed it on exhaustion.
He didn’t look convinced. But when did he, anyway? Sometimes I wondered if my father gave him a bonus for doubting my every response. I left the bouquet on the foyer table and grabbed his lighter.
“Here, this is yours,” I said, sticking my hand out to give the lighter back.
“You smoked all three of them?” It sounded more like an accusation than a question.
“Ah, yes. All gone. But don’t worry. I’m not interested in picking it up.” I was sincere about that last part. It was a better option for him to believe I’d smoked the three cigarettes than get into the details of how William was there with me and smoked one of them.
