Page 25 (1/2)

I don’t repriet upstairs, I sit on the dirty bed, in the dirty roooes black from lack of use, I press the button and make it come back to haunt me further

I take the phone back to irl I want to be’ and try not to think of ways to make the white noise stop Ways I prohteen

"Eli, son Hans from the architectural firm n in Boston needs someone to h but et the joke I nod, "Yeah"

He sounds distant, "Excellent I’ for the bank so I’ll be tied up all day"

I frown, "Did you fly here frohs, "No, we haven’t made it back there yet Work and yourback iht?"

I nod, "Sure, can Stuart cohs, "Why do you ask every ti his favorite anyway"

I syood I’ll tell your s up and I don’t knohat brought that on, but it makes me smile He never says it She doesn’t either They’ve been so odd lately

I get to theearly, not to be professional, but because I can see herIt’s ten hours until 8pe her arden

"Hey, ht at Mo coq au vin"

I can alrowl, "Mmmm, just what I need, some comfort food"

I can hear the tension in his voice, "Want to hang out later?" I don’t tell hi to need to be drunk offSebastian Not toto make his broken heartand get up froet drunk Just say if that’s what you want to do?"

I laugh, "It’s exactly what I want to do"

"Peace, bro" He hangs up and I can’t help but feel a little better He forces roup, smiles, "Mr Adams, how nice to see you"

I nod, "You as well, Hans How is your wife?"

He nods, probably surprised at htIt makes people believe you’re their friend and builds trust faster For hi out fro

I shake Hans’ hand and knohatever my father has in store for the university, it can’t be all good Our architectural fir them new, even when people like the old and the history that co out of the building Hans points in the direction she is walking I nod and follow along, but I don’t listen to what he’s saying I just watch her avoiding me for all it’s worth

"What do you think?"

I s profitable for the company, or another way for us to ious corin, "Hans, my major was business but my passion has never been architecture" I slap his ar"

He sn specs if you want to sign off on theain, "Good man, I’ll have the accountants release the initial funds as well"

He puts his hand out I shake it and try not to throw up She hates me I point at the doro inside and take a look"

He smirks, "Okay Thanks for that, Eli"

I nod, "Enjoy this one a little, forone offor her rooet in and it’s sort of messy Not filthy, just e There is a picture of her and Michelle on the wall I smile when I see the smile on her face; it’s the old broken one I can’t miss that sad, dead-eyed face if I try to force it Even if she doesn’t pick me and love me, she is better off

I sit on her bed and bounce to check the comfort It’s horrid My back would be broken for sure

I lie back frowning; it’s worse than I thought It’s like lying on concrete

I close my eyes and see her face tilted up into the showerhead as I washed her hair She was so beautiful, just as she was I pull ain and dial

"Sup"

I wince, "I’, you did that on purpose to provoke oing on a date with Sebastian tonight What can I do to be a nor thather"