“Money? Since when do you talk about money?”
“Exactly.”
I tug a shirt on and look at the clock. “You know what, I’m just going to head there now. Can you meet me there soon?”
“Sure. I’ll be there.”
“Great.”
I jog downstairs, ready to pop into the kitchen to tell Syd that I’m heading out, but she’s gone. I head down the hall to her room, but she isn’t there either. I check the driveway; her car is gone.
Well, this is off to a great start.
I jog back up the stairs to grab my phone, ready to send her a text.
My thumb hovers. What should I say? I can’t exactly request that she keeps me up-to-date on her whereabouts at all times. It would be nice, but it seems a bit much. Do I tell her to call me? Do I tell her where I’m going? Yeah. Yeah, that works.
Mark:Headed to the gym.
Sydney:Great. Have fun. I’m just going to the library for a couple hours before work.
I shove my phone into my pocket and grab my duffel.
Of course she is going to the library before work.
Let’s just add that to things I need to talk to Tripp about.
I’m just finishing a three-mile treadmill warm-up when Tripp appears next to me.
“I don’t feel like running today.”
“That’s fine. I’m ready to lift anyway.”
I clean my equipment and follow him to the weight room.
“So, what’s so important that you wanted me here so suddenly?”
“Sydney moved in with me yesterday.”
He pauses, holding a thirty-pound weight in front of the squat rack.
“I didn’t realize you two decided on that.”
I nod. “It was recent. Now she wants to pay for half of everything.”
Tripp adds the weight to the bar.
“What am I supposed to do?” I ask.
“What do you mean what do you do? Let her pay for half.”
“No. You and I both know I can afford to support us.”
“Doesn’t mean you have to.”
“Yeah, but was she like this with you? I mean—”
Tripp clamps a hard hand on my shoulder.
