“Home? You’re not supposed to fly out until Sunday.”
“Well, plans have changed." I force a hollow laugh. "I mean, it wouldn’t be my Maui vacation if things went according to schedule, right?” I turn away, moving towards the elevators, Othello hot on my heels.
“Come on, Marley, don’t be like that?”
“Like what?”
I jab my finger on the up button and wrap my arms around myself, my foot tapping impatiently against the floor.
“Hey,” he says, turning me to look at him. His eyes are a mixture of anger and deep, raw pain. “Talk to me.”
“About what?”
“This week. And how it’s been an uncomfortable obligation to you.”
I pause, not missing that underlying tone.
“I don’t know what you’re getting at, but I just want to remove myself before things get any worse."
"Worse for who? For you? Or for your magazine?"
The elevator doors open, and we step on.
“Why do I feel like you’re speaking to me in code? What is it that you want to say?” I argue.
“All for nothing.”
I’m still clueless as Othello’s eyes bore into me. The elevator stops, but not on our floor. A group of guys gets on, loud and excited about whatever they’re going on about. My mind is too busy replaying Othello’s words.
All for nothing.
What the hell is he even talking about?
The elevator climbs higher. The men trade jokes and stories, their voices filling every inch of the cramped space. When the lift gets to their stop, the guys spill out into the hallway, leaving Othello and me alone once again.
“Are you mad at me about something?”
“Tell me I was wrong about what I heard.”
The elevator dings, finally letting us out on our floor. I move swiftly, Othello keeping up with my pace.
“What did you hear?” I ask, genuinely confused.
Othello steps in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.
“You said it was all for nothing. Everything we did. All of it.”
I blink, my mind racing backward, trying to figure out when I said that and why.
“Was the only reason you wanted to continue fake dating so you could get closer to Collette and Carina for this story? And now that the exclusive is a no-go, you're realizing you put up with me all for nothing.”
When it hits, I let out an exasperated sigh. This is why he was being so moody towards me?
“Ohmigod, Othello, no. I didn’t mean it that way.”
I drop my head, frustration and humiliation blooming on my face.
“I meant that all of the work I've put into this week was for nothing,” I say, looking up at him with sincerity. “Putting up with Carina and her rude friends. Rearranging my entire trip to attend all these wedding events. Sacrificing my sleep and sanity because I’m getting emotionally invested in drama. All of that just to end up losing an incredible story. That's what I meant."
