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“You should turn my old bedroom into an office and you can spend more time here.”
He shrugged one small shoulder. “What difference does it make? I’d be even lonelier here than at the office.”
Shit. Look at where we are. Me, Joe and Sam should just join the lonely adults group. Or maybe I should befriend Joe again, then bring him closer to Sam and we don’t have to join any group ‘cause we’re not lonely anymore. If only Sam and Joe could talk.
I retrieved the keys from my bag and did my best attempt to force Joe’s key through the pesky keyring.
“Here.” Joe took the keys from my hand and smoothly worked the key out. “Don’t want you to break a nail now, do we?”
I accepted my keys back. “Take care of that key. It’s golden.”
Joe scoffed lightheartedly. Of course he’d remember those exact words he had told me when he handed me the key to his apartment.
“Do you want to sweep around, see if there’s anything you want to take? That lamp maybe?” Joe motioned to the slim standing floor lamp that changed into a million colours.
“Oh no, I couldn’t take that. You got that before I came to live with you.”
“That’s okay. I know you loved that one.” He went and crouched to the lamp plug to unplug it. Then grabbed the lamp and brought it over to me. “Here, it’s yours. Don’t say no. I insist.”
“Well then, thank you.”
Joe offered the lamp over, till he realized I already had my hands full with my dad’s photograph.
“Come on, I’ll bring it down for you.”
This time, on the way out of the apartment, I did walk before him.
Joe was kind enough to stow the lamp securely in my tiny car’s boot. And then it was that time. The time of awkwardly standing next to my car, both of us expecting the other to speak first.
“So, um,” Joe began. “I’ll transfer you the money tonight and I’ll see you tomorrow at our next meeting.”
Right, this wasn’t a goodbye. I’d still be seeing him. “I’ll see you tomorrow, yea.”
The phone in my hand binged. On instinct, I opened the received text immediately.
Prepare to lose tonight… And wear blue underwear.
There was that wink emoji again. And there was the blush coming up hot on my cheeks. I knew my face was getting red. Shit, Sam. You made it quite difficult to handle that text discreetly when I’m not alone. This is definitely crossing beyond friendly.
Looking up from my phone, I find Joe watching me with scrutiny.
“You’re seeing someone.” He didn’t say it as a question. It was definite.
Oh, double shit. Forgot this man in front of me could read me like a book.
I played with the phone, twisting and turning it between my fingers, debating whether I should just tell the truth or not. If I wanted to mend things with Joe, I should start by telling him about Sam, right?
“Joe…” I trailed off instantly, like the coward I was.
“I hope he’s not keeping you long at the office after hours.”
What? Did he just say…? To say I was speechless was an understatement.
“I know you’re seeing Sam.”
“We’re not…”
We were not seeing each other. We were just meeting. But how could I explain that? It’s easier to just let him assume. Like I had allowed Sam to assume about him.
